The oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. just hosted a Minor League game -- take a look
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In a throwback atmosphere perfect for old-fashioned hardball, one team's hitters swung the bats as though they wanted the game to last forever.
Playing at the oldest professional ballpark in the United States -- Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. -- Double-A Pensacola throttled Birmingham, 23-4, in a Wednesday matinee.
Paying tribute to Negro Leagues teams of yore, the Marlins-affiliated Blue Wahoos played in Pensacola Seagulls throwback uniforms, while the host Birmingham Barons (a White Sox affiliate) suited up as the Black Barons. The Seagulls were a feeder team to the Negro Southern League, while the Black Barons are one of the most historically significant Negro League teams -- the franchise played a crucial role in the careers of both Satchel Paige and Willie Mays.
Two years older than Fenway Park and four years older than Wrigley Field, Rickwood underwent $5 million upgrades prior to the 2024 MLB at Rickwood Field event, and it was kept in decent shape prior to that thanks in part to Hollywood productions. MLB has also established the East-West Classic, with the third annual edition slated for this Juneteenth. The contemporary Barons of the Southern League have played one game at Rickwood most seasons since 1996.
MLB live content creator Hannah Bachman was on hand to capture the action and the atmosphere as the team continued that tradition Wednesday. Her work is worth a look.
An enthusiastic crowd of 4,248 -- not bad for a Wednesday afternoon in Birmingham -- began to assemble in front of the ballpark well before the game's 12:30 Central start.
Pensacola players took a moment to soak in the environment before the gates opened.
Pensacola third baseman Ian Lewis Jr. signed for fans before the game got underway.
A barbershop quartet performed the national anthem.
Lewis (pictured below) hit two home runs to collect four RBIs in the Pensacola rout. He was hardly the only Marlins prospect to do some damage, though. Aiva Arquette -- MLB's No. 35 prospect, who was playing in just his second Double-A game -- homered and stole a base during a three-RBI showing. Miami No. 19 prospect Fenwick Trimble was 5-for-6 with a homer, a double, four runs scored and three RBIs.
The visitors scored a whopping 16 runs before the fifth inning was over.
Connor McCullough and the rest of the Birmingham pitching staff did what they could, but it just wasn't their day. Pensacola tallied 26 hits -- 10 for extra bases.
The final result was not as the home team fans would have preferred, but they couldn't complain about the environs.