Special to The Times
The Birmingham Barons have announced The Rickwood Game as part of the 2026 season, with a renewed focus on accessibility, community, and fan experience. The game will take place on May 27, at 12:30 p.m., as the Barons suit up as the Birmingham Black Barons to face the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, who will pay tribute to Pensacola’s Negro League team, the Seagulls.
To give more fans the chance to experience the magic of Rickwood Field, the Barons have restructured ticket pricing for the game to include a $10 ticket, dubbed the $10 Time Machine. This initiative reflects the organization’s belief that Rickwood Field is a special place that should be experienced by everyone, first-timers and lifelong fans alike.
In tradition which dates back to 1996, the Barons return to Rickwood Field once per season to play the “Rickwood Classic,” a “turn back the clock” game to honor the history of baseball in the City of Birmingham. The annual induction class of the Barons Hall of Fame is announced during the Rickwood Classic, as well.
Construction on Rickwood Field began in early 1910, with a design modeled after the grand major league parks of the era like Forbes Field and Shibe Park. Built as the first steel-and-concrete minor league ballpark in the country, it originally seated around 3,000 fans and set a new standard for durability and design in early baseball venues.
The Barons played their first game at Rickwood against the Montgomery Climbers on August 18, 1910. A crowd estimated at 10,000 jammed into the new facility for the opener. In true style, Woodward threw out the first pitch (for real, not for ceremony) and handed the ball to Harry Coveleski with a 1-0 count on the first batter. Barons’ manager Carlton Molesworth scored the first run in the new park. The Barons trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth and scored twice to beat the Climbers by a 3-2 final.
Rickwood celebrated its 100th year on Aug. 18, 2010, as it became the first ballpark in America to reach the historic centennial figure.
Tickets are available online only. For questions or assistance, please email barons@barons.com or call (205) 988-3200.
