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A . H . C A T H E RP U B L I S H I N G

B U N N Y C H E W

W O O D W A R DF A M I L Y

S L A U G H T E RG R O U P

s l a u g h t e r g r o u p

R I C K W O O D C L A S S I C S P O N S O R ST H A N K S

T H A N K S

S P E C I A L T H A N K S

F O R T I C K E T S

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O R B A R O N S .

C O M

THE BIRMINGHAM BARONS WILL RETURN TO HISTORIC RICKWOOD

FIELD, AMERICA’S OLDEST BASEBALL PARK, ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2,TO FACE THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES IN THE 15TH ANNUAL RICKWOOD

CLASSIC, PRESENTED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE®. THE ANNUAL

THROWBACK GAME PAYS TRIBUTE TO RICKWOOD’S STORIED PAST,WITH NET PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT BENEFITING THE RESTORATION

AND REVITALIZATION OF THE CENTURY-OLD BALL PARK. THIS YEAR’SEVENT WILL CELEBRATE RICKWOOD FIELD’S 1910 OPENING, WITH

THE BARONS WEARING THEIR 1910 “DIAMOND B” UNIFORM, AND

THE SMOKIES WEARING THEIR 1914 UNIFORM FROM WHEN THEY

WERE KNOWN AS THE APPALACHIAN SMOKIES. GAME TIME IS 12:30.GATES OPEN AT 11:00. TICKETS ARE NOW ON-SALE AT 205.988.3200,OR ON-LINE AT BARONS.COM.

Rickwood Times15 t h A N N U A L R I C K W O O D C L A S S I C

At the 2009 Classic, Baron team members looking good in the 1982 Birmingham uniform. Courtesy of Michael Wade.

W E D N E S D A Y J U N E 2 12 : 3 0 P M

Hall of fame member Harmon Killebrew

to Headline 2010 ClassiC

The 14th annual Classic celebrated Rickwood Field’s hosting of the 1982

Southern League All-star Game, when the Atlanta Braves traveled to

Birmingham to face the League’s top players. For the May 27 Classic, both

teams donned retro 1982 style uniforms. Former Braves TV and radio

announcer Pete Van Wieren made a special appearance and received a

warm welcome from the Rickwood crowd. Despite a late rally by the

hometown Barons, the Mississippi Braves held on for a 3-2 victory, giving

the Barons an overall Classic record of 7-7.

Twins teammates, Hall of Fame member Harmon Killebrew and Southern League

President Don Mincher, seen here at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis.

Courtesy of Clarence Watkins.

Rare photo of the 1910 Barons squad, highlighting the “Diamond B” uniform, taken at the “Old Slag Pile,” their pre-Rickwood home.

Courtesy of the Kerry Gossett.

S TAT E FA R M®

Presents

the 2010 Rickwood Classic:

A Celebration of the Ballpark’s Centennial

Former Braves announcer, Pete Van Wieren, prepares to throw a ceremonial pitch at the 2009 Classic. Courtesy of Michael Wade

Wednesday, June 2 The Newspaper of the Rickwood Classic Vol.15 Ed.15 10cents

2009 Rickwood Classic: A celebration of the 1982 Southern League All-star Game

Baseball Hall of Fame member, and Rickwood veteran,

Harmon Killebrew will be on-hand for the June 2

celebration of Rickwood Field’s Centennial. Killebrew

spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, 21 of

which he spent with the Washington Senators /

Minnesota Twins organization, before ending his

playing career with the Kansas City Royals in 1975.

Signed by the Senators organization in 1954,

Killebrew spent the 1957 season with the

Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association,

where he led the league with 29 homeruns. While in

the Twins’ training camp in 1961, he and Southern

League President Don Mincher roomed together, and

have remained long-time friends.

August 18, 1910 They have been working on the new baseball

park for months now. By mid-July the construction people have committed to having the

park ready for the August 18th game. The first game at Rickwood Field is not just a

baseball game, but will be the social event of the year for Birmingham. Rick Woodward’s

father, Joseph H. Woodward, will be coming to the opening game to say, “I told you so.”

Mr. J. H. Woodward is a no-nonsense, keep your nose to the grindstone, kind of man.

Mr. Woodward viewed baseball as a distraction from Rick’s college days, until now. His

son would not disappoint him, but surprise him with the quality of the ballpark and the

overall approval of the whole city of Birmingham.

By noon most of the business district of the city is a ghost town. Mayor Jimmy Jones

is elated to have 1,200 homes signed-up to get electricity, and will enjoy the afternoon

off at the game. By 2:30 in the afternoon a steady line of streetcars deliver fans to the

park; there literally are not enough street cars to meet the demand. The game is due to

start at 4:00 p.m., with pre-game ceremonies beginning at 3:30 p.m. The grandstands

and bleachers will only hold 5,000 fans, but over 10,000 will go through the turnstiles.

Fans lined the outfield wall from the third base line to the right field corner. Never has a

crowd this large viewed a Southern League baseball game.

Rick Woodward appears on the field in full uniform ready to throw out the first pitch

of the game, not a ceremonial pitch, but the actual first pitch of the game. Shortly before

the start of the game, Harry Coveleski and outfielder Bob Messenger almost come to

blows in front of the Barons’ dugout. The fans love it, it’s like the World Series and a

championship boxing match all rolled into one event! Harry Coveleski, the Barons’ start-

ing pitcher, is in rare form. Between each inning of the game, Harry performs pugilistic

antics for the crowd.

The actual

g ame a lmo s t

seems anti-climatic.

Birmingham fans

will not settle for

anything less than a

victory today. The

Barons send former

major league pitcher

Coveleski up against

the Montgomery

Climbers’ best, Bill

Duggleby. The game

is a low scoring affair, not uncommon in a time when the bunt is considered a big offensive

weapon. Trailing by a run in the ninth inning, the Barons use three bunts, a hit batsman, and

a fielder’s choice to win the game by a margin of three to two. Everyone goes home happy,

and for years to come the opening game at Rickwood will be celebrated as one of the

greatest games in Baron history. For days the newspapers sing the praises of Rickwood

Field, there is nothing like it in all of minor league baseball. Even the name “Rickwood” Field

is the idea of a local fan.

The new ballpark has other amenities to please the fans. Out on the right field wall is an

“electric manipulated” scoreboard to keep fans up to date on the progress of the game and

the league. The original plans for the ballpark had a budget of $25,000, but the final cost

would be over $75,000. Rick Woodward’s father was so impressed he purchased all of the

bonds sold to finance the park. The newspapers speak of Rickwood Field adding to the

“Magic” of the city. No one could have foreseen that the magic would still be with us

one hundred years later. Clarence Watkins

Pre-game activities for the 2010 Rickwood Classic will include the induction of the seventh annual class of the Birmingham Barons Hall of Fame. Inductees will be selected by a panel of voters consisting of

former and current Barons employees, as well as select members of the Birmingham media and baseball community. Previous inductees include among others, Lorenzo “Piper” Davis, Willie Mays,

Carlton Molesworth, A.H. “Rick” Woodward, Art Clarkson, Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Joe Drake, Norm Zauchin, Satchel Paige, Sam Hairston, Pie Traynor, Glynn West, and Zipp Newman.

BIRMINGHAM BARONS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

August 18, 1910. Opening day, Rickwood Field. Original post card view.

Original 1910 Barons program. Courtesy of the Woodward Family Collection.

A.H. “Rick” Woodward, builder of Rickwood Field.

Memorabilia Auction Set

In addition to game worn uniforms, other baseball memorabilia will be available through a silent auction heldoutside the conference room, beginning before the game and ending in the fifth inning.

Bidding on game uniforms will conclude in the 9th inning.

On August 18, 1910, Rickwood Fieldopened to an over- flow crowd and muchfan fair, as the home team Barons defeatedrival Montgomery, 3-2. In the following

decades,Rickwood Field hosted the play of base-ball’s greats, and established firmly its place in Americanculture. In 2010, in a year-long series of special events,the Friends of Rickwood and the Birmingham baseballcommunity will celebrate Rickwood’s 100th anniversary.

please visit rickwood.com, and learn how

you can help celebrate

rickwood field’s 100th anniversary.

A U G U S T

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R I C K W O O D F I E L DT O C E L E B R A T E 1 0 0 Y E A R S

2010

A.H. “Rick” Woodward, Baron team owner, and R.H.Baugh, team president, announced the building of a new

ball park in a March 5, 1910 press conference. The Birmingham News March 22, 1910 front page featured

this architectural drawing of the grandstand.

Rickwood grandstand under construction. Original view from 1910 Barons program. Courtesy of the Woodward Family Collection.

100 Year

Birthday celebration

check

www.rickwood.com

for details

Help Renovate

Rickwood Feild’s Scoreboard

Contributions may be made to :

Friends of Rickwood

P.O. Box 12583, Birmingham, AL 35202,

or on-line@ rickwood.com

CENTENNIAL

MERCHANDISE

AVAILABLE

AT THE GAME

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