Rickwood Field Park
Rickwood Field Park
4.5
Historic SitesSports ComplexesPoints of Interest & LandmarksArenas & Stadiums
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
America's oldest baseball park and former home of the Birmingham Barons is a place where visitors can relive the magic of baseball's glory years.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
124 reviews
Excellent
92
Very good
27
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Sarah S
18 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
Quick stop by to Rickwood Field before hitting the Negro Southern League Museum. Like stepping back in time, this small ballpark sits in the middle of a neighborhood. The folks working on the field let us into look around, including a museum / boardroom. The iconic cantilever lights were an engineering marvel!
Written August 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry H
7 contributions
Jul 2022
A must see if you’re a baseball history fan! During our visit to Birmingham to take in the civil rights history, I had read about Rickwood as the oldest professional ballpark, built in 1910. The park originally hosted the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons - and since MLB now (correctly) recognizes the Negro Leagues as a major league, this means Rickwood is arguably the oldest MLB ballpark (though as a Red Sox fan, I need to think this through). Anyhow, I thought we’d only get to drive by the park and take a photo, but instead I walked in and was met by the friendliest people - the gift shop and museum was great. We were taken on a tour of the park - including the roof!! And the locker rooms, dugouts. Great baseball history and an hour very well spent!!
Written July 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abroadwithashley
Minneapolis, MN1,724 contributions
Aug 2022
A piece of American history. Unfortunately, it was closed off, and I’m unsure how you can tour the facilities - it seems you need to sort that in advance. However, hop out of the car and read the sign for a bit of history, and then head over to the fence to check out the old advertisements in the outfield.
Written December 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abroadwithashley
Minneapolis, MN1,724 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We came here the summer before, but on a weekend - which is when they are closed (unless there is a game, which is apparently often in the summer) so we were only able to see the outside. This time we got to see it all. It’s a bit amazing that a piece of American history this old is a “free to roam” situation, but this makes the experience all the better. If you are interested in baseball at all, Birmingham is a great city for it, and Rickwood is part of that. Bring a camera as well since there’s plenty to photograph.
Written October 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
swearengen
Colonia, NJ840 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
This is a must for any baseball fan visiting Birmingham. I wasn't really sure what to make of it as we pulled up since there's not much as far as signs for visiting. But there was a couple of cars in the fenced in area near the front entrance, and we pulled in and parked. Looked around a little, and finally saw a small sign with an open door, so we went in and there was a few people there that said to walk around wherever we wanted to check it all out. In that room there was a few displays and some souvenirs for sale. Then we roamed around the stands and down on the field and dugout to take in the history and took a few photos. This was a very cool stop.
Written May 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dream17657
Bessemer, AL1 contribution
As a kid my dad took me to Rickwood field whenever he could leave his office in time. I must have been five or six when we went for the first time.
The Barons played The Memphis Chicks and won a 14-6 slugfest. I later saw Bo Jackson play for a visiting team when he was in the Kansas City organization. I felt a little wierd when everyone cheered his homerun. After all it did give the visitors the lead. Rickwood was my big league park as a kid. These days all of the green in the seating area and on the outter shell of the park kind of puts me in the mind of Fenway Park. I don't know in its day if it could have been called a "downtown" ballpark, but I am reminded of Wrigley Field when I snake my way through the nieghborhood to the front entrance. The unique lighting at Rickwood is well documented along with its age, and its history of hosting some legendary ballplayers. Some might overlook its "No Rain Out" streak that lasted for several years. But how many remember Southern League Home Run Power Rondal Roland, or the staduim announcer in the early eighties who would pronounce our third basemen's name... George Foooooooooooooosianas. One of the most important ingredients I haven't mentioned yet are the dogs. Until the day I die, I know my dad would agree, the best hot dogs in the world could be found at the old ballpark across the tracks... Mustard, Ketchup, and a touch of Relish, nothing fancy. There are many things that give a ballpark its charactar, and being the oldest ballpark in America certainly doesn't hurt in that area. To date I have visited double digit major league ball parks including, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and various others, but I will always treasure the days of hot dogs with my dad down the Rickwood first baseline.
Greg Langford
The Barons played The Memphis Chicks and won a 14-6 slugfest. I later saw Bo Jackson play for a visiting team when he was in the Kansas City organization. I felt a little wierd when everyone cheered his homerun. After all it did give the visitors the lead. Rickwood was my big league park as a kid. These days all of the green in the seating area and on the outter shell of the park kind of puts me in the mind of Fenway Park. I don't know in its day if it could have been called a "downtown" ballpark, but I am reminded of Wrigley Field when I snake my way through the nieghborhood to the front entrance. The unique lighting at Rickwood is well documented along with its age, and its history of hosting some legendary ballplayers. Some might overlook its "No Rain Out" streak that lasted for several years. But how many remember Southern League Home Run Power Rondal Roland, or the staduim announcer in the early eighties who would pronounce our third basemen's name... George Foooooooooooooosianas. One of the most important ingredients I haven't mentioned yet are the dogs. Until the day I die, I know my dad would agree, the best hot dogs in the world could be found at the old ballpark across the tracks... Mustard, Ketchup, and a touch of Relish, nothing fancy. There are many things that give a ballpark its charactar, and being the oldest ballpark in America certainly doesn't hurt in that area. To date I have visited double digit major league ball parks including, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, and various others, but I will always treasure the days of hot dogs with my dad down the Rickwood first baseline.
Greg Langford
Written July 27, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas Greer
Gadsden, AL57 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
The old girl, August 10th 1910, shows signs of wear and tear but, she is a beautiful sight to me and the eyes of any true baseball fan. Home of the Southern League's Birmingham Barons and the Negro League's Birmingham Black Barons, this lady has a very rich and diverse history and the neighborhood folks are very happy she still stands and is receiving a lot of tender loving care from the group known as the Friends Of Rickwood. If you are a true baseball fan and are in the area, I encourage you to visit the beautiful lady. She is open from 8:00AM to 4:30PM, Monday thru Friday and please call ahead of time for the weekend and evening game schedule.
Written May 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrailBlazer29813
Birmingham, AL1 contribution
Free, self guided tours are available during daylight hours at historic Rickwood Field. Built in 1910, it was the home for years for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons. It was here in 1948 that a Birmingham teenager by the name of Willie Mays led the Black Barons to the Negro American League Championship. The oldest surviving Negro League home field, Rickwood is being lovingly restored to its 1948 appearance. A must-see for any baseball lover.
Written November 23, 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven D
Anoka286 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
If you are a baseball fan you need to check this out. It may just be a drive by or if you're lucky enough to hit it when it is open you may get the full treat. The movie 42 was filmed here and it is like stepping back in time. It is not a fixed up tourist attraction it is just a it was back in its heyday. I would recommend it as an interesting point of interest. It is currently closed for some repair work. We were lucky enough to see a worker open the gate an he let us in to look around. You can see a lot from outside without going in. I would say a 1/2 hour would be plenty to see it all.
Written October 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob67215
Memphis, TN207 contributions
May 2013 • Business
when I got there, I didn't see another living person. I was able to walk right in and explore. It was a very surreal experience that I would recommend to any baseball fan.
Written July 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ktinsley42
Fairhope, Alabama
If I go to the Classic next Wednesday, will there be restrooms available outside stadium since we will be there early to tailgate with friends?
Written May 20, 2018
I would guess no- but no way to absolutely know unless you talk to someone at stadium
Written May 20, 2018
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