Major League Baseball made a huge announcement Monday. MLB announced that it will play a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Franciso Giants at baseball’s oldest park Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL.
“Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States and former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, will host a regular season game between the Cardinals and Giants on June 20, 2024.”
The game will take place around Juneteenth which will be held next year on Wednesday, June 19. Although MLB hasn’t officially affiliated the game with Juneteenth celebrations, you have to think that’s one reason they decided to hold the game around that time. The game will honor former black MLB players who played in the Negro Leagues.
“We are proud to bring Major League Baseball to historic Rickwood Field in 2024,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “This opportunity to pay tribute to the Negro Leagues as the Giants and Cardinals play a regular season game at this iconic location is a great honor. The legacy of the Negro Leagues and its greatest living player, Willie Mays, is one of excellence and perseverance. We look forward to sharing the stories of the Negro Leagues throughout this event next year.”
The Birmingham Barons, who are the double-A affiliates of the Chicago White Sox, play in the historic stadium once a year at the “Rickwood Classic.” For MLB to play this game in Birmingham, which is home to the Civil Rights Movement, is a huge honor.
