MLB at Rickwood Field
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | June 20, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Rickwood Field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | Birmingham, Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Umpires | HP: Alan Porter 1B: Adrian Johnson[c] 2B: C. B. Bucknor 3B: Malachi Moore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 8,300 (expected)[d] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ceremonial first pitch | 6:15 CST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Television | FOX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Joe Davis (play-by-play) John Smoltz (analyst) Ken Rosenthal (reporter) Tom Verducci (reporter) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues is an upcoming professional baseball game to be played between the National League (NL) West's San Francisco Giants and the NL Central's St. Louis Cardinals on June 20, 2024. The game is set to be played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the former home of the Negro leagues' Birmingham Black Barons, one day after Juneteenth. This will be the first regular-season Major League Baseball (MLB) game played in the state of Alabama.
Background[edit]
On June 13, 2023, initial reports revealed that the Giants would play in a Field of Dreams style game, celebrating Willie Mays in Alabama.[1] Due to construction at the MLB at Field of Dreams site, games in 2023 and 2024 were unable to happen. However, MLB decided to shift their marketing into a game to honor Willie Mays, the Negro Leagues, and Juneteenth.[2] The official name for the game was unveiled as MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues on August 4, 2023.[3] All living Negro League players have been invited to the game (157 total), and 60 are confirmed to attend.[4]
Uniforms[edit]
On June 20, 2023, MLB released a statement indicating that "On-field personnel for both teams will wear period uniforms highlighting the Negro Leagues histories of both St. Louis and San Francisco."[5]
On February 28, 2024, MLB released a teaser poster preview video for the Rickwood Field game. The poster specified the Giants are planning on wearing the San Francisco Sea Lions uniforms and the Cardinals to wear St. Louis Stars uniforms to pay homage to the cities histories of the Negro Leagues.[6]
On June 12, 2024, despite San Francisco being the designated away team and St. Louis being the designated home team, MLB revealed that the Giants will wear their cream home Sea Lions uniform while St. Louis will wear their road grays. Similarly, during the 2022 MLB Field of Dreams game, both the Cubs and Reds wore white home jerseys.[7]
Renovations to Rickwood Field[edit]
In October 2022, MLB executives met with Rickwood Field Chairman and Executive Director, Gerald Watkins to discuss mock-up designs of how to set the ballpark up, how to reconfigure the clubhouses and dugouts, where to put medical areas, how to revamp the concessions and where to build the broadcast center.[8]
Preparatory renovations of the park were scheduled to begin in 2023. Jerry Brewer of The Washington Post wrote, "MLB is tasked with performing tasteful cosmetic surgery on a ballpark known for its old and minimalist charm."[9]
By 2024, Rickwood Field underwent $5 million in renovations which included a new playing surface, a new padded wall[e] that is 10 feet (3.0 m) deeper than the original, and shifting the entire field to the left by 5 feet (1.5 m) to make the field more symmetrical. Other renovations include new dugouts, a modern batter's eye in center field, a digital scoreboard, netting along the foul lines and accessibility upgrades.[10]
Willie Mays' death[edit]
On June 17, 2024, Willie Mays made a public statement to the San Francisco Chronicle stating he elected not to attend the game later that week on June 20.[11] Mays died the following day, at the age of 93 of heart failure.[12] MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred released a statement after Mays' death, stating, "Thursday's game at historic Rickwood Field was designed to be a celebration of Willie Mays and his peers. With sadness in our hearts, it will now also serve as a national remembrance of an American who will forever remain on the short list of the most impactful individuals our great game has ever known."[13]
LaMonte Wade Jr. Appeal[edit]
On June 18, Giants First baseman and lead off hitter, LaMonte Wade Jr.'s appeal to play in the June 20th game was denied by MLB. Wade strained his hamstring on May 27th in a game against the Phillies and was scheduled to miss at least 4 weeks. Since Wade is one of the prominent Black players in MLB and one of three in the Giants' clubhouse, along with pitchers Spencer Bivens and Jordan Hicks, he made it his goal to return for the Rickwood Field game. Giants manager, Bob Melvin indicated the Giants are still holding out hope that MLB will reverse its decision, and there remains a long shot possibility that he could be activated from the IL regardless. Melvin said the Giants would prioritize adding him to the roster, even if he were only cleared to be the designated hitter.[10]
Umpires[edit]
Thursday's game at Rickwood will be umpired by an all-Black crew for the first time in MLB history. Adrian Johnson will serve as the crew chief and first-base ump, while Alan Porter calls balls and strikes. C.B. Bucknor will oversee second base and Malachi Moore third base. Jeremie Rehak will manage replays. MLB has employed just 11 Black umpires in AL/NL history; the five working Thursday's game are the only ones active today.[14]
Rosters[edit]
| Active roster | Inactive roster | Coaches/Other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pitchers
Bullpen
Closer(s)
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Designated hitters |
Pitchers
Catchers Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager Coaches
60-day injured list
| |||
Game[edit]
Scheduling[edit]
The game will be the first MLB game in the state of Alabama.[15] It will be played on a Thursday and will be the first game of a three-game series followed by an off-day and two games at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Saturday and Sunday.[16]
Line score[edit]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| STL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: LP: Sv: Home runs: Away: None Home: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MiLB at Rickwood Field[edit]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | June 18, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Rickwood Field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | Birmingham, Alabama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 7,866[17] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ceremonial first pitch | 6:15 CST | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Television | MLB Network | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Rich Waltz (play-by-play) Chris Young (analyst) Roy Wood Jr. (reporter) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Along with the June 20 game between the Giants and Cardinals, the Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate) and the Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox affiliate) of Minor League Baseball's Double-A Southern League played a game at Rickwood Field on June 18.The visiting Biscuits wore Montgomery Gray Sox road uniforms while the home Barons wore Birmingham Black Barons home uniforms.[18]
In the top of the 7th inning, Rich Waltz passed along the news that all-time great Willie Mays passed away at the age of 93. The fans in the stadium found out about Mays' passing as the Rickwood Field PA announcer addressed the crowd in between the 7th and 8th inning. The fans gave Mays a standing ovation shortly after to honor his life and legacy.[19]
African-American Rays top 10 prospect and Biscuits center fielder, Chandler Simpson tweaked his calf trying to make a play in the bottom of the seventh inning and had exited the game with the team trainer. He then found out about the passing of Mays. Postgame, Simpson stated, “He was definitely here in spirit throughout the whole game... But everybody gave thanks, and then everybody was appreciative of him and all the greats that came before me.”[17] The Grey Sox beat the Black Barons by a score of 6–5.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Playing as the San Francisco Sea Lions
- ^ Playing as the St. Louis Stars
- ^ Crew Chief
- ^ The capacity for Rickwood Field is 10,800, but for this game, 8,300 is the expected attendance
- ^ The padding will be removed from the wall after the game
- ^ Playing as the Montgomery Grey Sox
- ^ Playing as the Birmingham Black Barons
References[edit]
- ^ Martin, Angela (June 13, 2023). "MLB announces Giants-Cardinals to clash in historic game at Rickwood Field". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ Adler, David (June 20, 2023). "Cardinals, Giants to play at oldest professional ballpark in '24". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ Garrison, Greg (August 3, 2023). "Major League Baseball announces branding for Rickwood Field game". AL.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Foster, Jason (May 30, 2024). "Here's all you need to know about the 2024 MLB game at Rickwood Field". MLB.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ "Rickwood Field to host MLB, MiLB games in 2024". MiLB.com. June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Batchelor, Brett (February 28, 2024). "MLB releases promo video ahead of 'A Tribute to the Negro Leagues' game this summer at Rickwood Field". WBRC. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Schofield, Mark (June 12, 2024). "Giants and Cardinals to wear Negro League uniforms for MLB at Rickwood Field". SB Nation. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Segrest, Doug (September 26, 2023). "Rickwood Field is Going Big League". Doing More Today. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Brewer, Jerry (August 27, 2023). "Birmingham's Rickwood Field is the best kind of monument: A real one". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Webeck, Evan (June 18, 2024). "MLB denies SF Giants' appeal for LaMonte Wade Jr. to participate in Rickwood Classic". The Mercury News. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ "Hall of Famer Willie Mays will not be in attendance for Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field". Associated Press. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Shea, John (June 18, 2024). "Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants legend and MLB all-time great, is dead". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Feinsand, Mark [@Feinsand] (June 19, 2024). "MLB has released the following from Commissioner Rob Manfred on the passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays at age 93:" (Tweet). Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Anderson, R.J. (June 19, 2024). "Rickwood Field game to make MLB history with first all-Black umpiring crew, per report". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Andres, Patrick (June 20, 2023). "MLB to Honor Willie Mays With Special 2024 Juneteenth Game at Historic Ballpark". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ Axisa, Mike (June 20, 2023). "Giants and Cardinals to play 2024 game at Alabama's Rickwood Field, MLB will include Willie Mays tribute". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Sam, Dykstra (June 19, 2024). "Simpson electrifies during MiLB at Rickwood Field". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
- ^ Stumbaugh, Julia (June 12, 2024). "Giants, Cardinals to Wear Negro League Throwback Uniforms for Rickwood Field MLB Game". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ "AL: Willie Mays Death/Rickwood Field Crowd Reacts". KTBS. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.