Comeback Town: Hosting MLB Game Highlights Birmingham's Decline

This is painful to admit, but as we celebrate one of Birmingham’s most significant moments, we must also reflect on our journey.

The 'Field of Dreams' major league baseball game at Rickwood Field was phenomenal. I cherished every moment of it.

Don't misunderstand me. The game and the surrounding events were exceptional.

As Maury Shevin wrote for ComebackTown, “It was a truly stellar event. It could not have been better—from the logistics, the revitalization of Rickwood Field, the national TV audience, the appearance of scores of celebrities, the attendance of former Negro Leagues players, and the incredible cooperative June weather—well, it was a magical evening.”

While this event will be long remembered, it's important to maintain perspective on its significance.

I've always had great dreams for Birmingham.

Growing up in the ‘50s, I have a long view of Birmingham that younger generations might not fully grasp.

My dad took me to Birmingham Barons baseball games at Rickwood Field. The Barons’ Southern League rivals included the Atlanta Crackers, the Nashville Vols, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Memphis Chicks. Those cities were our equals, and we competed well with them in both baseball and other aspects of life.

Today, Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, and Memphis all boast major league sports teams, while Birmingham has none. The Barons now play Southern League teams like the Mississippi Braves (Pearl, Mississippi), Montgomery Biscuits, and Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

When I googled major U.S. cities without major league sports, Birmingham didn’t even appear on the list. That's disheartening.

In my youth, Birmingham's population was comparable to Atlanta's and larger than Nashville, Austin, and Charlotte.

There were serious efforts to recruit an NFL franchise to Birmingham. I vividly remember attending a Chamber of Commerce rally to build support for an NFL team.

On August 14, 1966, Benny Marshall, a columnist for the Birmingham News, wrote, “A professional football franchise for Birmingham is close enough, almost, to touch… It is not a matter of speculation anymore. It is not someone’s idle dream…There will be 28 teams in the combined American and National Football Leagues. Presently, the National has 15 and the American has nine. Four will be added. Bet that Birmingham will be one of the four, and you’re playing a favorite.”

Reflecting on these memories, it's clear that while the 'Field of Dreams' game was a high point, Birmingham still has a long way to go to reclaim its past stature.