Southern League returns to Rickwood Field with Negro Leagues throwback on Wednesday afternoon

The Southern League makes its highly anticipated return to the nation’s oldest professional ballpark this Wednesday as the Birmingham Barons take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Rickwood Field.

A Storied Tradition at Rickwood

Wednesday's contest marks the third consecutive season the Barons have played at the historic venue, which served as the team's home from 1910 through 1987. After hosting the annual Rickwood Classic for many years, the ballpark has settled into a meaningful tradition: a yearly tribute to the legacy of the Negro Leagues.

Rickwood Field holds deep historical significance, having served as the home for the Birmingham Black Barons from 1920 until 1960. This rich heritage recently drew national attention through MLB at Rickwood: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues, which featured a landmark National League matchup between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals on June 20, 2024.

Honoring the Past

The Barons have made these tribute games a cornerstone of their schedule. In 2024, they faced the Montgomery Biscuits—dressed as the Montgomery Grey Sox—while Birmingham donned Black Barons jerseys. In 2025, they faced the Rocket City Trash Pandas, who wore Huntsville Stars uniforms. This Wednesday, the Barons will again suit up as the Black Barons, while the visiting Blue Wahoos will wear the uniforms of the historic Pensacola Seagulls.

The Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, enter the week with a 16-28 record, while the Miami Marlins affiliate, the Blue Wahoos, hold a 23-22 mark. The two clubs are slated to play a game at Regions Field on Tuesday before moving the action to the historic field on Wednesday.

Event Details

First pitch for the Wednesday showdown at Rickwood Field is set for 12:30 p.m. CDT. Fans interested in attending can purchase tickets online.

Looking ahead, tickets are also available for the third annual East-West Classic, scheduled for June 19. This event honors the historic Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game and features a pregame home-run derby headlined by former big-leaguers Pedro Alvarez, Prince Fielder, Jerry Hairston Jr., Aaron Hicks, Miguel Montero, and Nick Swisher. Additionally, MLB will host a Juneteenth Play Ball event for local youth at Willie Mays Park in Fairfield to celebrate the occasion.