Mark and Manny debate how MLB can put their money where their mouth is by upgrading Rickwood Field, help bring more money into the community, where Black people were so mistreated, and make MLB events a regular part of the culture at Rickwood.
The MLBbro crew was in attendance at #RickwoodField, the oldest professional park in America, where Willie Mays, who passed away on June 18th at the age of 93, played as a teenager in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barrons.
The event was a celebration of his legacy and the legacy of all Negro League players, including the few living ones in attendance. The event was capped by a 6-5 win for the St. Louis Cardinals over the San Francisco Giants, the team Mays once starred for.
Major League Baseball made history on Thursday night, as the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals competed in the league’s first game at Rickwood Field. Built in 1910, Rickwood Field is the oldest existing professional ballpark and once served as home to the Negro League’s Birmingham Black Barons.
Prior to the start of Thursday’s contest, Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson recounted the racism he experienced during his time in Birmingham, Alabama and admitted that it was difficult to return to the historic ballpark. In 1967, before he advanced to the Majors, Jackson was one of the few Black players on the Birmingham A’s Double-A Southern League team. The team played at Rickwood Field until 1963.
Asked by Alex Rodriguez what the emotions are like to return to Rickwood Field, the 1973 AL MVP spoke of how challenging it was to travel to where his baseball career began.
“Coming back here is not easy,” Jackson said. “The racism when I played here, the difficulty of going through different places where we traveled. Fortunately, I had a manager and I had players on the team that helped me get through it. But I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
Despite being well-received on the Black Barons, Jackson was often forbidden from restaurants and hotels where his white teammates were welcomed. “I’d walk into restaurants, and they would point at me and say, ‘the n—– can’t eat here.’ I would go to a hotel, and they say the n—– can’t stay here. We went to Charlie Finley’s country club for a welcome home dinner, and they pointed me out with the N word.”
Jackson’s retelling of his experiences highlighted America’s dark, segregated, and not-so-distant past. Born just two years before the integration of the U.S. military in 1948 and nearly 20 years before President Lyndon B. Johnson legally ended segregation with the Civil Rights Act, Jackson, 78, lived through one of the nation’s cruelest periods. Despite his talent, the baseball legend was constantly antagonized and rebuked during his time in the Minors.
Although he was a victim of severe racism, especially in the South, Jackson was grateful to have a manager that was willing to stand up for equality. During Fox’s broadcast on Thursday, Jackson spoke about his AA manager, Johnny McNamara, who managed him in Birmingham and came up to manage the major league A’s in 1969, reuniting with Jackson for the end of 1969 and the 1970 season: “Fortunately, I had a manager in Johnny McNamara that if I couldn’t eat in the place, nobody could eat,” Jackson said. “We’d get food to travel. If I couldn’t stay in the hotel, they’d drive to the next hotel and find a place where I could stay.”
In addition to McNamara, Jackson named Rollie Fingers, Dave Duncan, and Joe Rudi along with his wife, Sharon, as figures that defended him and helped him navigate such trying times. Jackson spoke of how, for a few weeks, he would spend several nights a week on the Rudis’ couch. He only left once there were threats made of burning the Rudis’ apartment complex down if Jackson continued lodging there. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. At the same time, had it not been for my white friends, had it not been for a white manager… I would have never made it. I was too physically violent; I was ready to physically fight someone. I’d have gotten killed here because I’d have beat someone’s a–, and you’d have saw me in an oak tree somewhere.”
Thankfully, Jackson was able to suppress his anger and avoid any fatal racist encounters. Following his days in Birmingham, the talented outfielder carved out a legendary career in the Majors. The hard-hitting lefty was the driving force behind five World Series title teams – including a three-peat with the Oakland Athletics. During the 1977 World Series, as a member of the Yankees, Jackson earned the nickname “Mr. October” after launching five home runs against the Dodgers.
Jackson’s crowning achievement came with his three-home-run performance in World Series-clinching Game Six — each on the first pitch — off three Dodgers pitchers. His heroic performance earned him the 1977 World Series MVP, thus making him the first player to win World Series MVP on multiple teams. Jackson, the 1973 AL MVP, was also the first Major Leaguer to hit 100 home runs for three different franchises as he later went on to play for the California (now Los Angeles) Angels.
Though it may seem easy to look at Jackson’s achievements as a story of triumph, the racism-riddled road toward his goals should not be overlooked. Instead, they should be a reminder to all that America is not without its flaws and still has a long way to go. “People asked me today and said, ‘Do you think you’re a better person? Do you think you won when you played here and conquered?’ I said, ‘You know, I would never want to do it again.’”
Tampa Bay Rays have quite a few talented pieces in their farm system. MLBbro Xavier Isaac is a power-hitting first baseman who’s expected to be called up in early 2026.
Speedster Chandler Simpson is a blur who reeks on the basepaths for opposing teams and pitchers.
Fresh off leading the minors last season with 94 steals, which was tied with fellow MLBbro, good friend and St. Louis Cardinals prospect Victor Scott II, Simpson is once again up to his old tricks.
The dynamic Simpson hasn’t missed a beat in 2024. He’s leading the minors in steals with (48), while also having drawn 21 walks and 21 strikeouts in 254 plate appearances. Known for his elite game breaking speed, Simpson is once again showing there’s much more to his game than just being fast. Simpson has been so impressive that Rays brass can’t stop talking about him.
Fans learned of the passing of Willie Mays during a game at Rickwood Field — the site of his first pro game. @RaysBaseball prospect Chandler Simpson said he could feel the presence of "Say Hey Kid."
Being known for speed on s great, but Simpson has long vowed to be more than that. After batting a solid .293 in 2023, Simpson has been even better this season boasting a .368 average at the plate.
That’s good enough for tops in the minors, and he’s also tied for most hits with (84). While his power may never materialize, Simpson’s ability to get on base with timely base hits and walks is something every MLB club craves.
After beginning the season with High-A Bowling Green he was promoted to Double-A Montgomery. In 22 games with Montgomery, he’s been even better with a slash line of .374/.402/.485 along with 17 steals.
Rays senior director of player development Blake Butera recently raved about Simpson’s growth.
“He’s been great. The speed plays at any level, and he doesn’t strike out. It’s always line drives, hard ground balls. Not a ton of extra-base hits, but any time he’s on first base, he turns it into an extra-base hit, because he steals second and sometimes third as well.”
It’s no secret that Chandler Simpson is one of the fastest men in the minor leagues.
He swiped three more bags on Tuesday night, bringing his season total to 51 in 60 chances.
Simpson’s skill set embodies everything that is Willie Mays, the legendary Hall of Famer passed on Tuesday at the age of 93. Like the late, great Mays who once called legendary Rickwood Field home as a member of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League, Simpson also has ties to the Birmingham area having played two seasons at UAB.
The announcement of Mays’ passing turned a very happy crowd somber, but for Simpson it was all about soaking up the history of the moment. Prior to the game Simpson told reporters this ….
“I had to take a couple laps around the field just to see the atmosphere, feel the energy, just to be in the presence of all those greats that came before me,” Simpson said. “It’s a great feeling. We’d be doing a disservice to do anything but compete.”
In the game Simpson went 3-for-4 bringing his minor league-leading average to .375. He also stole three bringing that total to 51, which is 13 more than any other player in the league.
A special baseball card of one of our MLBbro greats was unveiled in New York City on Saturday. Jackie Robinson can be seen on a large baseball card in the heart of the Big Apple.
Today, a giant card honoring Jackie Robinson was unveiled at FOX Plaza in New York City 🙌@FOXSports and @Fanatics collectibles are paying tribute to the Negro Leagues ahead of the @MLB at Rickwood Field game, June 20 on FOX
Rickwood Set Of Baseball Cards: Negro League Greats
FOX Sports and Fanatics Collectibles/Topps came together to create a Rickwood Field set of cards of Negro League greats.
“The greats of the Negro Leagues are larger-than-life figures in American history and the history of the great game of baseball and it is only fitting to have a larger-than-life unveiling at the Negro League Baseball Museum,” President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Bob Kendrick said in a statement back in May.
“We would like to thank our friends at FOX Sports, Fanatics Collectibles, and Major League Baseball for keeping the spirit of black baseball alive.”
These will be featured in a tour of six cities and the cards are 24 feet by 16 feet and weigh 8,000 pounds. The MLB at Rickwood Field Game is a little under two weeks away and this is a special and creative way to honor those Negro Leagues stars.
Former major league player Micah Johnson was the one who designed the cards. The tour will continue through multiple cities, eventually making its way to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama for the game on June 20, where the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants will match up against each other.
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