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???
1885 |
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The first year of the Birmingham Coal
Barons. Games were played at the Slag Pile (West End Park). T.C.I., which
owned the land, would only grant one 60-day lease at a time. The Barons
would also play in East Lake. |
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???
1901 |
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The Southern
Association was formed, with franchises in Birmingham, Selma, New Orleans,
Shreveport, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga. |
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???
1910 |
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The Barons moved
to Rickwood Field in 1910. Rickwood was the first concrete and steel
ballpark in the minor leagues. Owner A. H. (Rick) Woodward consulted
Philadelphia's legendary manager Connie Mack on building the 12.7 acre park.
Woodward used Philadelphia's Shibe Park and Pittsburgh's Forbes Field as
models. The name of the park originated from Woodward's first name and the
first part of his last name. |
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April
1921 |
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A tornado rips through Rickwood Field,
destroying the wooden outfield fence and the
bleachers, causing $30,000 in damages. |
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November
1947 |
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Barons general manager Eddie Glennon announces that the Barons will operate the new Class C Cotton State
League Natchez club beginning next year. The Barons purchased a majority of
the Natchez stock.
Last season, Natchez was in the Class D Evangeline League and had a
working agreement with the Barons.
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December
1947 |
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Fred Walters is hired as the Barons
player-manager for the 1948 season.
Walters is fairly new to the managing end of a ball club. Walters began
his managing career in 1946 when he became the manager of the
Louisville Colonels after Harry Leibold was suspended for "umpire
difficulties" during the season. Last year, he was the player-manager
of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Barons also announce they have agreed to become a farm club of the
Boston Red Sox.
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???
1957 |
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 Agreement
with Detroit Tigers reached. |
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November 1961 |
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While at the Southern Association's winter
meetings in Tampa, Florida, owner Albert Belcher
announces that the Barons will not operate in
1962. League directors have asked Belcher to
play against integrated teams in Rickwood Field
and he has refused. The city of Birmingham has
an ordinance that prohibits the mixing of white and black baseball
players in competition and Belcher said has been told by some of the
other teams in the league that they would be playing black players
next season.
The league then asked Belcher to move the team but he has
refused. "The league directors wanted me to move the franchise to
another city, but I refused. Birmingham is my home town and I plan
to remain here," Belcher said.
In addition, the Barons' working agreement with MLB's Detroit
Tigers has been cancelled.
Belcher has asked the league to allow him to retain the franchise
on an inactive basis and the league directors have agreed. |
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???
1964 |
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A new Southern
League was formed, comprised of members of the Southern Association and
the South Atlantic League. |
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April
1966 |
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The city of Birmingham purchases Rickwood Field from Belcher. |
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