Everything about Birmingham Black Barons totally explained
Birmingham Black Barons
Leagues
Significant Players
The
Birmingham Black Barons played professional baseball for
Birmingham, Alabama in the
Negro Leagues from
1920 to 1960 when the
Major Leagues successfully integrated. They alternated home stands with the
Birmingham Barons in Birmingham's
Rickwood Field, usually drawing larger crowds and equal press.
Drawing largely from a successful
ACIPCO Industrial League team, the Black Barons were organized in 1920 for the inaugural season of
Rube Foster's
Negro Southern League. They played in that league for three years before making the leap to the larger
Negro National League. They were unable to keep their position due to irregularities with the team finances and returned to the Southern League for three more years. Their return to the National League was marked by the emergence of star pitcher
Satchel Paige, who led the Black Barons to the second half pennant. They lost the Negro National League title to the
Chicago American Giants in four straight games.
For the next decade or so they alternated leagues before being bought by
Memphis, Tennessee funeral home director Tom Hayes. They returned to the National League for good in 1940. Early in the decade the team was sold again to
Abraham Saperstein who also owned the
Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. In 1943 they won their first of three pennants. Starting in 1945, they became full members of the Negro National League and enjoyed great success, winning their third pennant in 1948 with the help of teenage outfielder
Willie Mays. They ended up losing three
Negro World Series to the
Homestead Grays that decade, forging a notable rivalry. As the Major Leagues started signing talented African American players, the Black Barons tried to form a new
Negro American League with three other Southern teams. The new league played four seasons from 1956 to 1960 before folding. The Black Barons played their last game in
1960.
Throwback game
On
February 26,
2006 ESPN Classic broadcast a throwback game from
Rickwood Field featuring amateur players in the uniforms of the Birmingham Black Barons and Bristol Barnstormers. The style of play, the equipment, and the umpires all reflected the 1940s game. Willie Mays attended along with one-time Black Baron
Charley Pride. The Black Barons rallied to break an eighth inning tie and win the game 9-8.
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