Tuesday, Major League Baseball (MLB) confirmed the report that Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, would be the site of a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants in 2024.
Per the official announcement, FOX will provide exclusive national coverage of the game between the Cardinals and Giants on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. local time.
The game, scheduled around the Juneteenth holiday, "will include a variety of activities as a tribute to the Negro Leagues and its greatest living player – Hall of Famer, Giants Legend, Birmingham native and Birmingham Black Barons player Willie Mays," according to the City of Birmingham.
The Cardinals and Giants will be sporting attire that will highlight the Negro Leagues' histories of both St. Louis and San Francisco.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the league looked forward "to sharing the stories of the Negro Leagues throughout this event next year.”
“We are proud to bring Major League Baseball to historic Rickwood Field in 2024,” said Manfred. “This opportunity to pay tribute to the Negro Leagues as the Giants and Cardinals play a regular season game at this iconic location is a great honor. The legacy of the Negro Leagues and its greatest living player, Willie Mays, is one of excellence and perseverance. We look forward to sharing the stories of the Negro Leagues throughout this event next year.”
Birmingham and MLB will work together to renovate Rickwood Field to be able to host the event as well as a Minor League contest between the Birmingham Barons and the Montgomery Biscuits on June 18, 2024.
Mayor Randall Woodfin shared his excitement for the game on Twitter.
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