Today in Birmingham at historic Rickwood Field (which is the oldest stadium in the country in continuous use), the Birmingham Barons celebrated all baseball players who have ever played on the field at the 15th Annual Rickwood Classic.
Negro League players were among those honored. Those of you who regularly read the
Postmarks blog are already familiar with Cleophus Brown, a Birmingham MVS driver who played in the Negro Leagues from 1953-1955 for the Louisville Clippers and the Birmingham Black Barons. Known in his playing days as Hard Hittin' Brown, he was primarily a pitcher who also played first base.
Mr. Brown was among those honored, and
Postmarks photographer Marvin Owens was there to take some fabulous pictures of the event. Here are just a handful of them:
Former Negro League players being honored on the field. Mr. Brown is fourth from the right.
Cleophus Brown giving an autograph to a young fan.
Cleophus Brown (second from right) with a small group of former Negro League players and friends.
Cleophus Brown in front of Rickwood Field, which was built and donated to the City of Birmingham by his former employer, Woodward Iron.
Cleophus Brown's brick on the Walk of Fame outside Rickwood Field.
Mr. Brown will be featured in this quarter's
Postmarks magazine, which will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.
