Bob Jones picks up win at historic Rickwood Field

BIRMINGHAM- It opened in 1910 and is the oldest professional baseball park in the United States. The likes of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, and Babe Ruth played games there.

The Bob Jones baseball team took a step back in time on Feb. 23 as they played Ramsey High School at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham.

For the record, Bob Jones won 12-4. Stuart Edge got his first career start and got the win and Ryan Crawford got the save. Mitch Daly, playing shortstop, was the hitting star going 1-2 with 3 RBI.

It is the second straight year Bob Jones Head Baseball coach Jared Smith has taken the team down for a day.

“It’s a neat place where all these famous players played and our players enjoy taking it all in,” Smith said. “We got there early and got a tour from a volunteer from the Friends of Rickwood group and he gave us some of the history with the photos and saw the original scoreboard and outfield fence. The players have a lot of interest in the historic nature of the ballpark and the history of baseball.

It was a good overall win for us and everybody on the team played except for our pitcher only guys.”

Rickwood is actually the home park for Ramsey and Wenonah High Schools.

It is very early in the season and Smith is still moving players around. He had John Michael Riley playing catcher against Albertville in the weekend doubleheader and Riley responded throwing out a baserunner and had a hit and 2 RBI. The highlight of the 11-1 win over Albertville was a grand slam by Dylan Ray. Cam Hill picked up the win.

Caden Rose has seen action at catcher and his usual position shortstop.  Slate Alford is the only freshman on the varsity roster and has been playing third base.

Austin East started on the mound and got the win over Scottsboro as Bob Jones won 6-0 to close out their first week with a 4-2 record.

The team has a home game Thursday and a doubleheader next Saturday.