The Negro Southern League Baseball Museum: Facility of Dreams

I only attended a major league baseball game once in my life. It was not riveting. I left during the seventh inning and read in the newspaper the next day that the score never changed after I left. It failed to capture my heart like it has for so many others. However, if Field of Dreams comes on the television on a Saturday afternoon, you can bet I’ll drop the laundry basket right where I stand and watch the entire movie. I was skeptical about visiting a baseball museum, though.

Today, we revisit an older article of mine that showcases one of the many wonderful activities in Alabama. Cooperstown, New York has a baseball museum. In addition, there are at least half a dozen others. Don’t miss this rare gem of a baseball museum in Alabama, even if you think you don’t like baseball.

For me, the fascinating part of baseball isn’t in the mechanics of the game. It isn’t about hits, runs, or fly balls. What I do find riveting are the players’ stories and the community profiles that made this game “America’s game.” This is exactly why everyone can find something to love at the Negro Southern League Baseball Museum in Birmingham, Alabama. If you are fascinated by the statistics, there are plenty of those. However, if you are like me, and love the human side of the game, there is plenty of that represented too.

Planning Your Visit to the Baseball Museum

The museum is a joint venture between the City of Birmingham and a non-profit organization called the Center for Negro League Baseball Research. Therefore, it is important to point out that this is a FREE museum. Donations are gratefully accepted, so please consider donating on your way out. The facility is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00am – 4:00pm. 

The exhibits are laid out on one level and, therefore, the facility is wonderfully handicapped accessible. It took me about an hour to go through all the exhibits, but someone with a deeper knowledge of baseball could certainly spend more time there. The museum is located in downtown Birmingham, so if you are staying at the Courtyard by Marriott (as we often do), you will have a quick 15-minute drive to the museum.

The Origin of the Leagues

At the height of Birmingham’s steel industry heyday, individual companies created baseball leagues for the staff. In this era, two leagues existed: one white and one black. Attending a baseball game was the main form of entertainment for community members. On February 13 and 14, 1920 owners of the top baseball clubs in the west met in Kansas City, Missouri and formed the Negro National League. Rube Foster, the owner of the Chicago American Giants, advocated for the formation of this league. They drafted a constitution and 8 teams each paid $500 as a franchise fee to join the league. They began play in May 1920.

At around the same time, on March 2, 1920, the southern U.S. formed another league. These clubs each paid a $200 franchise fee to join the league, the Negro Southern League.

The museum contains a timeline from 1855, when the first recorded baseball game between two black teams occurred. This timeline terminates in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier.

Informational plaques on the entry wall explain that defining “Negro League” baseball itself is a challenge. Some historians say that only players who played at the highest levels of black baseball (“the major leagues”) should be counted. Others say only those who played prior to 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, should be counted as “negro league” players. The reality is that the race is on to beat Father Time and preserve these stories. Most who participated played over 65 years ago and we are losing more former players all the time.

Exhibits and Artifacts in the Baseball Museum

Hundreds of artifacts including well-worn gloves, cleats, and uniforms are on display. Visitors begin their tour in “the dugout” which has a wall of autographed baseballs. I stared in fascination at beat up cleats from the 1920’s and a hand-carved bat from the 1890’s. Many of these items belonged to some of the most famous players in the league’s history. When combined with documents, contracts, and photographs the complete story becomes clear and mesmerizing, whether you are a baseball novice like me or a lifelong fan.

My study of a yellowed contract transported me to 1941. I could hear Mr. Burnis Wright telling his wife at the kitchen table that the children will have new shoes this year because he just signed a contract to play for the San Juan Puerto Rican Winter League. He will be paid $50/week. In 2022, this is the equivalent of $965/week. I have no idea if such a conversation took place with Mr. Wright, but in my head, I hear it. Who among us doesn’t relish the idea of being paid to do something we love?

Multi-Media

For the second time while in Alabama, I experienced the power of multi-media when museums use it to their best advantage. Even I, a novice, who doesn’t understand most facets of baseball, stood with my mouth agape.

The facility has a life-sized hologram of Satchel Paige, known as one of the best (if not the best) pitchers in the league. At the far end of the room, is a stand with four buttons, each labeled with the name of a pitch. I pressed button one and across the room, the hologram came to life. Paige wound up and pitched at me. Lights on the floor illuminated the path of the virtual ball. I gasped and immediately tried the second button, then the third, then fourth.

Suddenly, I had a new appreciation for the difficulty of the game. Frankly, I had a very difficult time discerning the difference in the lighted paths. I saw more similarities than differences. According to the museum staff, that’s the point. Therein lies the genius of Satchel Paige.

Transitioning Into the Modern Era

In 1947, Jackie Robinson signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Everyone involved in the Negro Leagues knew that this signaled the end of their beloved leagues as they were. While the Black community rejoiced at Robinson’s triumph, an awareness also grew that the Negro Leagues would lose players to “organized ball” (integrated teams).

The integration of professional baseball in Birmingham happened in 1964. Between 1947-1964, Birmingham still had two teams, The Birmingham Barons (white team) and the Birmingham Black Barons (black team).

Today, the Negro Southern League Baseball Museum is in a building adjacent to Rickwood Field. Built in 1910 by Alan Harvey “Rick” Woodward, the chairman of the Woodward Iron Company, Rickwood Field is iconic in Birmingham. This field served as the home for both the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons. It is still operating today and is the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States.

A Final Note

After visiting this museum, which is clearly a passion project for those involved, I understand the movie title Field of Dreams better than ever. Black men seeking camaraderie and opportunities to unwind and bond with their families after a dreadfully long work week, took to the ballpark just as their white counterparts did. Baseball was America’s game. And, if America closed some doors to these players, then the players simply opened a window (as the expression goes). Each crack of the bat symbolized another dream launching into a cloudless, blue sky. Rickwood Field and so many others, is a field where men and boys dreamed, and America cheered on their every wish.

Bonus Tip: Pair a visit to this museum with a visit to Vulcan Park for a perfect family day.

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