Former Atlanta Braves superstar centerfielder Andruw Jones stepped into the batter’s box, but not before he received a loud ovation from the Rickwood Field crowd. Several hundred people were in the stands to watch former Major League Baseball ballplayers like Jones, former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, Milwaukee Brewer star Prince Fielder, B.J. and Justin Upton, Mike Cameron, Curtis Granderson, Gary Sheffield, former Major League Baseball star and manager Dusty Baker, and future National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee C.C. Sabathia.
The fans were dressed in Negro League jerseys, replica Willie Mays San Francisco Giants jerseys, and one fan had on Jones’ jersey. Baseball was in the air, and Rickwood Field, the oldest active-use baseball field in the country, was one of the places to be in Birmingham for Juneteenth. That wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions from Major League Baseball and the East-West Classic, an exhibition game featuring former professional ball players in its second year. The outfield fence at Rickwood Field is covered with advertisements from national brands such as Geico, Budweiser, and New York Life Insurance Co. Local businesses, including American Cast Iron Pipe Company, are also represented on the wall.
The East-West Classic brought dozens of media members to the park, including out-of-town outlets and publications, to cover the second-annual game at a 115-year-old ball park. Rickwood Field’s history is part of Birmingham’s lore.
It is reminiscent of Herndon Stadium, which is located in the heart of the Atlanta University Center, and has a historic link to Atlanta’s sports legacy. The only difference is that Herndon Stadium is currently decorated with graffiti and overgrown weeds instead of advertisements. Clark Atlanta University owns Herndon Stadium, once home to the Morris Brown College Wolverines football team, and has billboards around campus advertising a master development plan that is underway. Herndon Stadium is listed as a key project on that plan, but from the looks of things, nothing has happened.
Once home to thousands of fans, the stadium is no longer in use, but was once the venue of choice for the 1996 Summer Olympics field hockey competition. Investments from the National Football League, for example, could change the landscape of the Atlanta University Center forever. With the FIFA World Cup less than a year away, there has been talk of revitalization, but so far, it is only talk.
Some other people who have an emotional stake in Herndon Stadium are talking, too. Former Wolverines players want something to happen with their former home turf.
“Restoring Herndon Stadium would mean the world to me as it is a place of historical significance to me and my brothers,” said Stephen Dukes, a former Wolverines offensive lineman. “I hope to revisit it one day and take my kids to see it in its true beauty. I love Dear Ole Morris Brown.”
“Revitalization of Herndon Stadium would mean everything to me—as an athlete, as a proud Morris Brown alum, and as someone who deeply respects the legacy of Black excellence and perseverance,” said former Wolverines linebacker Lavar “Hollywood” Sims.
Sims added, “That stadium isn’t just a field of grass and concrete bleachers—it’s sacred ground. It holds the sweat, stories, and sacrifices of countless student-athletes who gave their all, even when the odds were stacked against them. It represents a time when Morris Brown was thriving, when the community came together to celebrate talent, resilience, and unity.”
A short walk down Vine Street will give anyone interested in seeing the current condition of Herndon Stadium a clear look. There are large and colorful graffiti pieces on the stadium facade. There is trash inside the fences around the stadium. It’s hard to imagine a Saturday afternoon football game on the field as it looks today. Former Wolverines, National Football League, and NFL Europe cornerback James Thornton told The Atlanta Voice that he would be overjoyed to see a return of Herndon Stadium similar to what is taking place at Morris Brown College.
“Herndon Stadium is home for me,” Thornton said. “It gave me my start towards my pro career and introduced me to my lifelong friends. It pains me to know that I cannot watch a game in the stadium that provided so many memories for Brownnites, family, and friends.”
Former Wolverines offensive lineman Brian Ashley, an educator in Atlanta, told The Atlanta Voice that Herndon Stadium doesn’t just hold deep memories for former players, cheerleaders, and band members. The stadium is special for the community.
“As a former football player and proud Morris Brown College alum, the revitalization of Herndon Stadium would mean the world to me,” Ashley said. “It was more than just a place where we played; we built brotherhood, discipline, and pride in wearing the purple and black.”
One man who played basketball and football at Morris Brown College has seen both the buildings in which he played deteriorate before his eyes. John H. Lewis Gymnasium is home to the Wolverines Division I and II basketball programs.
Franklin Major, a former Wolverine power forward and offensive lineman, said bringing Herndon Stadium back to life would “bring history and tradition back.”
“Not to mention that’s the best stadium in the AU center. I miss that place.”
The Atlanta Voice will continue to update this story.