'Road to Rickwood' podcast nominated for multiple awards

Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in the United States and the former home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, added another chapter to its storied history on June 20, 2024, when it hosted a regular season game between the Giants and Cardinals.

To commemorate the historic event, the NPR stations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., partnered with MLB to produce “Road to Rickwood,” a four-part podcast series that traces the Birmingham, Ala., ballpark’s deep connection to America’s pastime and its role in the civil rights movement.

That podcast now has been nominated for a pair of Signal Awards, in the History and Sports (Documentary) categories. Listener voting is now open and ends Thursday. You can read more about the Signal Awards here.

Hosted by comedian and Birmingham native Roy Wood Jr., "Road to Rickwood" not only dives into the ballpark's early days but also explores the heyday of Black baseball in Alabama during the 1940s, examines the sport's importance during segregation and looks at baseball's role in Black communities today.

You can check out all four "Road to Rickwood" episodes here.