In Photos: Ex-NFL linebacker Dwight Freeney rubs shoulders with Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, and others at Rickwood Field's celebrity softball game
Former NFL linebacker Dwight Freeney is among the several big names in Birmingham, Alabama, before a historic MLB game at Rickwood Field.
On June 20, the St. Louis Cardinals will play the San Francisco Giants at Rickwood Field, the oldest professional baseball field in the U.S. Between 1920 and 1960, Rickwood Field was home to the erstwhile Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Now, MLB will be holding a regular season game to honor the African-American celebration of Juneteenth.
On June 19, one day before the momentous game, a celebrity softball game was held at Rickwood Park. Dwight Freeney, who retired from the Detroit Lions, was in attendance and showed off the star-studded crew via images uploaded to his Instagram.
"Had a great time today celebrating #Juneteenth with some of my brothers, thank you @mlb @uninterruped for having me Barnstorm Birmingham" - dwightfreeney
Freeney captured pictures with high-profile names, including former New York Yankees stars CC Sabathia and Derek Jeter. Other big names include David Ortiz, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Howard. The event was called the "Barnstorm Birmingham" Juneteenth celebration, and the softball game was labeled "Fam Jam."
The celebrity softball game was established through a partnership between MLB and Uninterrupted. The latter is an athletic storytelling brand founded by LeBron James and his agent, Maverick Carter.
"Alex Rodriguez, Dontrelle Willis, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter at Rickwood Field for the #BarnstormBirmingham Celeb Softball Game tonight" - MLB
An 11th-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2002, the 6-foot-1, 286 lb Freeney was an effective linebacker throughout his fifteen seasons in the NFL. A three-time first-team All-Pro, Freeney has seven Pro Bowl nods over his career and also won Super Bowl XLI as a member of the Colts in 2007.
Dwight Freeney among those bringing major fanfare to Birmingham
Even before the St. Louis Cardinals square off against the Giants, the presence of some top names in the athletic world excited fans.
“It’s huge for the community, huge for the commerce, local economy, jobs. I think it’s going to spark something where people are going to realize that Rickwood Field and Birmingham is a place they ought to come as well,” Bradley Mullinax, a fan, told CBS News.
It may have been several decades since Negro League action happened at Rickwood Field. However, the same excitement and interest that existed then appears to have been rejuvenated once again.