March 2020
The Rickwood SABR Chapter recently conducted a Facebook poll to determine the best players at each position in Rickwood Field history.
Voters considered 5-6 candidates at each position, and 2 pitchers. Barons, A’s, and Black Barons who played at least one season at Rickwood, were eligible for consideration. Nominations were based on each player’s contributions while playing for a Birmingham based team from 1910-1987 without considering their statistics for major league clubs. An “outfielder” category was added for players without specific outfield positions.
For more information, please like the Rickwood Field SABR Chapter on Facebook.
Catcher: Yam Yaryan [Barons, 1926-30, 357, 60 HRs, 99 2Bs]. Runner up: Pepper Bassett [Black Barons: 1944-50]
First Base: Gus Triandos [Barons: 1953, .368, 19 HRs]. Runner up: Walt Dropo [Barons: 1948]
Second Base: Piper Davis [Black Barons, 1942-49, .348, 7-time EW-ASG]. Runner up: Stuffy Stewart [Barons: 1920-25, 28-29] Third Base: Fred Hatfield [Barons: 1949-50, .280, 52 HRs, 43 2Bs, 22 3Bs]. Runner up: Mickey Rutner [Barons, 1948]. Shortstop: Artie Wilson [Black Barons, 1944-48, .369, 5 HRs, 40 2Bs, 18 3B]. Runner up: Pie Traynor [Barons, 1921]
Left Fielder: Stan Palys [Barons, 1960-61, .352, 41 HRs, 20 3B, 76 2B]. Runner up: Reggie Jackson [A’s, 1967]
Center Fielder: Jimmy Piersall [Barons, 1951-52, .345, 16 HRs, 13 3B, 34 2B]. Runner up: Willie Mays [Black Barons, 1948-50]
Right Fielder: Elliot Bigelow [Barons, 1927-28, .376, 27 HRs, 28 3B, 59 2B]. Runner up: Claudell Washington [A’s, 1974] Outfielder: Butch Weis [Barons, 1929-31 & 1934, .337, 51 HRs, 52 3B, 107 2B]. Runner up: George Wilson [Barons, 1948-49] Right-Handed Pitcher: Satchel Paige [Black Barons, 1927-30, 426 IP, 35-15 (.700), 2.98 ERA]. Runner up: Burleigh Grimes [Barons, 1914-16]
Left-Handed Pitcher: Eddie Wells [Barons, 1927-48, 405 IP, 38-8 (.826), 2.60 ERA]. Runner up: Joe Grzenda, [1958, ‘60-61, ’64 Barons, ’67 A’s].