Midwest
Negro League stadiums, including historical Rickwood Field, you can visit
The Negro National League was founded in 1920 during a time of segregation in the United States.
The league gained traction through the 1930s and ’40s. In 1944, Jackie Robinson, who played for the Negro League, became the first player in the modern era to join MLB, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
After that, many more stars from the Negro League were invited to MLB.
Rickwood Field is one of few fields used in the Negro leagues that are still functional today. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Today, many of the stadiums used in the Negro League no longer exist, though there are some that have remained. Numerous fields have been renovated and are still used today for local events.
One field that is still in use is Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. This field was home to the Birmingham Black Barons, the team Willie Mays, who died on June 18, 2024, played on before joining the New York Giants.
Rickwood Field is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, according to the Associated Press.
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Read on to learn about the stadiums around the country that used to be home fields of teams in the Negro leagues.
- Downs Field – Austin, Texas
- Hamtramck Stadium – Hamtramck, Michigan
- J.P. Small Stadium – Jacksonville, Florida
- Rickwood Field – Birmingham, Alabama
- Bush Stadium – Indianapolis
- League Park – Cleveland
- Hinchliffe Stadium – Paterson, New Jersey
1. Downs Field – Austin, Texas
Downs Field in Austin, Texas, is currently used by the Huston-Tillotson Rams College baseball team, according to MLB.com.
The Austin Black Senators called this field their home park beginning in 1927, according to Visit Austin.
Pitcher Satchel Paige was one of many prominent players in the Negro leagues. (Getty Images)
Today, the park is full of murals by local artists that honor the many prominent players, like Willie Wells, Satchel Paige, Buck O’Neil and Smokey Joe Williams, who played baseball on the field, according to Visit Austin.
2. Hamtramck Stadium – Hamtramck, Michigan
This stadium in Hamtramck, Michigan, has gone through changes to bring it to what it is today.
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Many thought this stadium had disappeared from existence, but a researcher named Gary Gillette discovered that Hamtramck Stadium had been confused with the nearby Keyworth Stadium, according to MLB.com.
This stadium was built in the 1930s and was the home field of the Detroit Stars and the Detroit Wolves of the Negro leagues, according to the stadium’s website.
What had become a rotting and weed-infested field is now fully functional once again. The stadium reopened in 2022 after a $3 million rehabilitation, according to the source.
3. J.P. Small Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida
J.P. Small Stadium, previously known as Durkee Field and Barrs Field, among others, was home to the Jacksonville Red Caps.
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The field was renovated multiple times over the years. Since 1932, it has been owned by the city. In 2006, a Negro leagues exhibit was added to the property.
Today, the stadium is used for baseball games as the home field of Stanton College Prep and Edward Waters University. The stadium underwent renovations in 2024, slated to be finished in July.
4. Rickwood Field – Birmingham, Alabama
Rickwood Field first opened in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1910.
Rickwood Field is the oldest baseball field in the United States. (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
For many years, Rickwood was the home field of the Birmingham Black Barons, where players like Paige, Mays and many others, such as Dan Bankhead, the first African-American pitcher to play in MLB, took the field.
The final Negro League World Series was played on this field in October 1948, according to MLB.
Rickwood Field is still operational today.
5. Bush Stadium – Indianapolis
Bush Stadium in Indianapolis first opened its doors in 1931. Although the field is no longer a setting for baseball games, a unique renovation allowed tenants to live on the property full of history.
This stadium, which was called Perry Field when it opened, was the home field of the Indianopolis ABC’s and Clowns during the 1930s and 1940s, according to MLB.com.
After many years of no use, Stadium Lofts opened in 2013. The lofts surround the historic field, providing views for residents of the field below.
6. League Park – Cleveland
Cleveland is where you can find League Park, the backdrop of the Cleveland Buckeyes’ 1945 Negro World Series win.
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When the ballpark was built in 1891, the Cleveland Spiders and then the Blues played there, according to MLB.com.
This stadium is still in use today, hosting local baseball games and other events. Here you can also find the Heritage Baseball Museum.
7. Hinchliffe Stadium – Paterson, New Jersey
Head over to Hinchliffe Stadium in New Jersey to see the former home field of the New York Black Yankees.
The New York Cubans and Newark Eagles were other teams who played there.
Hinchcliffe Stadium began its most recent renovations in 2021. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The stadium has been renovated since its original construction in 1932 and is now the home field of the New Jersey Jackals. The team is part of the Frontier League, an MLB Partner League, according to MLB.
The Jackals played their first game at the stadium in 2023.
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Denver (12-3) at Kansas City (6-9)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EST, Amazon Prime Video.
BetMGM NFL Odds: Broncos by 13.
Against the spread: Broncos 6-8-1; Chiefs 5-9-1.
Series record: Chiefs lead 73-58.
Last meeting: Broncos beat Chiefs 22-19 on Nov. 16 in Denver.
Last week: Broncos lost to Jaguars 34-20 in Denver; Chiefs lost to Titans 26-9 in Tennessee.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, left, and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) shake hands after an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. Credit: AP/Jack Dempsey
Broncos offense: overall (9), rush (18), pass (8), scoring (13).
Broncos defense: overall (4), rush (2), pass (10), scoring (5).
Chiefs offense: overall (13), rush (22), pass (9), scoring (20).
Chiefs defense: overall (10), rush (8), pass (12), scoring (4).
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: AP/John Amis
Turnover differential: Broncos minus-4; Chiefs minus-2.
Broncos player to watch
WR Courtland Sutton needs 28 yards receiving to become the first Broncos player with back-to-back 1,000 yards seasons since Emmanuel Sanders (2014-16) and Demaryius Thomas (2012-16).
Chiefs player to watch
QB Chris Oladokun finished out last week’s game against the Titans once Gardner Minshew joined Patrick Mahomes in tearing his ACL in consecutive weeks. Now, the former South Florida, Samford and South Dakota State quarterback — a seventh-round pick in 2022 — could make his first NFL start.
Key matchup
The Chiefs quarterback against the Broncos pass rush, which is the best in the league. They have 63 sacks, or 13 more than the second-place Falcons, and more than double what Kansas City (31) has had this season.
Key injuries
Chiefs: CBs Trent McDuffie (knee) and Jaylen Watson (groin) and WRs Nikko Remigio (knee), Rashee Rice (concussion) and Tyquan Thornton (concussion) missed practice this week. QB Gardner Minshew (torn ACL) went on injured reserve.
Broncos: LB Dre Greenlaw has been dealing with a hamstring injury. WR Pat Bryant (concussion), C Luke Wattenberg (shoulder), TE Nate Adkins (knee) have also been out. LBs Justin Strnad (foot) and Karene Reid (hamstring) were full participants this week.
Series notes
The Chiefs won 16 consecutive games in the series beginning in November 2015 and ending in October 2023. But since then, the Broncos have won three of the past four, including their matchup earlier this season in Denver. Each of those three wins have come at home for the Broncos; they still have not won in Kansas City since Sept. 17, 2015.
Stats and stuff
Broncos QB Bo Nix is tied for the second-most victories over the first two seasons at his position with 22. … Nix needs one TD pass to become the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 25 in each of his first two seasons. … Two of Nix’s protectors earned their first Pro Bowl starting bids in G Quinn Meinerz and ninth-year veteran T Garett Bolles, who leads the league in pass-blocking efficiency and has yet to allow a sack this season. … WR Courtland Sutton has moved into fifth in Broncos history with 6,226 yards receiving. … Broncos LB Nik Bonitto needs one sack to joins Simon Fletcher as the only players in team history with at least 13 1/2 in back-to-back seasons. … Chiefs TE Travis Kelce needs 46 yards to become the fastest at his position to reach 13,000 in NFL history. Kelce has caught a pass in 189 straight games, the longest streak in Chiefs history and longest active streak in the NFL. … Chiefs K Harrison Butker has missed at least one PAT or FG attempt in eight of their 15 games. Kansas City was 1 for 9 on third down and finished with 133 total yards last week against the Titans. Nearly half of those yards were offset by 10 penalties for 59 yards.
Fantasy tip
Broncos RB R.J Harvey could have a huge day against a beaten-up Kansas City defense, one week after the Titans’ Tony Pollard eclipsed 100 yards against it. The Chiefs offense has been decimated by injuries, which means they could be punting a lot, giving the Broncos the ball for long stretches. And if the game gets out of hand early — a distinct possibility — then it could be Harvey getting fed simply to run out the clock.
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Minnesota
Minnesota officials warn federal agents that swapping license plates ‘will not be tolerated’
State officials sent a formal warning to the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday in response to reports of federal agents illegally meddling with Minnesota-issued license plates on unmarked vehicles.
The cease-and-desist letter from Driver and Vehicle Services Director Pong Xiong describes allegations of DHS agents swapping license plates between vehicles and placing identical license plates on two separate vehicles.
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“The above-described conduct violates Minnesota law and will not be tolerated,” Xiong wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “To be clear, Minnesota law prohibits anyone, including the driver of an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, from displaying a Minnesota license plate other than the license plate assigned to that vehicle by DVS.”
If federal agents don’t abide by Minnesota law, DVS could reconsider federal agents’ access to Minnesota’s undercover license plate program.
“Historically, DHS has used this program to protect the anonymity of law enforcement personnel
performing sensitive work in Minnesota while adhering to state law and providing a mechanism for
accountability in the event an unmarked vehicle is misused,” Xiong wrote.
Further violations could result in DVS revoking their vehicle registrations and seizing their license plates, the DVS director warned.
Read the full letter from DVS below.
Gov. Tim Walz also addressed the alleged conduct by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a news conference on Tuesday.
“These guys are doing what criminals do: They’re putting license plates on vehicles they’re not registered to. They’re renting vehicles and putting on fake plates,” Walz said, adding that such a practice makes it more difficult for local and state law enforcement to know whether a vehicle is involved in official duties.
‘It’s putting people at risk’: Walz, Twin Cities leaders denounce ICE immigration operations
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to DHS and ICE for comment and is awaiting a response.
This isn’t the first time federal immigration agents have gotten in hot water with state officials over alleged license plate violations.
Earlier this month, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced that his office had revoked a rental car’s license plate when investigators found ICE agents swapped its plates. He also issued a warning to all rental car companies that they can be held liable if federal agents are caught tampering with the license plates assigned to their vehicles.
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