With the Detroit Lions’ 2026 draft now nearly a full week in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for the Pride of Detroit staff to take inventory of what transpired. We’ve had time to read the scouting reports, listen to what Lions general manager Brad Holmes had to say about each pick, and do our own dive into the college film.
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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So over the next week, our staff will be sharing their thoughts on the Lions’ draft class in a roundtable-like discussion. To kick the series off, we’re going to talk about our favorite pick from the Lions’ NFL Draft.
And as a fun exercise, I’m going to include a link to last year’s answers to see how wrong/right we were.
2025: Best Detroit Lions draft pick discussion
What was your favorite pick from the Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft?
Ryan Mathews: Blake Miller
Miller was easily my favorite pick of the draft. Holmes didn’t have to sacrifice any future capital to bolster an offensive line that desperately needed to be improved after last season’s noticeable step back. Instead, he let the board come to him on Day 1, and when it did, Holmes drafted a player who fits in terms of both football character and play style.
Brandon Knapp: Blake Miller
Despite the rumors of the Lions liking Kadyn Proctor, he thankfully was off the board. For me, Miller was my 1B to Francis Mauigoa as my top twoo options in the first round. The OT spot was the most important position that needed to be addressed and the team taking one at 17 was music to my ears. I wanted the experience and consistency Miller brought.
John Whiticar: Blake Miller
There was some thought (fear?) that the Lions might get cute and pass on tackle in the first round. Instead, not only did the Lions get a perfect culture and scheme fit, they also did so without trading up from pick 17. Miller will technically battle Larry Borom for the right tackle spot, but it would be a major surprise if he doesn’t win it outright. For a team that just parted ways with Taylor Decker, adding Miller to the roster is just about a perfect way to replace—and potentially improve upon—the veteran. It was an easy and obvious choice, and the Lions went for it.
Erik Schlitt: Blake Miller
I haven’t been shy about my desire to see Miller in Honolulu Blue, as I believe he was a perfect combination of skill set, character, and need for the Lions at pick No. 17 in the first round. I firmly believe that the Lions have found the ideal replacement for Taylor Decker; a starting tackle who can deliver reliable production for the next 10 years.
Jeremy Reisman: Miller/Keith Abney
I discussed this earlier in Sunday’s Question of the Day. But in short: Miller was the most logical pick, and I’m glad the Lions stayed relatively patient and took him without spending extra draft capital—even if they tried. But more impressively, they may have gotten their future starting nickel in Abney all the way in the fifth round. For a team with minimal draft capital, landing a potential starter that late in a “thin” draft class should be considered a huge triumph. If the Lions are going to stay competitive long-term, it’s not just imperative they hit on the early picks, but they’ll need to find late-round steals and that’s exactly what Abney is.
Milwaukee apartment building fire
Firefighters responded to the scene of an apartment building fire on Fond du Lac Avenue near Bourbon Street in Milwaukee on Friday morning, May 1.
MILWAUKEE – Firefighters responded to the scene of an apartment building fire on Fond du Lac Avenue near Bourbon Street in Milwaukee on Friday morning, May 1.
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, crews responded to the scene shortly before 3 a.m. Upon arrival, they found fire on the first and second floors.
Five occupants jumped from second floor balconies and were taken to the hospital. Six other occupants were rescued from the structure by the Milwaukee Fire Department.
Milwaukee apartment building fire on Fond du Lac Avenue near Bourbon Street
Milwaukee apartment building fire on Fond du Lac Avenue near Bourbon Street
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No additional details have been released – including the cause of the fire or the amount of damage sustained.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Fire Department.
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