NORMAL — The upcoming season is one of historic proportions for the Alabama A&M baseball team.
Historic as in baseball history.
The Bulldogs will play in two of the oldest baseball stadiums in the country – historic Rickwood Field and the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field.
“To play at Rickwood Field and Wrigley Field in the same season is something most coaches and players will never experience in a lifetime,” said Head Coach Louis Whitlow. “These ballparks aren’t just fields — they’re chapters in the story of baseball.
“For our young men to step on two of the oldest and most historic diamonds in the country is a moment of pride, reflection, and responsibility.”
The Bulldogs will face Miles College at Rickwood Field – it opened in 1910 – in Birmingham on March 10.
The importance of playing at Rickwood has a personal as well as a historic meaning to the Bulldogs’ coach.
“Being a Birmingham native, Rickwood is special to me from my times of playing on the field to my times of now coaching,” Whitlow said. “Rickwood Field is the home of legends like Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, Josh Gibson – men who paved the way for us and within baseball. Wrigley has its own century of iconic history.
“When our players walk into those ballparks, they’re not just playing a game; they’re stepping into history. It’s an opportunity to honor the past and understand the shoulders they stand on.”
The Bulldogs’ three-game SWAC series against Prairie View A&M (May 1-3) will be played in the Chicago area. The middle game of that series – the HBCU Classic – will be the first-ever HBCU game played at historic Wrigley Field, which opened in 1914.
“Being part of the first HBCU game ever played at Wrigley Field is a true honor,” Whitlow said. “We don’t take that lightly. We represent Alabama A&M, we represent HBCUs, and we represent every player who never got the chance to play at such an iconic venue as Wrigley field.
“Our job is to show up with pride, compete, and carry our history with us.”
The Bulldogs and Prairie View A&M will play the night of May 2 in Wrigley Field after the Cubs day game. The Friday and Sunday (May 1 and 3) games will be played at Wintrust Field in Schaumburg – the home of the Frontier League Schaumburg Boomers.
“As a coach, walking into Rickwood and Wrigley is a moment you don’t take for granted. I’m grateful — but I’m even more excited to watch our players compete in places that mean so much to the history of baseball,” Whitlow said. “Moments like this build belief, confidence, and lifelong memories.”
The Bulldogs open the 2026 season at the HBCU Classic in Pearl, Miss., Feb. 13-15 against Texas Southern, Jackson State and Grambling State (Feb. 15).
Then, they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a midweek contest Feb. 17 at Middle Tennessee State.
The Maroon & White continue non-conference play at the Maestri Classic in New Orleans from Feb. 20-22, facing New Orleans, Louisiana-Monroe and Northern Kentucky, before returning to The Hill for the 2026 home opener Feb. 25 against Illinois State.
Alabama A&M will also compete in the Tennessee Tech Tournament from Feb. 27-29 in Cookeville, Tenn., facing Notre Dame, Tennessee Tech and Illinois-Chicago.
The Bulldogs are back on The Hill for midweek home games against Stillman on March 3 and Clark Atlanta on March 4.
SWAC play begins March 13 as the Bulldogs host Alcorn State for a three-game series. The Bulldogs will also play host to Texas Southern (April 2-4), Alabama State (April 10-12), Jackson State (April 24-26) and Florida A&M (May 8-10).
“We’re excited about the energy we’ll have at Bulldog Field this season,” Whitlow said. “Playing in front of our home crowd and hosting key conference series will be important as we push toward the postseason.”
The Bulldogs will travel for SWAC series at Grambling State (March 20-22), Mississippi Valley State (March 27-29), Bethune-Cookman (April 16-18) and Southern (May 14-16).
After Miles, A&M will take on Jacksonville State in a neutral-site contest April 14 at Toyota Field in Madison; Toyota Field hosted its first game in 2021.
“This schedule gives our program a great balance of quality opponents and opportunities to grow,” Whitlow said. “We’ll be tested early, especially away from home, and that experience is going to help us once conference play begins.”
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