Who are the Memphis Redbirds?:
The Memphis Redbirds are a AAA minor league baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals. They are in the Pacific Coast League. In their first eight seasons, the Redbirds donated more than $5 million to charity and is the only professional sports franchise to be recognized as a charity by the Internal Revenue Service.
Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation:
The Memphis Redbirds are owned and operated by the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation. The foundation operates two programs for local youth: RBI (Returning Baseball to the Inner-City) and STRIPES (Sports Teams Returning In the Public Education System). The goals of these programs include giving inner-city children safe and healthy ways to occupy their time outside of school, teaching these children about teamwork and self-discipline, and providing positive role models for all children in the Memphis area. All of the profits of the Memphis Redbirds go into these and other charitable programs.
History of the Redbirds in Memphis:
Memphis acquired the Redbirds in 1997. For twenty years prior to the acquisition, Memphis' only professional baseball team was the Memphis Chicks (short for the Chickasaws), part of the AA Southern League.
During the Redbirds first two seasons, the team played at the 8,800 seat Tim McCarver stadium, former home of the Chicks. Then, in 2000, the Redbirds began playing in their brand new home, AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis.
AutoZone Park:
AutoZone Park is located at 200 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee and opened in 2000. It has a seating capacity of more than 12,500 and cost more than $80 million to build, of which $72 million came from private funding. It has frequently been described as one of the finest ballparks in the country. In addition to being home to the Memphis Redbirds, AutoZone Park is also home to an annual Major League Baseball exhibition game known as the Civil Rights Game. The stadium was given the honor of hosting the game due to its proximity to the National Civil Rights Museum.
More Redbirds Information:
- Click here for the current season's complete schedule of games.
- In addition, all of the upcoming Redbirds home games are included in the Memphis Calendar of Events.
- For further information, visit the Memphis Redbird's website.
