Don Leo, corporate sales manager for the Birmingham Barons, took time to speak with the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce on July 12 to tell them of his life in sports and his role with the Barons.
Leo started with the Barons, the AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, in 2012, and is in his sixth full season with the team. Leo’s spent time in various places in the sports world, including working with Davey Allison when Leo was the Director of NASCAR Operations for the Texaco/Havoline Racing team.
Leo developed a close relationship with Allison, who died in a helicopter crash in 1993. Speaking a day before the 25th anniversary of his death, Leo said it’s “hard to believe” it’s been that long since Allison lost his life.
Speaking about NASCAR, Leo said the micromanaging of drivers — not allowing them to return home and do local racing — has hurt the sport, as has the “car of tomorrow.”
“Most of it’s just been driven by the money and the sponsors,” Leo said.
Leo’s history with baseball goes back decades, as he remembered going to Atlanta Braves games with his dad. His history with the Barons also goes back decades, as he managed the old scoreboard at Rickwood Field when the Barons played there in 1981.
Memories of the oldest park in America are still fresh in his mind.
“When I go there, I sit there at the front gate [at Rickwood], and I can imagine my grandmother, my grandfather and my dad as a little boy going to Rickwood Field, because I know they did,” Leo said. “I know they came through those gates, because at that time, that’s really all you had.”
Leo told the crowd about the history of the Barons, and said the move back to the city of Birmingham ahead of the 2013 season after 25 years of being away has greatly benefited the team. Speaking of that season, Leo said you just had to be there to experience how great the Barons first season at Regions Field was.
In the 2013 season, not only did the Barons make the playoffs, but they won the Southern League championship.
“It was a magical year,” Leo said. “You couldn’t have asked for a better year than the first year there.”
Every year, Regions Field does more than just play host to the Barons, though, Leo said. More than 190 non-baseball events are held at the stadium, and Leo said he believes the grounds once served as a wedding venue.
Everyone around minor-league baseball is looking to Birmingham and the venue the Barons now have to call their own, Leo said.
“We can accommodate your business during the ballgame,” Leo said.
The park is getting ready to host its first concert on Aug. 30 when country artist Jake Owen comes to town to cap the Barons’ home season, Leo said, and depending on how the event goes, the team is hoping to add more concerts in the future.
“We’re in the entertainment business,” Leo said. “... We’re there for you to have a good time.”
As Leo once made memories going to Braves game with his dad, he said he hopes families in the Birmingham area make plenty of memories at Regions Field.