As Ajay Stone walked around the historic Rickwood Field, he was surrounded by tributes honoring Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers. Stone held a cherished memory close to his heart – a photo from 2004 showing Mays holding his then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was decked out in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays’ hand was a piece of a chocolate chip cookie, a special gift that Stone’s family treasured for years.
Stone and his wife, Christina, traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for a special moment at Rickwood Field. The field hosted its first Major League Baseball game, with the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the Giants 6-5. This game, called “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” by MLB, aimed to honor the impactful legacies of Mays and other Black baseball legends.
MLB had organized a week-long series of activities to celebrate Mays and the Negro Leagues, culminating in the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham. The passing of Mays at 93 added a poignant layer of meaning to these tributes, amplifying the celebrations of his life throughout Birmingham.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field was electric, with the sounds of drums, laughter, and excitement reverberating through the park. Inside, the rich history of the ballpark was on full display, with photos and artifacts of baseball greats like Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige. The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open to visitors, showcasing memorabilia from his illustrious career.
Fans lined up to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and took photos inside a vintage bus from 1947 that Negro Leagues teams used for tours. Live music, retro concession stands, and memorabilia from the 1940s added to the nostalgic ambiance of the event.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, both die-hard Giants fans, came all the way from California to pay tribute to Willie Mays. Despite never seeing Mays play, Torres acknowledged the profound impact Mays had on the game of baseball, a sentiment shared by fans of all ages.
As former Negro Leaguers were honored on the field before the game, the crowd erupted in chants of “Willie! Willie!” The presence of these baseball legends served as a reminder of the rich history and enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues.
For Michael Jackson, a former player in the Birmingham Industrial League, being at Rickwood Field evoked memories of his own baseball journey. Jackson, who played with the East Thomas Eagles in the 1970s and ’80s, appreciated the preservation of the historic ballpark, reflecting on the significance of playing in the same venues as baseball icons like Willie Mays.
The festivities at Rickwood Field not only celebrated the remarkable career of Willie Mays but also paid homage to the enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues. The outpouring of support and admiration from fans young and old served as a testament to the profound impact these trailblazing players had on the sport of baseball.