Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, casting admiring glances at tributes dedicated to Willie Mays and other storied figures from the Negro Leagues. Clutched tightly under his arm was a cherished keepsake: a photograph from 2004, capturing Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter Haley, dressed in San Francisco Giants attire. In Mays' hand was a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie, poised to be handed over to the amused infant.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for an occasion they held as immensely special. It was hours before Rickwood Field would host its first Major League Baseball game, featuring the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, an event MLB fittingly described as "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues." This game was not just a sporting event; it was a homage to the enduring legacies of Mays and other outstanding Black baseball players who had left an indelible mark on the sport.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
In honor of Mays and the Negro Leagues, MLB organized a week of activities, including the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. The significance of these tributes grew on Tuesday when news broke of Mays' passing at the age of 93. As the heartbreaking news permeated through Birmingham, the celebrations of his life intensified.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was nothing short of electrifying well before the first pitch. The rapid, resonant beats of a drum echoed from within the stadium, and the air was alive with the excitable murmur of fans making their way to the ballpark. Moments of shared laughter frequently punctuated the scene, setting the stage for an event of immense grandeur.
Inside the park, history surrounded the spectators. Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who had graced the 114-year-old ballpark—including Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige—adorned the walls. The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons, the team where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open to the public. Front and center was a memorial for Mays, complete with bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his jerseys from both the Black Barons and the San Francisco Giants.
Fans Relive History
Outside Rickwood Field, fans eagerly lined up to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and to snap photographs inside an original 1947 bus typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. They danced to live music and enjoyed food from concession stands boasting menu boards designed in the retro style of the 1940s.
Among the fans were Eddie Torres and his son Junior, who donned matching Giants jerseys as they took pictures inside the ballpark. The lifelong Giants fans had made the journey all the way from California for this historic game. Musical artist Jon Batiste added to the festive atmosphere by strumming a guitar and dancing on a wooden stage near home plate, just moments before the first pitch.
As the crowd stood in silent homage, former Negro Leaguers were ushered onto the field for a pregame ceremony. Chants of "Willie! Willie!" erupted, punctuating the solemn moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, seated in the stands, was awash in nostalgia. Jackson had played baseball in the 1970s and 80s for the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League and had frequented Rickwood Field. For him, the stadium's preservation was a point of immense pride. "It's nice seeing them re-do all of this instead of tearing it down," Jackson remarked. "We played in the same ballpark they named after Willie Mays out in Fairfield, Alabama. I had my times out here playing at this ballpark. It's all very exciting."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone took a moment to reflect on his personal memories with Mays. "Willie gave her that cookie. She had no teeth. But we took the cookie and we kept it in her stroller for a year and a half. The great Willie Mays gave it to her, so it was special to us," he recounted.
Another fan, despite never having witnessed Mays play, noted, "As a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball." Eddie Torres added, "The legacy of Willie Mays transcends generations. My son, he's only 11. Willie Mays had such an effect on the game that even he knew who Willie Mays was."
As the game commenced and the crowd erupted in cheer, it was evident that Rickwood Field had transformed into something far more significant than just a ballpark for that evening. It was a living museum, a time capsule preserving the essence of a bygone era, while eternally honoring the life and legacy of one of baseball's most iconic figures, Willie Mays.