Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, gazing at the tributes displayed in honor of Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers. Under his arm, Stone clutched a cherished memory: a picture from 2004 of Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was decked out in San Francisco Giants gear. Mays, ever the gentleman, was handing over a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie to little Haley in the snapshot.
Stone and his wife, Christina, traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to be in Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday for a moment they deemed just as special. Hours before Rickwood Field would host its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals—an event MLB dubbed "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues"—excited fans anticipated a day to honor the legacies of Mays and other Black baseball greats who left an indelible mark on the sport.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB planned a week of activities centered around Mays and the Negro Leagues, including the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. These tributes took on a more significant meaning when, on Tuesday afternoon, news broke that Mays had passed away at the age of 93. As word of his death spread throughout Birmingham, the celebrations of his life amplified.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying, even before fans arrived at the ballpark. The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from within, while excited murmurs from fans flocking toward the music and frequent bursts of laughter hinted at the grandeur of the coming event. Inside, reminders of baseball’s rich history were all around. Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old ballpark—names like Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige—adorned the walls.
The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his pro career in 1948, was open. At the front was a memorial for Mays, complete with bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys on display.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans stood in line to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and took photos sitting inside an original bus from 1947, typically used by Negro Leagues teams during barnstorming tours. Fans danced to live music and enjoyed food from concession stands featuring menu boards designed to reflect the look and feel of the 1940s.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, lifelong Giants fans from California, wore matching Giants jerseys as they took pictures inside the ballpark. Musical artist Jon Batiste strummed a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch. Meanwhile, fans stood as former Negro Leaguers were helped to the field for a pregame ceremony. Shouts of "Willie! Willie!" broke out after a brief moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, who was sitting in the stands at Rickwood Field, couldn't help but be reminded of the past. Jackson had played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League. His baseball journey had taken him to Rickwood Field many times, and he was thrilled that it still stood.
"It's nice seeing them redo all of this instead of tearing it down," Jackson said. "We played in the same ballpark they named after Willie Mays out in Fairfield, Alabama. I had my times out here, and it's all very exciting."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone reflected 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 said.
Another fan shared, "I never even got to see Willie Mays play, but as a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball."
"The legacy of Willie Mays transcends generations," said Eddie Torres. "My son, he's only 11, but Willie Mays had such an effect on the game that even he knew who Willie Mays was." As the game commenced and the crowd cheered, it became clear that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for the evening. It was a living museum, a time capsule capturing the essence of a bygone era while honoring the life and legacy of one of baseball's greatest icons, Willie Mays.