Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, marveling at tributes honoring Willie Mays and other Negro League legends. Clutched under his arm was a cherished memory: a photograph from 2004 of Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was clad in San Francisco Giants gear. Mays was handing over a piece of a chocolate chip cookie to Haley in the snapshot, a simple yet poignant gesture that Stone has held dear ever since.
Stone and his wife, Christina, traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to be in Birmingham, Alabama, for what they deemed another momentous occasion. It was hours before Rickwood Field would host its first Major League Baseball game, a tribute event between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals titled "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues." This game aimed to celebrate the legacies of Mays and other Black baseball greats who left an indelible mark on the sport.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB had planned a week of activities centered around Mays and the Negro Leagues, including a mural unveiling ceremony in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. These planned tributes took on a profound meaning when Mays passed away Tuesday afternoon at the age of 93. As news of his death spread, the city of Birmingham initiated an even more fervent celebration of his life and legacy.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying. Even before the fans arrived at the ballpark, the rapid thumping of drums echoed throughout the area, accompanied by excited murmurs and bursts of laughter from fans heading toward the venue. Inside, history was palpably present. Walls were adorned with photos and artifacts of Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old ballpark, such as Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige.
The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open. A memorial for Mays was prominently displayed, featuring bobbleheads, a signed glove, and jerseys from his time with the Black Barons and the San Francisco Giants.
Fans Relive History
Outside the stadium, fans eagerly lined up to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and take photos inside an original 1947 bus commonly used by Negro Leagues teams during barnstorming tours. Concession stands offered food with menu boards designed to reflect the 1940s aesthetic, enhancing the nostalgic atmosphere.
Eddie Torres and his son, Junior, donned matching Giants jerseys as they snapped pictures inside the ballpark. Lifelong Giants fans from California, they had come specifically for this tribute game. Musical artist Jon Batiste even made an appearance, strumming a guitar and dancing on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch.
As former Negro League players were helped to the field for a pregame ceremony, the crowd erupted with shouts of "Willie! Willie!" following a brief moment of silence in Mays' honor.
Echoes of the Past
Among the attendees was Michael Jackson, who reminisced about his own baseball past. Jackson had played in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League, frequently finding himself at Rickwood Field. The venue's preservation and continued use filled him with pride and nostalgia.
"It's nice seeing them restore 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 playing at this ballpark. It's all very exciting to see."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone took a reflective moment to recount his personal connection to Mays. "Willie gave her that cookie. She had no teeth. But we kept the cookie in her stroller for a year and a half. The great Willie Mays gave it to her, so it was special to us," he shared.
Another fan echoed the sentiment, even without witnessing Mays play in person. "I never even got to see Willie Mays play, but as a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball," they said.
Eddie Torres highlighted how Mays' legacy 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," Torres said.
As the game commenced and the crowd cheered, Rickwood Field transformed from merely a ballpark into a living museum. It became 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.