Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, absorbing tributes displayed in honor of Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers.
Stone clutched a cherished memory under his arm: a picture from 2004 of Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who sported San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie, which he was handing over for Haley to eat. Ajay and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for a moment they deemed just as special.
Honoring the Negro Leagues
It was hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, an event MLB dubbed "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues." The game aimed to honor the legacies of Mays and other Black baseball greats who left an enduring mark on the sport.
MLB planned a week of activities around Mays and the Negro Leagues, including an unveiling ceremony on Wednesday of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham. These tributes took on a more significant meaning Tuesday afternoon when Mays, at 93, passed away. As news of his death spread, celebrations of his life ramped up.
Even before arriving at the ballpark, the atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying. The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from inside the ballpark, while excited murmurs from fans and frequent bursts of laughter foreshadowed the event's grandeur.
Historical Significance
Inside the ballpark, history was palpable. Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old ballpark, including Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, adorned the walls. The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, where Mays got his pro start in 1948, was open for visitors.
A memorial for Mays stood prominently, displaying bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys. 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 during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams.
Fans Relive History
Fans danced to live music and ate food from concession stands featuring menu boards designed to evoke the 1940s atmosphere. Eddie Torres and his son Junior wore matching Giants jerseys as they took pictures inside the ballpark. Lifelong Giants fans, the father-son duo, had traveled from California for the game.
As musical artist Jon Batiste strummed a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate, the anticipation mounted. Fans stood as former Negro Leaguers were helped to the field for a pregame ceremony, punctuated by shouts of "Willie! Willie!" after a brief moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, sitting in the stands at Rickwood Field, was reminded of the past. Jackson 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 to see it still standing.
"It's nice seeing them re-do 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."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone reflected on his memories with Mays. "Willie gave her that cookie. She had no teeth, but we took the cookie and 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," added Eddie Torres. "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 cheered, it was clear that Rickwood Field had transformed into 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.