Ajay Stone strolled around the historic Rickwood Field, surrounded by tributes honoring Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers. Under his arm, he clutched a cherished memory—a photograph from 2004 capturing Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, adorned in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chocolate chip cookie, poised to be given to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, on a Thursday for a moment they deemed equally special. Hours before Rickwood Field was set to host its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, MLB was honoring the Negro Leagues' enduring legacy with "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues."
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB planned an entire 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 heightened significance when Mays passed away at age 93 on Tuesday afternoon. As news of his death spread throughout Birmingham, celebrations of his life intensified.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field was electric, even before fans began arriving. The rapid thump of drums from inside the ballpark, excited murmurs from fans, and bursts of laughter hinted at the day's grandeur. Inside the ballpark, history came alive through photos and artifacts of legendary Hall of Famers like Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, who once graced the 114-year-old field.
The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons, where Mays started his pro career in 1948, was open to fans. A memorial for Mays stood prominently, adorned with bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his jerseys from the Black Barons and San Francisco Giants.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans lined up to hold a baseball bat that Mays used in 1959 and to take photos inside an original bus from 1947, commonly used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. Fans danced to live music and enjoyed food from concession stands with menus reflecting the 1940s aesthetic.
Eddie Torres and his son, Junior, donned matching Giants jerseys as they captured memories inside the ballpark. Lifelong Giants fans, they had made the trip from California for this special game. Musical artist Jon Batiste added to the festive atmosphere, strumming his guitar and dancing on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch.
Before the game commenced, former Negro Leaguers were helped onto the field for a pregame ceremony amid shouts of "Willie! Willie!" following a moment of silence. The echoes of history reverberated through Rickwood Field, underlined by the presence of fans and former players alike.
Echoes of the Past
Sitting in the stands, Michael Jackson recalled his baseball journey with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League during the 1970s and '80s. Rickwood Field had been a frequent venue for him, and its preservation was a source of excitement and nostalgia.
"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 playing at this ballpark. It's all very exciting."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone reflected on his own memories with 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 said.
Another fan shared their sentiments: "I never even got to see Willie Mays play, but as a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball." Eddie Torres echoed these feelings, noting Mays' generational impact. "The legacy of Willie Mays transcends generations," he said. "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 cheers, it became clear that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for that 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 most iconic figures, Willie Mays.