Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, taking in the 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 was wearing San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie, which he was handing over for Haley to eat.
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. They arrived hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, an event MLB aptly titled "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues."
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB organized a week of activities to honor Mays and the Negro Leagues, including a ceremony on Wednesday to unveil a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham. These tributes took on a profound significance Tuesday afternoon when Mays tragically passed away at the age of 93.
As news of his death spread throughout Birmingham, celebrations of his life intensified. By Thursday, the atmosphere at Rickwood Field was electrifying even before fans arrived at the ballpark. The rapid thumping of a drum echoing from inside the ballpark, excited murmurs from fans, and frequent bursts of laughter foreshadowed the event's grandeur.
Inside the park, reminders of baseball history were all around. Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old ballpark, including legends such as Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, adorned the walls. The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open, featuring a memorial to Mays 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 inside an original 1947 bus typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. Concession stands featured menu boards designed to reflect the look and feel of the 1940s, while fans danced to live music and enjoyed classic ballpark fare.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, clad in matching Giants jerseys, snapped pictures inside the ballpark. They are lifelong Giants fans who had traveled from California for the game. Musical artist Jon Batiste strummed a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch.
Fans stood as former Negro Leaguers were helped onto the field for a pregame ceremony. The crowd erupted in shouts of "Willie! Willie!" following a brief moment of silence for Mays.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, sitting in the stands at Rickwood Field, was transported to the past. Jackson played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League. His baseball journey frequently brought him to Rickwood Field, and he expressed excitement that it still stands today.
"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 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 recalled.
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. 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 evident that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for that evening. It transformed into 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.