Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, taking in the tributes celebrating Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers.
Stone clutched a cherished memento under his arm: a picture from 2004 of Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, dressed in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a piece of a chocolate chip cookie, which he was offering to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, to experience a moment just as special. It was hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. The event, dubbed "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues" by MLB, aimed 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 had planned a week of activities celebrating Mays and the Negro Leagues, which included an unveiling ceremony of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. These tributes took on a more poignant significance on Tuesday afternoon, when news broke that Mays had passed away at the age of 93.
As the news spread throughout Birmingham, the celebrations of Mays' life intensified. The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was already electrifying before even stepping into the ballpark. The steady beat of a drum echoed from inside, while excited murmurs from fans and bursts of laughter hinted at the event's grandeur.
Inside, 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, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open to the public. A memorial for Mays stood at the forefront, displaying bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans eagerly lined up to hold a baseball bat Mays had used in 1959 and posed for photos inside an original 1947 bus typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. Concession stands served food with menu boards styled to evoke the 1940s, while fans danced to live music.
Eddie Torres and his son, Junior, wore matching Giants jerseys as they captured memories inside the ballpark. The lifelong Giants fans 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 to the field for a pregame ceremony, with shouts of "Willie! Willie!" breaking out after a brief moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, sitting in the stands at Rickwood Field, felt a nostalgic connection to the past. Jackson played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League and had spent many days at Rickwood Field. "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 special memory 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 got to see Willie Mays play, but as a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball." Eddie Torres added, "The legacy of Willie Mays 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."
As the game began and the crowd roared, it was evident that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for that evening. It was a living museum and 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.