Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, gazing at tributes honoring 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 decked out in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chocolate chip cookie, which he was handing over to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday for a moment they deemed equally special. Just hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, an event MLB called "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues," the couple reminisced about their encounter with Mays.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB arranged a week of activities celebrating Mays and the Negro Leagues, including an unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. These tributes took on a deeper significance when Mays passed away at 93 on Tuesday afternoon. As news of his death spread throughout Birmingham, celebrations of his life intensified.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying even before gates opened. The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from inside the ballpark, excited murmurs from fans approaching the entrance, and frequent bursts of laughter signaled the event's grandeur. Once inside, history was palpable.
Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who 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 got his pro start in 1948, was open for visitors. A memorial dedicated to Mays stood prominently, showcasing bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans eagerly stood in line to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and took photos inside an original bus from 1947, which was typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. The ambiance was enlivened by live music, and concession stands offered food from menu boards designed to reflect the look and feel of the 1940s.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, longtime Giants fans from California, wore matching Giants jerseys while capturing memories inside the ballpark. 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. Fans stood in respect as former Negro Leaguers were helped to the field for a pregame ceremony, during which chants of "Willie! Willie!" erupted after a moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, seated in the stands, was reminded of his own past. Jackson played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League, often finding himself at Rickwood Field. He expressed excitement about the ballpark's preservation: "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 echoed the sentiment: "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 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 commenced and the crowd cheered, Rickwood Field transformed from a mere 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. The evening's tributes, filled with memories old and new, underscored Mays' enduring mark on the sport and his profound impact on generations of baseball fans.