Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, taking in the tributes dedicated to Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers. Under his arm, Stone clutched a cherished memory.
In his possession was a picture from 2004 of Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was dressed in San Francisco Giants gear. Mays was handing Haley a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie. That cherished image encapsulated a personal connection to a baseball legend.
Stone and his wife, Christina, made the journey from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday for an equally special moment. Hours later, Rickwood Field would host its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, an event dubbed "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues."
A Week of Tribute to the Negro Leagues
The game was a heartfelt homage to the legacies of Mays and other Black baseball greats who left a permanent mark on the sport. MLB organized a week of activities around Mays and the Negro Leagues, including the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday.
These tributes gained even more significance when, on Tuesday afternoon, Mays passed away at the age of 93. As news of his death spread throughout Birmingham, celebrations of his life grew in intensity. By Thursday, the atmosphere at Rickwood Field was electrifying, even before fans arrived at the ballpark.
Atmosphere and Historical Echoes
Inside Rickwood Field, the rapid thumping of a drum echoed, accompanied by excited murmurs from fans making their way toward the music, and frequent bursts of laughter. The grandeur of the event was palpable. The ballpark, filled with history, featured photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old venue, including legends like Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige.
The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open. At the forefront was a memorial dedicated to Mays, showcasing bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys.
Fans Reliving History
Outside the ballpark, fans lined up to hold a baseball bat Mays used in 1959 and took photos inside an original bus from 1947, typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. Fans danced to live music and enjoyed food from concession stands featuring 1940s-style menu boards.
Eddie Torres and his son, Junior, donned matching Giants jerseys as they captured photos inside the ballpark. Lifelong Giants fans, they had traveled from California for this monumental game. Musical artist Jon Batiste strummed a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate, just before the first pitch. Fans stood in reverence as former Negro Leaguers were escorted to the field for a pregame ceremony. Shouts of "Willie! Willie!" erupted after a brief moment of silence.
A Return to the Past
Michael Jackson, seated in the stands at Rickwood Field, felt a nostalgic connection to the past. Jackson had played baseball in the 1970s and '80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League. His baseball journey had often brought him to Rickwood Field, and he was thrilled to see it still standing.
"It's nice seeing them redo all of this instead of tearing it down," Jackson remarked. "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."
A Legacy Remembered
Ajay Stone reflected fondly 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 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."
Eddie Torres emphasized the lasting impact of Mays' legacy. "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, Rickwood Field transformed into more than just a ballpark for the evening. It became 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.