Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, gazing at 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, adorned in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chunk of a chocolate chip cookie, which he was handing to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday, for a moment they deemed just as special. Hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, an event MLB called "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues," the Stones found themselves immersed in a celebration of history and legacy.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB planned a week of activities around Mays and the Negro Leagues, which included unveiling a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham. These tributes took on more significant meaning Tuesday afternoon when Mays died at 93. As news of his death spread throughout Birmingham, celebrations of his life intensified.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying even before fans arrived at the ballpark. The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from inside the stadium, accompanied by the excited murmurs of fans and frequent bursts of laughter that foreshadowed the grandeur of the day’s event.
Inside, history was palpable. Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who played at the century-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 pro career in 1948, was open, featuring a memorial dedicated to Mays with bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys displayed prominently.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans stood in line to hold a baseball bat Mays used in 1959 and took photos sitting inside an original 1947 bus, typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. The festive atmosphere was bolstered by live music and concession stands with menu boards designed to reflect the 1940s era.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, who wore matching Giants jerseys, came from California for the game. They took pictures inside the ballpark, capturing memories they would cherish forever.
Musical artist Jon Batiste strummed a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch. Fans stood and applauded as former Negro Leaguers were escorted to the field for a pregame ceremony, which began with a brief moment of silence, then erupted into shouts of "Willie! Willie!"
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, sitting in the stands at Rickwood Field, was reminded of the past. Jackson played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League. His baseball journey took him to Rickwood Field many times.
"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. 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. 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 shared. Another fan added, "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 is only 11, but even he knows who Willie Mays was."
As the game commenced and the crowd cheered, 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 greatest icons, Willie Mays.