Ajay Stone strolled around the historic Rickwood Field, absorbing the tributes dedicated to Willie Mays and other legendary figures of the Negro Leagues.
Stone clutched a cherished memory under his arm—a photograph from 2004 featuring Mays cradling Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was dressed in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a piece of a chocolate chip cookie, offering it to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for a moment they deemed equally special. Hours before Rickwood Field would host its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals—a tribute to the Negro Leagues—they were filled with anticipation.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB organized a week of activities celebrating Mays and the Negro Leagues, including the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday. These tributes took on greater significance when news spread that Mays had passed away at 93 on Tuesday afternoon. As the news circulated, the celebrations of his life intensified.
By Thursday, the atmosphere at Rickwood Field was electrifying even before one stepped inside the ballpark. The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from within, and the excited chatter of fans, mingled with bursts of laughter, promised an event of grandeur.
Inside, history resonated from every corner. The walls were adorned with photos and artifacts honoring baseball Hall of Famers who had played at the 114-year-old ballpark, including Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige. The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons, where Mays launched his professional career in 1948, was open to the public. A memorial honoring Mays featured bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his jerseys from the Black Barons and San Francisco Giants.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans lined up for the opportunity to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and to take photos inside a vintage bus from 1947, which was typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams. As live music played, fans danced and enjoyed food from concession stands, with menu boards designed to evoke the 1940s.
Eddie Torres and his son, Junior, wore matching Giants jerseys as they captured memories inside the ballpark. Lifelong Giants fans, they had journeyed from California for this momentous game. Musical artist Jon Batiste played a guitar while dancing on a wooden stage near home plate, building the excitement just before the first pitch.
Fans rose to their feet as former Negro Leaguers were assisted onto the field for a pregame ceremony. Shouts of "Willie! Willie!" filled the air following a brief moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, seated in the stands at Rickwood Field, was reminded of his own past. Jackson had played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League. His baseball journey often brought him to Rickwood Field, and he was thrilled that the ballpark was preserved.
"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 personal encounters 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 shared.
Another fan confessed, "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 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 erupted in cheers, it was clear that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for that evening. It was a living museum—a time capsule that captured the essence of a bygone era while honoring one of baseball's greatest icons, Willie Mays.