BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Ajay Stone walked around historic Rickwood Field, admiring tributes to Willie Mays and other Negro Leaguers, holding a cherished memory close to his heart.
It was a picture from 2004 of Mays holding Stone’s daughter Haley, wearing San Francisco Giants gear as Mays offered her a piece of chocolate chip cookie. Stone recalled, “Willie gave her that cookie. She had no teeth, but we 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.”
Stone and his wife Christina made the journey from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for a moment they found equally special.
Hours before Rickwood Field hosted its first Major League Baseball game, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Giants 6-5. The game, dubbed “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” by MLB, aimed to honor Mays and other Black baseball legends who made lasting contributions to the sport.
MLB had organized a week of events commemorating Mays and the Negro Leagues, culminating in the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham. These tributes took on added significance following Mays’ passing at the age of 93 on Tuesday afternoon. As Birmingham mourned his loss, celebrations of his life flourished.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was filled with excitement even before entering the ballpark, with the sound of drums, fans’ eager chatter, and laughter permeating the air.
Inside, history surrounded visitors—photos and memorabilia of baseball Hall of Famers, the original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons where Mays started his professional career in 1948, and a memorial to Mays featuring bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his jerseys.
Outside, fans lined up to hold a bat used by Mays in 1959, posed for photos inside a 1947 bus used by Negro Leagues teams, enjoyed live music, and savored food reminiscent of the 1940s.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, both dressed in Giants jerseys, captured the moment with photos. They had traveled from California as lifelong Giants fans.
Musician Jon Batiste entertained fans with his guitar as former Negro Leaguers were honored on the field before the game began.
For Michael Jackson, being at Rickwood Field stirred memories of his baseball days in the Birmingham Industrial League. He expressed delight that the historic ballpark still stands.
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