Major League Baseball honored the legacy of the Negro Leagues in Birmingham at Rickwood Field. The news of Willie Mays’ passing at 93 in California spread throughout the grandstand during a minor league game. Fans were shocked as they received the news on their phones.
A tribute video was played on the scoreboard as the loudspeaker blared “Say Hey (the Willie Mays Song)” in memory of the legendary baseball player. Randy Ferguson, a member of the Friends of Rickwood, expressed his shock and emotions at the news. The atmosphere at Rickwood Field was filled with reverence and nostalgia for Mays’ remarkable career.
Rickwood Field, at 114 years old, holds a special place in baseball history as the nation’s oldest professional ballpark. It was where Mays played his first professional game as a young phenom for the Birmingham Black Barons. The ballpark still stands as a monument to Mays’ legacy and the history of the Negro Leagues.
To pay tribute to the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball organized a game between the San Francisco Giants, Mays’ former team, and the St. Louis Cardinals in Birmingham. The game will be a fitting tribute to Mays’ impact on the sport and his hometown.
The Rev. William H. Greason, the first Black pitcher for the Cardinals in the 1950s, shared his anticipation of seeing his old friend Mays at the ballpark. Greason, now 99 years old, has been a pastor in Birmingham for over half a century since retiring from baseball. The connection between Mays and Greason symbolizes the enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues and the impact of players like Mays on the community.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field was filled with a mix of sadness and celebration as fans remembered the life and career of Willie Mays. The legacy of Mays and the Negro Leagues lives on in the hearts of baseball fans and the historic ballpark where it all began.