The Passing of a Legend
Willie Mays, an inner-circle baseball great, passed away at the age of 93, just two days before he was to be honored at Birmingham's Rickwood Field. Mays' illustrious big-league baseball career began at Rickwood Field, making his planned tribute all the more poignant.
On Thursday evening, the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals will play a game at Rickwood Field in celebration of Mays, Rickwood, and the Negro Leagues. Although there was hope up until recently that Mays would attend the event, he informed the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday that he would not be able to make it. Just a day later, Willie Mays passed away. Despite his absence, the evening will undoubtedly be rich with appreciations, memories, and tales of Mays' brilliance.
The Early Years
Born in 1931 during the Great Depression, Willie Mays grew up in the mill towns outside Birmingham. A gifted multi-sport athlete in high school, Mays played outfield alongside his father for a local team and later for a semi-pro outfit. His early promise caught the eye of Piper Davis, manager of the Birmingham Black Barons.
At the young age of 16, Mays was signed by the Black Barons, but his father insisted he finish high school. Thus, Mays could only play in the team's weekend home games at Rickwood Field. His debut came in the second game of a doubleheader, where he played left field, batted seventh, and notched two hits against Chet Brewer. A fortuitous broken leg by center fielder Bobby Robinson allowed Mays to showcase his skills in center field.
The Unconventional Path
Rickwood Field’s expansive outfield provided the perfect stage for Mays to demonstrate his prodigious abilities. Scouts, who were increasingly drawn to the Negro Leagues after Jackie Robinson's 1947 debut, took notice. In his short stint with the Black Barons, Mays played 10 games with a batting average of .233/.313/.326. The 10 hits Mays made at Rickwood are included in his official Major League Baseball statistics.
The Black Barons were a formidable team in 1948, finishing with a 63-28-2 record and edging out the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American League Series. Mays himself had seven hits and six walks during that series. However, the Black Barons ultimately lost to the Homestead Grays in the Negro League World Series. Despite playing just once a week, it was clear that Mays was destined for baseball greatness.
The Legacy of Greatness
Willie Mays’ first 10 major-league hits came at Rickwood Field, the very place where baseball will now say goodbye to one of its greatest heroes. "It'll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it," Mays once said.
Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, was home to the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. The upcoming event, scheduled around Juneteenth next year, will honor Hall of Famer, Giants Legend, and Birmingham native Willie Mays.
"It has been 75 years since I played for the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Field, and to learn that my Giants and the Cardinals will play a game there and honor the legacy of the Negro Leagues and all those who came before them is really emotional for me. We can't forget what got us here, and that was the Negro Leagues for so many of us," Mays said in a past interview.
The legacy and memories of Willie Mays will undoubtedly resonate throughout Rickwood Field during this special event. Fans and players alike will gather to honor the enduring spirit of one of baseball's greatest heroes, ensuring that Mays' contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.