The Passing of a Legend
Willie Mays, an inner-circle baseball great, passed away at the age of 93. His death occurred just two days before he was to be honored at Birmingham's historic Rickwood Field, the very venue where his illustrious big-league baseball career began. The timing of his passing lends an even deeper poignancy to this planned celebration of Mays, Rickwood, and the Negro Leagues.
On Thursday evening, the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals will play a game at Rickwood Field. The match acts as a tribute to Mays and his remarkable connection to Rickwood, an iconic symbol of baseball history. Up until recently, there was hope that Mays would grace the event with his presence. However, on Monday, Mays informed the San Francisco Chronicle that he would not be attending. The very next day, he passed away.
Despite the absence of Mays, the evening promises to be rich with appreciations, memories, and tales of his brilliance. The journey to his baseball greatness began at Rickwood Field, a journey that the event will undoubtedly honor and celebrate.
The Early Years
Born in 1931 during the Great Depression, Willie Mays was raised in the mill towns outside Birmingham. Even as a young boy, Mays exhibited prodigious talent in multiple sports during his high school years. He played outfield alongside his father for a local team before joining a semi-pro outfit. Eventually, he found his way to the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, a farm team for the Birmingham Black Barons.
Piper Davis, the manager of the Black Barons, took notice of Mays' burgeoning potential and played a pivotal role in his early baseball journey.
The Unconventional Path
At just 16 years old, Mays was signed by the Black Barons. However, his father insisted that he complete high school, which meant Mays could only play in the Black Barons' weekend home games at Rickwood Field. He made his debut in the second game of a doubleheader, playing left field and batting seventh. Mays recorded two hits against the formidable Chet Brewer. A broken leg suffered by center fielder Bobby Robinson later opened the opportunity for Mays to take over center field, a position that would become synonymous with his name.
Scouting the Prodigy
Rickwood Field's spacious outfield provided Mays with the ideal stage to showcase his extraordinary abilities. Scouts, increasingly interested in the Negro Leagues after Jackie Robinson’s historic debut in 1947, flocked to watch Mays. During his tenure with the Black Barons, Mays played 10 games, maintaining a .233/.313/.326 batting average. Notably, the 10 hits he made at Rickwood are included in his official Major League Baseball statistics.
In 1948, the Black Barons boasted a formidable 63-28-2 record and edged out the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American League Series. Mays had seven hits and also earned six walks during that pivotal series. Though the Black Barons eventually fell to the Homestead Grays in the Negro League World Series, Mays’ future greatness was already evident, even when he played just once a week.
The Legacy of Greatness
Mays' first 10 major-league hits were at Rickwood Field, and it is fitting that baseball will say its final goodbye to him at the same hallowed ground. "It'll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it," Mays once remarked, encapsulating the spirit of the event that will honor him.
Conclusion
Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, served as the home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Next year's event, thoughtfully scheduled around Juneteenth, will honor the Hall of Famer and Giants Legend, Willie Mays, who was also a native of Birmingham.
Reflecting on his legacy, Mays once said, "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."
As fans and players gather to honor Willie Mays at Rickwood Field, his enduring spirit and exceptional contributions to baseball will be celebrated and remembered. It is a poignant reminder of the remarkable journey of one of baseball's greatest heroes, whose legacy continues to inspire and resonate through the ages.