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 Rickwood Field, a location steeped in baseball history and significant to Mays’ own storied career.
San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are scheduled to play a game at Rickwood Field on Thursday evening. This event not only celebrates Mays but also honors Rickwood Field and the Negro Leagues. Up until recently, there was hope that Mays would attend the event; however, on Monday, he informed the San Francisco Chronicle that he would not be able to make it. Sadly, Willie Mays passed away the following day.
Nevertheless, the evening will still be rich with appreciations, memories, and tales of Mays' brilliance. His journey to baseball greatness began at Rickwood Field, a fitting and poignant backdrop for his final farewell.
The Early Years
Willie Mays was born in 1931, during the Great Depression, and was raised in the mill towns outside Birmingham. He was a gifted multi-sport athlete in high school, playing outfield alongside his father for a local team and later for a semi-pro outfit. He also played for the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, a farm team for the Birmingham Black Barons, where his talent came to the attention of Piper Davis, the Black Barons' manager.
The Unconventional Path
The Black Barons signed Mays at the tender age of 16, but his father insisted that he finish high school. Therefore, Mays was only able to play in the Black Barons' weekend home games at Rickwood Field. His debut came in the second game of a doubleheader, where he played left field, batted seventh, and secured two hits against Chet Brewer.
A broken leg suffered by center fielder Bobby Robinson soon allowed Mays to step into the center field role. It was an opportunity that he seized and never looked back from.
Scouting the Prodigy
Rickwood Field's expansive outfield gave Willie Mays the perfect stage to showcase his prodigious talents, drawing scouts who were keenly interested in the Negro Leagues following Jackie Robinson's historic 1947 debut. During his stint with the Black Barons, Mays played 10 games, posting a .233/.313/.326 batting average. The 10 hits he made at Rickwood are included in his official MLB stats.
The Black Barons boasted a formidable team in 1948, finishing the season with a 63-28-2 record. They narrowly defeated the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American League Series, with Mays contributing seven hits and six walks during that series. Unfortunately, the Black Barons fell to the Homestead Grays in the Negro League World Series.
Even playing just once a week, Mays' future greatness was on full display.
The Legacy of Greatness
Willie Mays’ first 10 major-league hits were recorded at Rickwood Field, and fittingly, baseball will say goodbye to him at the same venue. "It'll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it," said an unnamed source close to the event.
Rickwood Field, the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S., served as the home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Next year's event is scheduled around Juneteenth, and it 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 once reflected.
His legacy and memories will resonate profoundly at Rickwood Field during the event. Fans and players alike will come together to honor the enduring spirit of one of baseball's greatest heroes, ensuring that Willie Mays' contributions to the sport will never be forgotten.