Ajay Stone strolled around historic Rickwood Field, his eyes lingering on tributes honoring Willie Mays and other legends of the Negro Leagues.
Clutched under Stone's arm was a cherished photograph from 2004, featuring Mays holding Stone's then-10-month-old daughter, Haley, who was decked out in San Francisco Giants gear. In Mays' hand was a chocolate chip cookie, which he was joyfully offering to Haley.
Stone and his wife, Christina, had traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Birmingham, Alabama, for a moment they deemed just as special.
On this Thursday, Rickwood Field was set to host its first Major League Baseball game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, an event dubbed "A Tribute to the Negro Leagues."
The game aimed to honor the legacies of Mays and other Black baseball greats whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Tributes and Tears: Honoring Willie Mays
MLB had organized a week of activities centered around Mays and the Negro Leagues, including the unveiling of a Willie Mays mural in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday.
These tributes took on a more poignant meaning when Mays passed away at 93 on Tuesday afternoon.
As news of his death spread, celebrations of his life intensified throughout Birmingham.
The atmosphere at Rickwood Field on Thursday was electrifying even before entering the ballpark.
The rapid thumping of a drum echoed from within, excited murmurs from fans heading toward the music, and frequent bursts of laughter all foreshadowed the grandeur of the upcoming event.
Inside, the ballpark was a living museum of baseball history.
Photos and artifacts of baseball Hall of Famers who played at the 114-year-old ballpark, including Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige, adorned the walls.
The original clubhouse of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, where Mays began his professional career in 1948, was open to visitors.
At the clubhouse entrance, a memorial for Mays featured bobbleheads, a signed glove, and his Birmingham Black Barons and San Francisco Giants jerseys.
Fans Relive History
Outside, fans formed lines to hold a baseball bat used by Mays in 1959 and took photos inside an original bus from 1947, typically used during barnstorming tours by Negro Leagues teams.
The lively atmosphere was enhanced by live music and concession stands with menu boards styled to reflect the 1940s.
Eddie Torres and his son Junior, lifelong Giants fans who had traveled from California, wore matching Giants jerseys as they took pictures inside the ballpark.
Musical artist Jon Batiste performed on a wooden stage near home plate just before the first pitch.
As former Negro Leaguers were escorted onto the field for a pregame ceremony, the crowd erupted with shouts of "Willie! Willie!" following a brief moment of silence.
Echoes of the Past
Michael Jackson, seated in the stands at Rickwood Field, reflected on his own past.
Jackson played baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the East Thomas Eagles of the Birmingham Industrial League.
He reminisced about playing at Rickwood Field numerous times and expressed excitement that the historic ballpark was still standing.
"It's nice seeing them re-do all of this instead of tearing it down," Jackson stated.
"We played in the same ballpark they named after Willie Mays out in Fairfield, Alabama. I had my times out here playing at this ballpark. It's all very exciting."
Memories and Reflections
Ajay Stone fondly remembered his encounters with Mays.
"Willie gave her that cookie. She had no teeth. But we took the cookie and 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," he recalled.
Another fan shared, "I never even got to see Willie Mays play, but as a Giants fan, you knew what he meant to the game of baseball."
Echoing this sentiment, Eddie Torres added, "The legacy of Willie Mays transcends generations. My son, he's only 11. Willie Mays had such an effect on the game that even he knew who Willie Mays was."
As the game commenced and the crowd cheered, it was clear that Rickwood Field was more than just a ballpark for that evening. It was a living museum, a time capsule capturing the essence of a bygone era while honoring the life and legacy of one of baseball's greatest icons, Willie Mays.