On The Night Willie Mays Passed Away, It Was Fitting That Baseball Was Being Played At Rickwood Field

There are some things in life that are hard to comprehend, or even put into words, as we witnessed on Tuesday night at Rickwood Field in Birmingham following the passing of legendary baseball star Willie Mays. 

Born on May 6th, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, Willie Mays was a pioneer for the game of baseball and beloved by those from his home state. So, when Major League Baseball first announced that they would be playing a regular season game at Rickwood Field in the Birmingham area, the hope was Willie Mays would be able to return home to be recognized for his legendary career that started on that same field. 

(Original Caption) San Francisco Giant's centerfielder Willie Mays, (L), holds a press conference here at the Commodore Hotel on April 16th, with Dr.. H. L. Pitts, President of Miles College, in Birmingham, Alabama. Mays is national chairman of a fund raising campaign to build a health and physical education center at Miles College. The baseball great grew up near the Birmingham college.

Unfortunately, due to health issues, the 93-year-old Mays would not be in attendance for the game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night. The event was organized to celebrate the careers of Willie Mays and the Negro League players who laid the foundation for many of the greatest players in baseball history. 

But just a day before baseball fans from the State of Alabama and across the world could celebrate one of the best to ever play the game, Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday night in the Bay Area. An event that was set to honor the legacy of Mays and his time with the Birmingham Black Barons, will now become a celebration of life. 

The passing of Willie Mays was announced during a minor league game at Rickwood Field on Tuesday night in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Sometimes in life there are instances where we have to wonder if things happen for a reason, and the scenes from Rickwood Field on Tuesday night are a perfect example of this thinking. 

The Montgomery Biscuts and Birmingham Barons, two minor league baseball teams from Alabama were playing at Rickwood Field on Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd when the news of Willie Mays passing was announced. 

Two teams playing baseball at the home of where Willie Mays began his professional career. I don't know if the scene could have been any better for the news to break, with thousands in attendance. 

As the PA announcer interrupted the game to make the announcement of Mays passing away, the crowd rose to their feet for a standing ovation, tipping their caps to one of the best players to lace up their cleats. 

During a week in which he would be honored, along with those who played with him, Willie Mays brought a crowd to their feet one more time inside Rickwood Field. 

This time they were saying goodbye to a man who brought so many memories to the State of Alabama, along with the entire baseball community. 

Thanks for the memories, ‘Say Hey’.