A towering tribute to Willie Mays, one of baseball's all-time greats, was unveiled in Alabama this Tuesday. The event was a highlight of a six-stop tour organized by Fox Sports and Fanatics, which celebrated legendary Negro Leagues players. This tour concluded with a Major League Baseball game scheduled for June 20 at Rickwood Field.
At each tour stop, an enormous baseball card measuring 24 by 16 feet was displayed, each featuring a different Negro Leagues legend. The finale of the tour took place at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where Willie Mays' card was revealed. Tragically, Mays passed away on the same day, June 18, at 93 years old.
Sami Polanco, a brand and partnership marketing manager at Fox Sports, spoke about Mays' early days playing for the Birmingham Black Barons at just 16 before moving on to major league fame with the New York and San Francisco Giants. "Bringing this tribute to Birmingham, where Mays began his professional journey, feels particularly poignant," Polanco commented.
Rickwood Field, where the MLB game was held, is recognized as the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and was a former home of the Birmingham Black Barons. The field and the city have deep ties to the history of the Negro Leagues, making it a fitting location for celebrating their impact on baseball.
The tour has been a meaningful acknowledgment of the Negro Leagues' influence on modern baseball, with Polanco noting, "Their groundbreaking contributions have shaped the game we know today."
Local Birmingham resident Jade-Gracie Griffin also expressed her pride in the recognition of the Negro Leagues, especially ahead of the upcoming Juneteenth celebrations, adding a special resonance to the tribute.
The commemorative cards from the tour have been released weekly by FOX Sports and Fanatics over the past six weeks and will be available for purchase starting Thursday, offering fans a chance to own a piece of baseball history.