Willie Mays reacts to Giants-Cardinals being played at Rickwood Field in 2024

On June 20th, 2024, the Giants and Cardinals will play a Major League Baseball game at Rickwood Field, the former home of the great Willie Mays.

Rickwood Field is the oldest professional baseball field in the United States. It’s built in Birmingham, Alabama and has been the home field for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro Leagues.

Possibly the most notorious Birmingham Black Baron in their history is the great Willie Mays, who had great things to say about MLB’s decision to host a game there in 2024.

Willie Mays had powerful words when asked about the game at Rickwood Field in 2024

"“I can’t believe it, I never thought I’d see in my lifetime a Major League baseball game played on the very field where I played baseball as a teenager. 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,” Willie Mays said, on the Giants playing at Rickwood Field in 2024."

Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues paved the way for the MLB to be in the place that it’s in today. To be able to spend a day honoring and showcasing the legendary Rickwood Field and the history behind it as well as the Negro Leagues as a whole is incredible.

The fact that the MLB is willing to go out and make these leaps to showcase the history of the Negro Leagues is incredible for the continued development of the game and of the youth that are following the game.