Russell Kilgore Jr./MLB Photos via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants met on Thursday for a matchup at Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in the United States and the home of the Negro League's Birmingham Black Barons between 1924-60.
Before Thursday's game, Major League Baseball paid tribute to the Negro Leagues and its storied history:
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOXFormer Indianapolis Clowns 2B, Reggie Howard, tells <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> about reuniting with some friends from the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field 👏 <a href="https://t.co/fyFzs7E0BB">pic.twitter.com/fyFzs7E0BB</a>
MLB @MLB"Today feels like it's a little bit bigger than baseball." - Masyn Winn<br><br>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cardinals</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SFGiants?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SFGiants</a> are ready for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBatRickwood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBatRickwood</a>. <a href="https://t.co/8Ddjh6wIeZ">pic.twitter.com/8Ddjh6wIeZ</a>
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One of the coolest moments was seeing former Black Barons' pitcher, Bill Greason, throw out the first pitch:
MLB legend Willie Mays—who died this week at the age of 93—started his professional career with the Black Barons in 1948 before going on to become arguably the greatest all-around player in MLB history.
Major League Baseball had already planned to pay tribute to Mays before the game. But in the wake of his death, it took on an even greater weight:
MLB @MLB"He was larger than life, but bigger than no one. He gave his whole heart to this game, and we gave our love right back."<br><br>Tonight's for you, Willie Mays. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBatRickwood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBatRickwood</a> <a href="https://t.co/oNqyMF7SWm">pic.twitter.com/oNqyMF7SWm</a>
During the game, the broadcast threw back the clock with a 1954-style replay:
MLB @MLBCamerawork fitting for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBatRickwood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBatRickwood</a>.<br><br>A double play for the <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cardinals</a> straight out of 1954. <a href="https://t.co/5GAL4A9lmT">pic.twitter.com/5GAL4A9lmT</a>
A number of current and former athletes were also on hand to take in the game and ceremonies beforehand:
Jameis Winston @JaboowinsGrateful to be back at Rickwood Field honoring & celebrating the greats! <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/uninterrupted?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@uninterrupted</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPWillieMays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPWillieMays</a> 🙏🏾 <a href="https://t.co/wUzEXy8Hzx">pic.twitter.com/wUzEXy8Hzx</a>
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX"I had to walk on the mound and feel like one of my heroes, Satchel Paige." 🙏 <br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/DTrainMLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DTrainMLB</a> joins the show live from Rickwood Field and shares his emotions of being at the historic ballpark. <a href="https://t.co/GDfspce4fJ">pic.twitter.com/GDfspce4fJ</a>
But there were also the lingering memories of racism and discrimination experienced by the men who played at venues like Rickwood in the past:
Howie Rose @HowieRoseI'm trying to get a handle on which is my dominant emotion after the pre game ceremonies at Rickwood. The beauty and joy of celebrating the achievements of so many great players or the sheer anger that most of them never had the chance they deserved to play in the major leagues.
In that regard, there was a bittersweet nature to Thursday's proceedings. Any chance to honor the players of the Negro Leagues should be taken, and it was high time to pay tribute to a historic and important venue of Rickwood Field.
But it also serves as a reminder that those men weren't granted the same opportunities as their white counterparts, and regularly endured horrific racism and discrimination. Thursday provided an important moment to reflect on the dark history of segregation as well.
