“From the concrete grew a flower. Don’t forget about your master power. He won’t run, and she won’t cower…. In their grimy hour, there’s a master power.” As the words rang out of singer John Batiste, the stir of echoes past was undeniable at Rickwood Field last Thursday. Honoring Willie Mays and the Tribute to the Negro Leagues was influential at the once-segregated ballpark.

Built in 1910, Rickwood Field now stands as the oldest baseball stadium in America. A harbinger where legendary players emanated and extraordinary feats were accomplished, with a rich and dark history. The most significant players who have ever played the game, black or white, passed through these grounds. Now, in the presence of the remaining pioneers, reliving the memories of the Jim Crow era was poignant as well as on point in Major League Baseball’s Tribute to the Negro Leagues.

At the hands of oppression and hate, some black players still ascended to greatness. In contrast, others never got flowers or the chance to play in mainstream America. Still, playing in deplorable conditions, never seeing the type of money players receive today, these talented players still became legends and even sharper in the game, having played against each other. This day was set aside by baseball to recognize the players of the Negro Leagues, led by the fallen icon Willie Mays.    

Born in Westfield, Alabama, this was where it all began for Willie Mays at seventeen years old. He passed away two days before the scheduled event at Rickwood. As a teenager, Mays experienced the best of both worlds. He packed stadiums, playing as a teenager for the Birmingham Black Barons, and turned into one of the greatest players ever to play the game of baseball. Spending 23 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1951 to 1973, Mays played for the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. He died at 93 years old and was of the three players remaining from the original Negro League.

Many of Willie Mays’s remarkable career records still stand. In his 21 seasons with the Giants, Mays played in 2,857 games, had 10,477 at-bats, 2,011 runs, 3,187 hits, 504 doubles, and 646 home runs, and still leads in eight significant categories all-time for the franchise. Mays was also an All-Star in every season from 1954 to 1973.

“Willie Mays will always be remembered as one of the greatest baseball players of all time,” Condoleezza Rice said before the event. “Ironically enough, this Thursday, his legacy and that of the Negro Leagues will be honored in our hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, at Rickwood Field. He never forgot where he came from. In fact, he was one of my mom’s first students - she taught him English. I asked him if he remembered my mom; he said, ‘Oh yes, I remember Miss Ray.’ She used to say, ‘Son, you’re going to be a ball player, so if you need a little time out of class, you go right ahead and take it.’” And what a ballplayer he was. May he rest in peace.”

The event at Rickwood Field was initially slated as the Field of Dreams Game set in Iowa a year ago. Then with the emergence of MLB combining official records with the Negro Leagues, the annual specialty game changed to a Tribute to the Negro Leagues. On hand were MLB Hall of Fame players and as well as honorees from various stages of the Negro Leagues. Among them was Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who recounted his time playing in the Jim Crow South.  

“Coming back here is not easy,” Jackson said. “The racism when I played here, the difficulty of going through different places where we traveled. I walked into restaurants and they would point at me and say, “The nigger can’t eat here.’ I would go to a hotel, and they would say, ‘The nigger can’t stay here.’ We went to [Oakland Athletics owner] Charlie Finley’s country club for a welcome home dinner, and they pointed me out with the n-word, ‘He can’t come in here.’”

Jackson played 114 games for the Birmingham A’s before he was called to the Kansas City Athletics. He earned the “Mr. October” moniker while winning five World Series titles.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” Jackson said. “At the same time, had it not been for my white friends, had it not been for a white manager, and Rudi, Fingers and Duncan, and Lee Meyers, I would never have made it. I was too physically violent. I was ready to physically fight some — I would have got killed here because I would have beat someone’s ass and you would have saw me in an oak tree somewhere.”

Feelings and reactions varied from player to player as to the events that transpired then and the recognition they are receiving now. Major League Baseball officially merged the records of the Negro Leagues into their all-time records a few weeks ago.

“We had each other,” said Joseph Marbury of the Indianapolis Clowns when asked how they made it through the rough times. “We loved to play baseball. That’s where it was at. If I had to do it all over again I’d be more than glad to do it. If I could relive any time of my life I would take the time when I played baseball. It was a hard life but I enjoyed it. I would have played for nothing. I just enjoyed it. In my wildest dreams I never thought that we would get this kind of recognition. I’m just excited and I want to thank Major League Baseball, from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate it.” That starkly contrasted Reggie Jackson’s conclusion, saying, ‘You know, I would never want to do it again.’

In another account, Al Holt of the Birmingham Black Barons said, “It’s about time. It’s about time. Now we’re beginning to get that honor. Those long bus rides are going to pay off. It’s gone around in a whole circle. And the dream has come true.”

Willie Mays fans who wish to offer condolences can send letters to the Mays family, care of San Francisco Giants, ATTN: Forever 24, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107.