The Legacy of Willie Mays and the Decline of Black Baseball in Birmingham
When Willie Mays was honing his skills on the sandlots of Birmingham in the 1940s, baseball was a cornerstone of the Black community in the city. Overflowing crowds would gather at Rickwood Field to watch the Birmingham Black Barons play, and Sundays were reserved for baseball after church services let out early. But as time has passed, the tradition of Black baseball in Birmingham has faded.
Charles Willis, a former high school teammate of Mays and a player for the Black Barons, lamented the lack of interest in baseball among Black children in Birmingham today. “Because nowadays, Black kids don’t play baseball,” he said.
In an effort to honor the history of the Negro leagues and attract young African American athletes to the sport, Major League Baseball paid tribute to Willie Mays at Rickwood Field this week. The celebration included a memorial service for Mays, who passed away at the age of 93. The event aimed to not only honor the past but also address the dwindling representation of African Americans in baseball.
Nelson George, a filmmaker who produced a documentary on Mays, expressed excitement about the renewed discussion of baseball in the Black community. He highlighted the decline of African American players in Major League Baseball and the need to engage young athletes in the sport.
The decline in Black representation in baseball is evident in the rosters of teams like the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, who each had only one African American player. Jordan Hicks, a pitcher for the Giants, acknowledged the issue and emphasized the importance of attracting young Black players to the sport.
For Negro leagues veterans like the Rev. William H. Greason, who played alongside Mays in the 1940s, the celebration at Rickwood Field was a moment of proud remembrance. Greason reflected on the dwindling number of players from his era and the importance of preserving the legacy of Black baseball.
As efforts to promote baseball in Black communities continue, challenges remain, including the high cost of participation and the shift towards travel teams over traditional Little League programs. Despite these obstacles, advocates like Steve Brown, an official and coach with the Birmingham Metro Little League, are working to keep the spirit of Black baseball alive in Birmingham.
The legacy of Willie Mays and the history of Black baseball in Birmingham serve as a reminder of the rich tradition that once thrived in the city. As efforts to revitalize the sport continue, the hope is to inspire a new generation of African American athletes to embrace baseball and carry on the legacy of those who came before them.
