Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]
Reading time: 4 minutes
The eyes of the baseball world turned to Birmingham, Alabama and Rickwood Field delivered the experience of a lifetime for fans in attendance.
Keep scrolling to see more images from a busy week at the nation’s oldest active ballpark.
Honoring Birmingham’s Willie Mays
![4H4A9633 1 scaled e1718941370234 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4H4A9633-1-scaled-e1718941370234-1200x630.jpeg?resize=1200%2C630&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 2")
A major portion of this week’s events were set to be dedicated to Birmingham native and Hall of Fame player Willie Mays. During Tuesday’s minor league game, it was announced that Mays passed away at the age of 93.
The moment was felt throughout the ballpark as baseball fans and players shared a connection to Mays and his history at Rickwood Field.
The rest of the week included multiple tributes to Mays including:
- Unveiling mural in downtown Birmingham
- Hall of Fame plaque traveling to Rickwood
- Celebrity softball game players wearing #24
- #24 painted behind home plate for MLB game
- Video montage, standing ovation before MLB game
![4H4A9024 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4H4A9024.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 3")
Willie Mays’ Hall of Fame plaque in the Rickwood museum. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now) ![IMG 8083 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_8083.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 4")
A message on the videoboard when the death of Willie Mays was announced Tuesday. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now) 
Several Willie Mays jerseys were spotted in the crowd Thursday.(Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) 
The Willie Mays pavilion in left field at Rickwood.(Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) ![4H4A9164 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4H4A9164.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 7")
Willie Mays’ Hall of Fame plaque on the field. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now) ![4H4A8992 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4H4A8992.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 8")
A mural of Willie Mays on 1st Avenue North. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now)
Fans enjoy festivities + games
Rickwood Field transformed the playing surface but also the area surrounding the stadium, building a spot for fans to have a great experience all week.
Fans got to hang out inside and outside the stadium before or during the games this week. Options included:
- Live music/DJ stage
- Louisville Slugger tent where fans could hold a bat used by Willie Mays
- Rickwood Field museum
- Merch shops
- Classic clubhouse tour
Fans wore plenty of different jerseys throughout the week.(Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) 
The entrance just outside of Rickwood Field. (Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) 
Fanfest included a spot to learn the history of the Negro Leagues. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now) ![4H4A9666 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/4H4A9666.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 12")
Two spots for fans to buy merch were located just outside the stadium. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now) ![IMG 7972 Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/bhamnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/IMG_7972.jpg?resize=900%2C1200&quality=89&ssl=1 "Recapping a week at Rickwood Field baseball fans will never forget [PHOTOS] 13")
The museum at Rickwood Field. (Caleb Turrentine / Bham Now)
Celebrities make it out to Rickwood
Several local athletes and entertainers took the spotlight during Wednesday’s celebrity softball game as a part of a Juneteenth celebration at Rickwood Field.
The list of celebrities in attendance included:
- Jalen Milroe, Alabama quarterback
- Jameis Winston, former Hueytown High School quarterback + baseball player
- Najee Harris, former Alabama running back
- Terrell Owens, former Benjamin Russell wide receiver
- CC Sabathia, MLB
- Albert Pujols, MLB
- Matt Barnes, NBA
- Ryan Howard, MLB
- Roy Wood Jr., comedian
- Lil Rel Howery, actor
- Omari Hardwick, director
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at the celebrity softball game. (Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) 
Roy Wood Jr. used to play high school baseball at Rickwood. (Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz) 
Hueytown High School alum Jameis Winston got to play in the softball game.(Caleb Turrentine / The Bama Buzz)
MLB game wraps up the week
The St. Louis Cardinals got the win Thursday night behind an outstanding performance from former Enterprise High School star Brendan Donovan. He hit a home run in the first inning and finished with three hits and three runs batted in.
Before the game got started, a ceremony was held to honor nearly 60 living former Negro League stars. 99-year-old and former Birmingham Black Baron Bill Greason threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Were you at Rickwood Field this week? Send us your best pictures by tagging @bhamnow on Instagram!
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