Negro League game to be played tonight in Birmingham

On Thursday, two major league baseball teams will play in Birmingham to pay tribute to the Negro League. The game will be played in historic Rickwood Field – the nation's oldest ballpark – where the Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons played prior to desegregation of professional baseball.

The San Francisco Giants will play the Saint Louis Cardinals. The Giants are 36 and 39 and are currently in fourth place in their division - ten games behind the Dodgers. The Cardinals are 36 and 37 and are currently in second place in their division – eight games behind the Brewers.

Thursday events at Rickwood Field to remember that there is no parking at the field. A free shuttle service for ticket holders is available at Legion Field. Shuttle service begins 3 hours before the scheduled events. Ticket holders should plan to arrive early to avoid delays.

The City of Birmingham released a statement to remind ticket holders attending

In addition, the designated rideshare drop off and pickup is Princeton Elementary School. Please note, there is no parking at Princeton Elementary.

The game will be televised on Fox at 6:00 p.m. CDT.

Crowds gathered Wednesday for the ribbon cutting of a mural of baseball legend Willie Mays at 18th street and 1st Ave North downtown. The ribbon cutting of the mural was bittersweet as Mays had passed away the day before.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin gave a speech praising Mays and how important Mays was at the time to Black Americans.

Mays was native to Alabama and got his start playing alongside his father in the Negro League Birmingham Black Barons. At the time of his death, Mays – age 93 – was the oldest living member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Mays was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and the MLB HOF in 1979. He played for the New York Giants, the San Francisco Giants, and the New York Mets.

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