The official unveiling of Birmingham’s mural of Willie Mays featured a powerful tribute by Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin.
The mural was commemorated on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, one day after Mays’ death. Originally commissioned for MLB at Rickwood: A tribute to the Negro Leagues, the artwork suddenly became a memorial for Mays overnight. Mays’ San Francisco Giants play the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday.
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The mural is located on the west-facing side of a parking deck located at the corner of 18th Street North and First Avenue North. Artist Chuck Styles also spoke at the ceremony along with Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants. The transcript of Woodfin’s speech:
“On one hand, it gives me tremendous pride to be with you this afternoon. On the other, like many of you all who are fond of the GOAT, Willie Mays, some sadness as well. Like you, I received the news last night that Willie Mays passed, and I was actually with some MLB executives.
“And when I received that news I was a little stunned. Again, part sadness and part shock. One because of what we have been anticipating this week, celebrating the Negro Leagues. Willie Mays played an outsized role in not just Rickwood Field, not just the Negro League but in Major League Baseball.
“But I woke up this morning feeling a little bit more hopeful because even though we’ve lost a great, the thought process was centered around what better way than this week in Birmingham, Alabama, at the historic Rickwood Field than to pay tribute to Willie Mays.
“We’ve got some amazing artists who have done incredible work with this mural, so I want to say a few things about Willie Mays and step aside.
“Today is Juneteenth. This day is designated to celebrate the independence of Black Americans. The day that best represents the breaking of barriers and of simply being seen. And although our hearts are heavy after hearing of the death of Willie Mays last night, again there is no better time to celebrate him than on a day designated for Black excellence.
“President Obama once said that without Willie Mays he likely would not have made history in the White House, and so I think it’s fitting to echo that. Without the change Willie Mays brought to our world, our country would look very different.
“Because with one bat, with one simple bat, he knocked down so many walls. Every Black athlete who has ever stepped up to the plate, literally and figuratively in any sport, and I mean any sport, owes Willie Mays a debt of gratitude. He alone, with members of the Negro Leagues and our own Black Barons, were pioneers, activists, and my favorite,, real-life superheroes. And the entire state of Alabama is so proud for all of us to call him our own.
“Willie Mays ran those bases so we all could soar, and he embodies the spirit of Juneteenth. He also embodies the spirit of the Negro League, he embodies the spirit of Major League Baseball, but most importantly he embodies the spirit of perseverance. Thank you.”
