A Reason To ‘Say Hey’
By Robert Burgins, Jr.
Ever hear of Rube Foster, Chino Smith, ‘Cool Papa’ Bell, the Birmingham Black Barons, the Negro Leagues?
Or easier, what about a man named Willie Mays aka the ‘Say Hey Kid’ who’d be called the greatest all around baseball player who was raised in Fairfield, AL. and played with a Negro League team named the Birmingham Black Barons and would go on to the Major Leagues, put on a jersey with the number 24 on it for the San Francisco Giants and change the outlook of baseball (America’s past time) forever.
This past week Alabama (particularly Jefferson County) played host to many history and baseball enthusiasts and fans from around the world which included days of tributes to the state’s very own, Willie ‘Say Hey Kid’ Mays which included a mural unveiling ceremony on Wednesday which we were excited to attend, especially after hearing the sadly ironic passing of Mr. Mays on June 18th at the age of ninety-three.
Along with the full circle celebration of the state’s very own good natured exemplar of human excellence and kindness, Wednesday which also was the newly state recognized celebration of Juneteenth (the emancipation of enslaved U.S. citizens on June 19th1865) many MLB Representatives, city officials and families of legendary baseball names were in attendance on a fittingly breezy June afternoon.
Negro Southern League Musuem Interim Director, Anthony Williams eluded to the unlikely breezy feel of the day within Alabama’s summer saying, “This day is one all of us should be proud to partake in. It’s sort of poetic, the memory of Mr. Mays being acknowledged with this fantastic painting on a summer day here but it feels very cool, I call it Willie’s Wind, he knew we’d be out here to celebrate him and his spirit is keeping us all cool while we do so.”
The mural was painted by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native and renowned artist Chuck Styles who revisited the memory of his own Grandfather and family elders who kept him in the know of baseball players like Mr. Mays, as he shared a dose of brotherly love to Alabama residents with this particular design. Mr. Styles took time to tell us, “This is a wonderful day and I’m just glad I was able to share my vision and outlook of what Mr. Mays meant to me. I wanted to not just capture his athletic abilities, but to show Willie’s human side and the big bright smile that was a part of his character.” Upon a building wall on 1st Avenue North between Morris Avenue (Birmingham, AL.) the 50 foot tall and 100 wide masterpiece by Mr. Styles is a sight to see, which he said during his ceremonial speech to the audience, “I hope you all will be inspired by this painting and can enjoy seeing it on your daily commutes,” which I believe many of us will thanks to Mr. Styles and the other artists apart of this memorable eye-gift to us here.
The day kicked off with music and cold refreshments for the mural ceremony attendees, which former MLB legend Harold Reynolds was the M.C. with noted speeches from Birmingham Mayor, Randall Woodfin along with San Francisco Giants CEO, Larry Baer and Mays’ friend and advisor Jeff Bleich. Mayor Woodfin took to the platform, addressing the crowd with words centered around the importance of Mr. Mays as Baer spoke on the greatness and memorable moments he shared with Mr. Mays, in particularly speaking on the kind person Mays was, “After a long day of playing a professional game, a player such as Mays would find ending the day even more better with going home and playing stick-ball in the street with kids in his community” (which footage and photos can be seen through online outlets) showing the unselfish heart of Mr. Mays. Advisor, Jeff Bleich would also address the audience which featured a reading of Mr. Mays’ statement to citizens of Alabama and the days that’d honor him just a short while before his own earthly passing. Mr. Bleich held back emotion as he spoke on his friend, also presenting Mayor Woodfin with a special clock from Mr. Mays before they all gathered to partake in the ribbon cutting along with a young group of children and women apart of a local organization.
Harold Reynolds told us at the conclusion of Wednesday’s festivities, “Anytime you can do something like this and honor Black people who persevered and fought through. It’s an honor to see the Major League be behind this special day honoring men who’ve deserved such a day for many years.”
The following day the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants would play a tribute game to honor Legends of the Negro League and Mr. Mays, at the historic Rickwood Field with the ending of 6-5 (the Cardinals’ way).
Poetic, special and exciting, we recommend many going to visit the Negro Southern League Musuem (120 16th Street South, Birmingham, AL. 35233) and the Willie Mays park (409 66th Street-Fairfield, AL. 35064) and familiarize ourselves and the coming generations of a past worth continuing to honor in the ever changing futures to come.
Thanks to Mr. ‘Say Hey’ Willie Mays, his family and others for being a great Alabama native and inspiration to us all.
