Hall of Famer Willie Mays will not be in attendance for Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field
New York Giants' Willie Mays, takes a batting practice swing on June 24, 1954, in New York. Major League Baseball said Tuesday, May 28, 2024, that it has incorporated records for more than 2,300 Negro Leagues players following a three-year research project. Mays was credited with 10 hits for the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, raising his total to 3,293.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Willie Mays will not be in attendance when the San Francisco Giants face the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday in a game honoring him and the Negro Leagues.
Mays, who began his career in Alabama with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues and played for the Giants from 1951-72, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he will enjoy the game at home.
“I’m not able to get to Birmingham this year but will follow the game back here in the Bay Area,” Mays said in a statement to the paper on Monday. “My heart will be with all of you who are honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons. I wanted to thank Major League Baseball, the Giants, the Cardinals and all the fans who’ll be at Rickwood or watching the game. It’ll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”
Mays, 93, is widely considered baseball’s greatest living player. He won the World Series with the Giants in 1954 and was a 24-time All-Star during his career, tied with Stan Musial for second-most behind Hank Aaron’s 25. Mays won the 1954 major league batting title and was voted NL MVP in 1954 and 1965.
MLB has been working with the city of Birmingham and Friends of Rickwood nonprofit group to renovate the 10,800-seat ballpark, which at 114 years old is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States.
There also will be a Double-A game at the ballpark between the Birmingham Barons and Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League on June 18.
Mays will still be honored during the week’s festivities.
Trump is leaving the G7 early to focus on the Middle East
Trump will leave Canada Monday night after having dinner with the G7 leaders, his press secretary Karoline Leavitt, said. He had originally been slated to leave Canada on Tuesday evening.
What does Juneteenth mean to you? We want to hear your story
NPR wants to know how you feel about celebrating Juneteenth at this moment in history
Supreme Court faces new headwinds with roughly two weeks left in the term
Some 20 cases remain to be decided—about a third of the total argued cases--many of them the most important of the term. But the shadow docket — with its own list of cases — looms over the other opinions.
Israel claims control of Iran’s skies, but Tehran is managing to hit back
Israel says it has largely knocked out Iran's air defenses. In contrast, Israel still has strong air defenses in place, though some Iranian missiles are breaking through with lethal results.
Trump Administration could impose a travel ban on dozens more countries
A State Department memo says dozens of countries have until Wednesday morning to come up with a plan to address some U.S. concerns, or face travel restrictions.
The darter fish and the data center
A newly identified species is already in danger of extinction. A proposed massive data center in Bessemer would “nuke” its habitat, scientists say.