ST. LOUIS — Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. was surprised and thrilled to learn that Willie Mays knew his name and watches every game. Next season, one of those games will be in the only ballpark still standing where Mays once wore a home uniform.
An industry source confirmed to The Athletic a San Francisco Chronicle report that the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are tentatively scheduled to play a game next season in Birmingham, Ala., at historic Rickwood Field, where Mays once played in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons. Major League Baseball is set to make an official announcement within a few days.
“It’s going to be historic,” said Wade, who is the only current Giants player who identifies as African-American. “To be able to share that same field with so many greats who played there before, including Willie for sure, it’s going to be a great moment. It’ll be a special day to know he gets to watch us play on that field.”
The Giants were selected for the game specifically because of Mays, whose other home ballparks — the Polo Grounds in New York and Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park in San Francisco — have long been demolished. The Cardinals will be designated the home team and there will be a day off for both teams between the game in Birmingham and the rest of the series in St. Louis.
Major League Baseball instituted an annual Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa., in 2020 but the first game was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaugural game was played in 2021 between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees; the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs played the second edition last season. The games were scheduled for the second Thursday in August.
There is no Field of Dreams game this season because a youth baseball and softball complex is being built on the stadium site.
Major League Baseball is expected to hold future games at the Field of Dreams site while adding additional special venues with an eye toward celebrating the game’s heritage. The idea of staging a game to honor Mays at Rickwood Field, which was built in 1910, was first mentioned by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Bruce Jenkins two years ago.
Wade said he wholeheartedly approves — especially if the Giants wear uniforms honoring the Black Barons.
“Putting on that jersey will be special,” Wade said. “It’ll be a day to circle on the calendar for sure. It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase the sport today, and I’m sure that during the broadcasts, they’ll talk about the Negro Leagues and the history behind the park. So the fans and everybody can learn as well.”
Required reading
(Photo: Raymond Boyd / Getty Images)
