MLB at Rickwood Field 2024: Best Moments, Videos, Photos from Cardinals vs. Giants

The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants met on Thursday for a matchup at Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in the United States and the home of the Negro League's Birmingham Black Barons between 1924-60.

Before Thursday's game, Major League Baseball paid tribute to the Negro Leagues and its storied history:

One of the coolest moments was seeing former Black Barons' pitcher, Bill Greason, throw out the first pitch:

MLB legend Willie Mays—who died this week at the age of 93—started his professional career with the Black Barons in 1948 before going on to become arguably the greatest all-around player in MLB history.

Major League Baseball had already planned to pay tribute to Mays before the game. But in the wake of his death, it took on an even greater weight:

During the game, the broadcast threw back the clock with a 1954-style replay:

A number of current and former athletes were also on hand to take in the game and ceremonies beforehand:

But there were also the lingering memories of racism and discrimination experienced by the men who played at venues like Rickwood in the past:

In that regard, there was a bittersweet nature to Thursday's proceedings. Any chance to honor the players of the Negro Leagues should be taken, and it was high time to pay tribute to a historic and important venue of Rickwood Field.

But it also serves as a reminder that those men weren't granted the same opportunities as their white counterparts, and regularly endured horrific racism and discrimination. Thursday provided an important moment to reflect on the dark history of segregation as well.