Shakeia Taylor: A powerful night at Rickwood Field, where Willie Mays wasn’t present but was everywhere

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sam Allen, 88, last played at Rickwood Field in 1959 with the Kansas City Monarchs. He returned to the oldest professional ballpark in America on Thursday for Major League Baseball’s “Tribute to the Negro Leagues” game featuring the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

It was the marquee event of four days of celebrations during which Allen and fellow former Negro League players and their families were honored. Retired major-leaguers hung on every word that Allen shared at receptions and brunches. They gathered around him like children at a story time to be regaled by his tales of a bygone era.

But the long-planned homage had an undertone of sadness. Just days before the game, baseball