How to Protect Yourself And Your Family From the Sun’s UV Rays

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June 20, 2024

We often hear commercials, along with our doctors and others, telling us it’s important to wear sunscreen when outside in the sun. These cautionary messages are meant to help protect us and/or loved ones from skin cancer which can be caused by too much sun exposure.

We understand we need to protect ourselves from the sun because it can potentially cause skin cancer, but do we understand how and why? The answer for most of us is no, not really. Most people understand the underlying concept not the actual in-depth reasons the sun can have this type of impact. So, this safety article will explore the scientific, as well as some medical reasons, of how and why the sun can have this type of possible devastating impact.

We understand we need to protect ourselves from the sun because it can potentially cause skin cancer, but do we understand how and why? (Adobe Stock)

To understand one must start with the term “ultraviolet radiation.” Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a type of light. Sunlight has UV rays, along with other kinds of rays. Some light bulbs give off UV rays. UV light bulbs are used in tanning machines, some nail dryers, machines used by dermatologists, and more.

There are three types of UV rays. They are:

• UVA. These rays go into the skin more deeply than UVB rays. These play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling. They also contribute to the growth of skin cancer.
• UVB. These rays are the main cause of sunburn. They tend to damage the skin’s outer layers. These rays play a key role in the growth of skin cancer.
• UVC. These rays do not reach our skin. The Earth’s atmosphere absorbs UVC rays before they reach the surface.

With this additional knowledge you can make more informed decisions as it relates to the length of time you and others should spend directly in the sun. Since this a summer safety series all of the information is intertwined. Therefore, we will merge this safety article with last week’s safety article to continue the discussion about sunscreen safety tips.

Children under six months typically should not wear sunscreen. This is because infant skin is more sensitive than adult skin. To protect infants younger than six months, the American Association of Dermatology (AAD) recommends keeping them in the shade as much as possible; dressing them in protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat; and making sure they stay hydrated. The clothing should be lightly colored made of light airy material.

Remember sunscreen is only one tool in your UV safety toolbox. There are many ways to reduce your exposure to UV radiation. Experts recommend combing sunscreen use with wearing protective clothing, staying in the shade when possible, and avoiding outdoor activities when the sun is most intense. Keeping an Eye on Safety may require you to use a combination of all of these.

San Francisco Giants, Entire Baseball Community Mourns the Loss of Willie Mays

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Birmingham Times

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June 19, 2024

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The San Francisco Giants Issued the Following Statement on Behalf of Willie Mays’ Family and the Organization:

“It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93.”

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” said Michael Mays. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

“Today we have lost a true legend”, said Giants Chairman Greg Johnson. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant. He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America. He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.”

“I fell in love with baseball because of Willie, plain and simple,” said Giants President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Baer. “My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick with my dad, watching Willie patrol centerfield with grace and the ultimate athleticism. Over the past 30 years, working with Willie, and seeing firsthand his zest for life and unbridled passion for giving to young players and kids, has been one of the joys of my life.”

At the age of 16, Willie Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948, playing only on Sunday during the school year. The New York Giants purchased his contract in 1950 when he graduated from Fairfield Industrial High School, and after two seasons in the minor leagues he was in center field at the Polo Grounds in 1951 and was named the NL Rookie of the Year at the end of that season.

He spent most of 1952 and all of 1953 in the Army, but in 1954, Mays led the league with a .345 batting average and 13 triples while hitting 41 home runs and driving in 110 runs. The Giants again won the pennant and in the World Series, faced the Cleveland Indians – winners of an AL-record 111 games. With Game 1 tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth, runners on first and second, and no outs, Vic Wertz hit a towering drive that would have been a home run in most parks. Mays, playing shallow, took off and ran with his back to the ball, caught it over the shoulder an estimated 460 feet from the plate, turned, and fired. Larry Doby, who had to turn back and tag up at second base, was forced to stop at third. The Giants went on to win the game and sweep the Series. “The Catch” is considered by many to be one of the greatest defensive plays in history.

Mays went on to play 21 seasons with the Giants and finished up with the Mets in 1972 and 1973. He hit over .300 10 times, en route to a career .301 mark, and finished with 3,293 hits.

Willie Mays died Tuesday, June 18 the San Francisco Giants announced. (File)

During his 23-year Major League playing career, Mays was named Most Valuable Player twice, first as a New York Giant (1954) and then as a San Francisco Giant (1965). He holds the all-time record for putouts by an outfielder, with a career total of 7,095. He won 12 Gold Gloves in center field and appeared in 24 All-Star games. He led the league in home runs four times, stolen bases four times, slugging percentage five times, total bases three times and triples three times. He was third on the all-time home run list with 660 until 2003 when Barry Bonds, passed him.

The “Say Hey Kid” was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, the first year of his eligibility (the ninth player to make it on his first try). Mays’ uniform number, 24, has been retired by the Giants, as he remains the franchise leader in games played (2,857), at-bats (10,477), runs (2,011), hits (3,187), doubles (504), home runs (646), total bases (5,907) and extra base hits (1,289). He was named team captain of the Giants prior to the 1961 season by manager Alvin Dark.

The Westfield, Alabama, native was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, by President Barack Obama in 2015. Mays has also received numerous honors as one of the premier athletes of the past 100 years. The Sporting News ranked him second only to Babe Ruth among the 100 greatest baseball players of the 20th century. ESPN listed him as eighth in their ranking of the top 50 athletes of the century.

In 2003, former Governor Gray Davis appointed Willie Mays to the State Board of Directors of the California African American Museum. He spent part of his 85th birthday aboard cable car No. 24, which was dedicated to him.

Mays was the spokesperson for The Institute on Aging in San Francisco as well as the President and CEO of the Say Hey Foundation, supporting underprivileged youth. He also was a member of the Concordia Club. He received honorary degrees from Dartmouth, Miles College, Ohio State University, San Francisco State and Yale University and had spent the past 36 years in the Giants front office.

Former Giants President and Managing General Partner Peter Magowan announced in 1997 that the front entrance of the club’s new ballpark (Oracle Park) would feature a world-class statue of Mays and the official address of the park would be 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

In January of 2011, just a few months after the San Francisco Giants won their first ever World Series Championship, Mays returned to his baseball roots and accompanied the Trophy to New York where he met with students at P.S. 48, located just feet from the former site of the Polo Grounds where he established himself as the greatest all-around player to ever play the game. During that same trip, he also met with members of the New York Giants Preservation Society and Historical Society.

A public celebration of Willie’s life will be announced at a later date. Fans who wish to offer their condolences may send letters to the Mays family care of San Francisco Giants, attention Forever 24, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107.

Kelvin Datcher, Frank Woodson Likely Headed to Democratic Runoff to Fill Vacant House District 52 Seat

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Birmingham Times

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June 19, 2024

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hmah1 (2) (1) — Kelvin Datcher, left; Frank Woodson

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Birmingham Youth Get to ‘Play Ball’ with Major Leaguers at Regions Field

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Birmingham Times

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June 19, 2024

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MLB_youth 1 — Campers learn the "Strongman Salute" during MLB's Play Ball youth engagement activity at Regions Park (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

Seeds were planted Tuesday afternoon at Regions Field in Birmingham Alabama. Not with a shovel or a spade, but with whiffleballs and foam bats.

Major League Baseball hosted Play Ball, its signature youth engagement activity for about 125 Birmingham children who were joined by Play Ball Ambassador Coach Ballgame and other special guests, as the group went through fun- and fitness-focused activities designed to show the many ways the game can be played.

The gathering was part of more than a dozen activities in Birmingham this week in tandem with MLB Tribute to The Negro Leagues on June 20 which features a regular season game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants at historic Rickwood Field.

Swinging Away during MLB’s Play Ball youth engagement activity at Regions Park (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

David James, Major League Baseball’s vice president of baseball and softball development in charge of baseball’s grassroots efforts, hopes the youngsters at Regions Field gleaned one thing from their experience.

“That the game is fun,” he said, pointing out that plastic and foam bat and ball sets where used for a specific purpose. “For a lot of these kids, this is their first time participating in sticking-and-ball sport (and if) they get hit with the ball, it doesn’t hurt. We’re gonna send every kid home with that bat-and-ball set with the hope that they go back in the back yard and start to play [and] … as they continue to play, they go, ‘Okay, I was at this Play Ball event. What’s the next step for me?’”

Former San Francisco Giant Randy Winn remembered playing a game called Strikeout as a child with his brother. The pair took turns pretending to be four baseball stars taking cuts at pitches from his sibling.

“Did I imagine being a Major League player? Yeah, every day in front of my house,” Winn said. “Did I think it was a reality? No, I didn’t. I was not the highest draft pick. I didn’t even get a scholarship to go to college to play baseball. I just played and I loved the game.”

Winn recalled his father coaching him and the son taking time to play and improve.

“I was fortunate enough and lucky enough to make it to the Major Leagues and played for a very long time,” he said. “But, for me, youth baseball is about fun. It’s about these voices, like the kids yelling in the background. To me, that’s what Play Ball is, and that’s what youth baseball is.”

Jeffrey Leonard, former San Francisco Giants player, hoped the campers came away with joy. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

Another former Giant, Jeffrey Leonard, is a community ambassador with the San Francisco ballclub. He acknowledged that there are fewer Black players now than in his youth.

“Suddenly, they don’t have as many heroes to look forward to and watch them on TV and say, ‘I wanna be like So-and-so.’” Leonard said. “When I grew up, it was different.

“To play baseball, you have to have a field to play catch, to hit the ball,” he said. “But it (baseball) has to be handed down. The parent, the uncle, the aunt has to hand it down and teach them and show them the joy in this game and the history of this game. I think once that starts again, the numbers will go up.”

Beyond fun, Leonard hopes the youth at Regions Field left having experienced joy.

“Joy lasts longer than happiness,” he said. “That’s what I’m looking for. It’s kind of like seeing that kid catch his first ball in the air, a flyball, or get his first hit or make contact. That moment, look at their faces, man, and watch the joy in them. They’re just running around. Oh.

“Living in this world is gonna be a tough. It’s gonna be a lot of bad days,” the former major leaguer said. “But you’ve got to take advantage of the good days and you try to find things that give you more good days. That’s what I’m hoping that they took away from it, that is a fun game. Anybody can play it. You have teammates. It’s just great.”

‘I Want More of the Cherished Moments That We’ve Shared For The Rest of Our Lives’

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Birmingham Times

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June 19, 2024

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BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

KENNETH AND JESSICA REMBERT

Live: Bessemer

Married: Dec. 18, 2017

Met: Kenneth remembered Jessica from their high school days at Ramsay High School [2006-2010, and 2009-2013, respectively], but Jessica said she did not remember him. Somehow, they’d ended up becoming friends on Facebook and enjoyed going back and forth about Alabama and Auburn football. However, in August 2016, Kenneth began playing the keyboard for Jessica’s home church, New Hope Baptist Church in West End.

“She was trolling my Facebook inbox, we had been talking to each other [because] I’m a strong Auburn fan and she’s a mid-Bama fan, and we would discuss college football … Then, she came to church one day, and she told me that if I ever saw her I better introduce myself… And since I’m not a punk I did,” Kenneth laughed. “I was a kind person, I used to walk her and her mom to their car and eventually I initiated a date and Jessica did not take me seriously,” he said.

“I was single, and maybe I was so broken at the time [from a previous relationship] that I did not know he was showing interest in me. My mom was the first one to tell me that he liked me, and I didn’t believe her either. But I said if he does like me [romantically], he’ll show me and I agreed to the date,” Jessica said.

First date: Oct. 1, 2016, at the Perfect Note in Hoover. “The vibe of the Perfect Note, and the live music, and being there with someone who is also musically inclined was just amazing. I felt like he could be a good partner to me creatively, and like he would show me and do things outside the box…,” Jessica said. “The highlight of the date was that Kenneth was such a gentleman. Opening car doors, pulling out my chair, and at one point he got his food first and he was like you can have some of mine and I was like he’s feeding me too? He has got to be the one,” she laughed. “I could really feel God on him, he’s a godly man I was thinking maybe this could really be something. I remember feeling so safe…”

“I had no idea how much she was enjoying herself because live music is what I do for a living. So maybe I didn’t appreciate how much she was enjoying it, but I was using what I know to woo my lady friend,” Kenneth said. “I appreciated how the date went and we got a chance to get to know each other, and we started liking each other really fast… it was all good vibes, she was understanding of me, and I was like this is gonna be a good night.”

The turn: November 2016. “After a couple of beautiful months of dating, we had no real problems or disagreements, [I knew] Jessica was a good fit for me. One night we were out and came across a relative on her father’s side, and she introduced me as her boyfriend but we had not discussed that so I said let me tackle this head-on, and when we got back in the car I said, ‘I didn’t know I was your boyfriend’, and she said ‘you’re not,’” Kenneth laughed. “But in December she posted a picture of me on Facebook, and our being together started to catch fire and I said this is [becoming official] and I asked her to be my girlfriend and she said ‘sure’,”

Admittedly, Jessica said she was “all over the place, I was happy but also kind of afraid at the same time simply because of the past relationships I had been through … I felt good that he asked me to be his girlfriend, but I would try to play hard. My actions were soft and vulnerable, but when it came to [verbalizing my feelings] I would try to protect myself by being nonchalant. I felt like he had come into my life to help me unlearn that stuff,” Jessica said.

The proposal: September 2017, at Jessica’s mother’s home in Crestwood, on the sofa in the living room.

“We did not have a traditional proposal, we had discussed marriage, and one Saturday we were out having lunch and stopped at a jewelry store, and I asked her what kind of ring she wanted. And I really knew she was the one because I gave her a $10k budget for the ring, and she picked a ring that cost $800. The ring came three weeks later and the same night I got the ring I went to her mom’s house to propose. I gave the speech, I said, ‘Jessica I’m so in love with you. You are the best thing to ever happen to me, and I want more of the cherished moments that we’ve shared for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?’ and she said ‘yes’. But we didn’t post the ring and [announce it on social media] until she got her nails done. Then we took the picture and let the whole world know,” Kenneth said.

“I cried and said ‘yes’. That was my first time being proposed to and I was like ‘wow.’ I felt loved, and like somebody in this world actually loved me for who I was and not for what I looked like, or what I got, but genuinely loved me,” Jessica said.

The wedding: New Hope Baptist Church inside the chapel, officiated by its pastor, Dr. Gregory L. Clarke. It was a small private ceremony with 10 of their closest family and friends. Their colors were blue and cream. Jessica wore a blue wedding dress and Kenneth a grey suit. Although the ceremony was intimate, they had a grand reception at The Perfect Note in Hoover. “It was lit,” Kenneth said.

Most memorable for the bride was “the kindness from everyone, it was very overwhelming for me. [Friends and family] were giving from the heart with no stipulations… I felt like a princess that day, I was in euphoria, I was on a cloud the whole day and I felt grand. I was like ‘Ok God, I see you’. Our marriage had only just begun, but God was giving me vision of the things Kenneth and I would do together and I knew God was involved…,” Jessica said.

Most memorable for the groom was also the generosity they were shown. “A lot of people did us a lot of favors. We weren’t the wealthiest couple at the time and a lot of people [contributed] and it looked great like we had paid for the best wedding planner. Even my band who played for us wouldn’t allow me to pay them… Jessica and I were on our own level of excitement from the day, receiving all the congratulatory gifts and kindness from the band to the person that made the cake,” Kenneth said. “My family stayed behind to clean up and they cleaned it like they were a professional cleaning service.”

They did not go on a honeymoon because they went right back to work the next day, Jessica said. “We’re still working on [going on a honeymoon], Kenneth is always traveling for work and we’ve done work-cations, but we need to plan our honeymoon.”

Words of wisdom: “Don’t go to bed angry. When I’ve done it in the past, I’m restless, I’m anxious, and that mess is still on my mind when I could’ve got it off my chest. So communicate your feelings and express yourself no matter how difficult you think it is,” Jessica said. “You need to do that [have tough conversations] because that’s how you’re going to build and grow your marriage. And keep God first over everything.”

“The best apology you can give somebody is to change the action, but one thing that I try to practice and encourage my wife with is that changed behavior comes at a human rate. You might not see the change immediately, but give your partner grace, and allow them to show you a track record of changing behavior. Allow them to grow and take joy in the evolution…,” Kenneth said.

Happily ever after: The Remberts have one daughter, Kennedy, 3.

Jessica, 32, is a Crestwood/Woodlawn native, and Ramsay High School grad. She attended Jefferson State Community College [Center Point campus], where she studied psychology. Jessica works at Urban Community Montessori in Birmingham where she serves as a lead Montessori guide, has a virtual assisting business where she also offers notary services, and works at St. Luke Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook where she is a lead nursery worker. Jessica is also pursuing a career in modeling.

Kenneth, 29, is an Overton, Ala. native, and Ramsay High School grad. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB] where he studied IT management information systems, and works as a touring musician, music producer, and music director for Rebirth Christian Fellowship.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

Bo Jackson Played at Rickwood Field as Prep Star, Collegiate Slugger and Pro

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Birmingham Times

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June 18, 2024

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MLB_Bo 1 — Bo Jackson at bat during a game between the Memphis Chicks and Birmingham Barons at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. (1986). (Alabama Department of Archives and History. Donated by the Alabama Media Group)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

Name a baseball legend and it’s likely he played at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field. In all, 182 Baseball Hall of Famers have played at the oldest standing baseball park in the U.S. Those greats include Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Rogers Hornsby, Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Mule Suttles, Josh Gibson, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers and Reggie Jackson.

And while he’s not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Bo Jackson played at Rickwood as a prep star for McAdory High School, a collegiate slugger for the Auburn Tigers and as a pro with the Memphis Chicks. Jackson was the 1989 MLB All Star Game MVP with a leadoff homerun.

Another football player, Auburn University’s and the New Orleans Saints’ Frank Warren, played a football game at Rickwood. His Phillips High School Red Raiders fell 7-3 to the West End Lions on Sept. 17, 1976.

While those legends all got a chance at the big league America’s oldest baseball park is indeed getting its chance as it hosts the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants on June 20 in the MLB Tribute to the Negro Leagues.

This is no preseason and it’s no exhibition. This is a real MLB game that is coming to Birmingham.

The game is part of a three-day baseball extravaganza where the real stars of the show are the ballpark that sits a block south of Third Avenue West and north of Lomb Avenue in the Fairview Neighborhood and the Negro League teams and players who applied their craft there.

Where Hall of Famers Played

Gerald Watkins is chairman of the Friends of Rickwood, the organization that has worked to maintain the baseball gem that is Rickwood.

Rickwood Field opened August 18, 1910, to a wildly enthusiastic crowd that saw their beloved Birmingham Barons beat the Montgomery Climbers, and unknowingly made history. Rickwood was the newest ballpark in the land that day, and 114 years later, stands as the oldest baseball park in America.

Industrialist A.H. “Rick” Woodward, for whom the ballpark was named, was not only the owner of the Barons. He never lost his passion for playing the game of his youth, inserting himself into the starting lineup on Rickwood’s opening day.

Woodward threw the first pitch ever in his new ballpark. It was not a ceremonial pitch, but it was a ball.

Since opening, Rickwood Field has been home to the Minor League Birmingham Barons, the Negro League Birmingham Black Barons and the Birmingham A’s, which was in the farm system of the Oakland A’s. When UAB Baseball began under coach Harry “The Hat” Walker, the Blazers played at Rickwood.

“Rickwood Field was a true Field of Dreams,” Watkins said, “where someone like Willie Mays dreamed of playing in the big leagues.”

The Birmingham Barons, a Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, played their final season at Rickwood in 1987 before heading to the Hoover Met. The Barons moved to their current home – Birmingham’s Regions Field – in 2013, when the team won a league-best seventh Southern League championship.

“It’s a special place for baseball fans and history fans,” Watkins said. “Even folks who are on a Civil Rights trail will come here after they go to the (16th Street Baptist) Church and they go to the Civil Rights (Institute and) the Negro Southern League Museum.

“We’re a tourist spot. A lot of folks don’t see that but we really are,” he said. “Over the years, we’ve had as many as 38 states represented and eight foreign countries. If you look at our guest book today, you won’t see anybody from local places. You’re gonna see people from out of town or out of the country.”

These days, the message on Watkins’ cellphone refers callers to Major League Baseball in their pursuit of tickets to the Giants-Cardinals game. Alabama residents entered a lottery to have a chance at buying tickets to that game. That allotment of tickets sold out in 45 minutes.

“The teams (Cardinals and Giants) have an amount and Major League Baseball has an amount,” Watkins said. “Those numbers are not known but they come out of the total somewhere, some way. In the overall ticket numbers, those come out before the (public) tickets go on sale.”

Television Experience

Capacity at Rickwood Field will be approximately 8,100, down from about 9,500 before the renovations.

“We have lost some seating capacity due to the improvements that we made, allowing better access for handicapped individuals,” the Friends of Rickwood chairman said. “We will have to have areas for more press and there’ll be some VIP areas that we’ve never had to deal with before. But, as MLB looks at it, they’re thinking about a television game.”

That television experience will be enhanced by a Jumbotron that will be temporally installed in right centerfield.

While access to the Major League game is limited, the MiLB (Minor League Baseball) game between the Biscuits and Barons and the Barnstorm Birmingham softball contest will have greater access.

Prices for Barnstorm Birmingham tickets are $24 in a nod to Birmingham’s own, the great Willie Mays, whose jersey number was 24. As with the other games, MLB will make a select number of tickets for Barnstorm Birmingham available for free to local youth and community groups.

Watkins said he’s learned from his conversations with Major League Baseball that it is interested in coming back for a second game.

“There’s no guarantees, but we have been told that the main thing we have to do is keep the field up at a Major League level,” he said. “That means we can’t overplay on it. That means we’ve got to make sure it’s cut properly, it’s watered properly, all the chemicals are applied properly.”

Simply put, Birmingham must keep its gem polished.

MLB at Rickwood pits the St. Louis Cardinals against the San Francisco Giants. The game will be played at 6 p.m. on FOX.

UPDATED — San Francisco Giants Great Willie Mays Has Died at 93

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Birmingham Times

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June 18, 2024

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Associated Press

Willie Mays died on June 18 just two days before he was set to be honored during the MLB at Rickwood game between his San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday in a game honoring Mays 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.

Shortly before his death Mays said his “heart was 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, who died at 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.

This story was updated at 10:50 a.m. on 6/18/2024 after the death of Mays.

What to Know About Parking, Shuttles, Security and More for MLB at Rickwood Field

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Birmingham Times

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June 18, 2024

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MLB_streets — The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) baseball championship will be held at Rickwood Field in the coming years, according to reports. (File)

birminghamal.gov

The City of Birmingham and Major League Baseball have released details about the MLB at Rickwood Field game coming up Thursday, June 20.

Details about offsite parking, shuttle service, security, ballpark policies, and information about accessibility are below.

OFFSITE PARKING & FAN SHUTTLE SERVICE

Parking at Rickwood Field will be prohibited. The surrounding streets will be closed and attendees will not be allowed to park on city streets. Fans attending the MiLB and MLB games are encouraged to utilize the free shuttle service from Legion Field. Parking at Legion Field is free of charge with proof of a purchased game ticket. Make sure to download your game ticket prior to entering the Legion Field parking lot. You will be required to show your ticket prior to boarding the shuttle. The ride time from Legion to Rickwood Field is roughly 5-minutes. The shuttle service will begin prior to gates opening on game days and will run throughout the event. ADA vehicles will be available to those who require them.
Legion Field parking lots will open one hour prior to public gates opening at Rickwood Field.
June 18 – Parking lots open at 2 p.m. CT
June 19 – Parking lots open at 3 p.m. CT
June 20 – Parking lots open at 2 p.m. CT
Upon arrival at Rickwood Field, as fans are walking toward the entry gate, we ask everyone to remain respectful of residents and their homes. Shuttles will return to Legion Field following the end of the game and post-game festivities.

DIRECTIONS to LEGION FIELD

Message boards will be posted on I-65 and I-20 to help direct fans toward Legion Field.

From East:

From I-65 take the exit for 6th Ave N and head west on 6th Ave N.
Turn right onto 9th Street North
Bear left on 7th Ave N
Continue onto Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.
Turn left into the parking lot

From West:

From Arkadelphia Rd./ Princeton Pkwy.
Turn left onto 8th Ave W.
Continue on 8th Ave. W and turn right into the parking lot

RICKWOOD FIELD INFORMATION

Rickwood Field
1137 2nd Ave W
Birmingham, AL 35204

SECURITY & BALLPARK POLICIES

In order to expedite your entry into the Rickwood Field events, please be aware that the following measures will be implemented. Major League Baseball reserves the right at any time to adjust entry policies at their sole discretion without any prior notice. Further, items will not be permitted to remain unattended in transportation vehicles.

Prohibited Items:

Aerosol cans (i.e., hairspray, mace, pepper spray, etc.)
Animals (except certified service animals or service animals in training)
Banners or signs larger than 16″x16″ or containing commercial, political, offensive, or obscene messages
Baseball bats
Beach balls or other inflatables
Drugs or other illegal substances/paraphernalia (including medical marijuana)
Firearms or other weapons (i.e., knives, brass knuckles, etc.)
Fireworks
Glass bottles
Hard sided coolers
Laptops (exceptions for official working personnel)
Laser devices or pointers
Noisemaking devices (i.e., air horns, cowbells, etc.)
Selfie sticks
Skateboards and rollerblades
Smokeless/chewing tobacco
Obscene, indecent or offensive clothing
Outside beverages (except clear, factory sealed water 20 oz. or smaller, soft-sided single juice or milk containers (one per person) or ADA required liquids in a sealed container)
Professional commercial-grade camera equipment
Toy guns or knives (including water guns)
Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)

Bag Policy:

Clear bags no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are permitted.
Purses/clutches no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are permitted.
All other bags are prohibited at Rickwood Field, with the exception of Medical and Diaper bags (must be no larger than 16″x16″x8″).
All bags are subject to search.
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ACCESSIBILITY

Major League Baseball is committed to identifying, removing, and preventing barriers to accessibility and inclusion at all jewel events. Accessible amenities and resources that will be available at Rickwood Field include an accessible shuttle service from Legion Field, a dedicated accessible gate entry, increased accessible seating, the Sensory Activation Vehicle mobile sensory room and sensory bags, accessible restrooms, and a mobility assistance team.

For more information and details, visit the MLB at Rickwood Field website on MLB.com.

Birmingham Stallions Defeat San Antonio Brahmas to Win Third UFL Championship

By

Birmingham Times

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June 17, 2024

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UFL_edited — The Birmingham Stallions celebrate after defeating the Brahmas 25-0 in the inaugural UFL Championship Game on Sunday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. (FOX Sports screengrab)

By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com

The San Antonio Brahmas had the No. 1 statistical defense in the United Football League this season. But it turned out, the Birmingham Stallions had a championship defense.

The Stallions defeated the Brahmas 25-0 in the inaugural UFL Championship Game on Sunday at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

“I thought our defense played a heck of a football game,” Holtz said. “They kept the ball in front of them, didn’t give up any big plays, tackled – just an unbelievable effort by our defensive side.”

Birmingham added the new spring-football league’s crown to the championships won by the Stallions the past two seasons in the USFL, which merged with the XFL to form the United Football League this year.

The outcome avenged Birmingham’s only loss of the season. The Brahmas beat the Stallions 18-9 on May 25 in Week 9 of the regular season.

“We were undefeated when we played San Antonio the first time,” Birmingham linebacker Kyahva Tezino said. “And if I’m being real with ourselves, we were comfortable, we were complacent. We probably needed that. Coach Skip actually came in the locker room and said he would rather lose that game and win the championship than for it to be vice versa.

“We just came together, and we said we’re not going to let (San Antonio running back Anthony McFarland) beat us, we’re not going to let this offense beat us, and we’re just going to come together and play our butts off, and that’s what we did.

“Shout out to those guys. Shout out to the D-line. It starts with them, and then everybody else follows right behind them, so it’s just a team effort.”

With the No. 1 offense in the league, Birmingham opened the title game with three punts and a fumble on its first four possessions. Then the Stallions scored the next three times they had the football.

For San Antonio, though, the offense produced six punts, lost two fumbles and got stopped on downs twice.

Birmingham’s breakout play was a 44-yard burst by running back Ricky Person Jr. to the San Antonio 30-yard line. The big play led to an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Adrian Martinez to wide receiver Gary Jennings with 40 seconds left in the first half. Birmingham took an 8-0 halftime lead on Martinez’s 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Amari Rodgers.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, the Stallions moved 64 yards in eight plays for another touchdown. Martinez ran in from 11 yards with 11:00 left in the third quarter, then hit tight end Jordan Thomas with a 2-point conversion pass for a 16-0 lead.

“We are a defer team,” Holtz said. “We will always defer the ball, so when there was a coin toss, I was hoping we would win it so we could defer, and they won it and took the ball. And our whole sideline was like, ‘Yes!’ because what we have talked about is the opportunity if we can manage this clock the right way and we can find a way to get a score before half and then get the ball in the third quarter and go score again, it’s a two-score game before they get back out. They had the ball at the end of the second quarter, we went down and scored, went down and scored again, and when their offense came back out it was 16-0. That is hard for an offense to overcome.”

San Antonio then made the fatal error of the game. Birmingham linebacker Kyahva Tezino caused Brahmas wide receiver Jontre Kirklin to fumble on a completion on the Brahmas’ first snap of the second half, and safety Kenny Robinson Jr. recovered at the San Antonio 24-yard line.

The Stallions cashed in with Martinez’s 1-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown – a play ruled short of the goal line on the field but turned into a TD via video review with 7:25 left in the third quarter.

A 49-yard field goal by Chris Blewitt with 11:31 left to play set the final score.

San Antonio ran for 127 yards on 33 carries in its regular-season victory over Birmingham. On Sunday, the Brahmas had 52 yards on 16 rushing attempts. Meanwhile, the Stallions ran for 210 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries against San Antonio on Sunday, with Person picking up 102 on 13 attempts.

“I told the team in the meeting today I was going to run the ball 25 times, and they said 30,” Holtz said. “I told them if they could average over 4 yards a carry, I’ll call it 30 times. We wanted to run the ball in this game. That was the game plan going in. I was getting flustered when we went three-and-out, three-and-out. Had a couple of third downs and maybe a couple of drops or reads or throws that we couldn’t execute. But it was easy to stay with it with the defense showing a zero on the scoreboard, because even though it seemed like it was bad, it was still 0-0. You’re still right in the game. We’re right where we need to be. We don’t need to win it in the first quarter, and I applaud our players for just being patient.

“And the offensive line – we knew (the San Antonio defense is) athletic, they’re fast, they can run, they can rush the passer. They’ve proven that. But we feel like our offensive line is pretty good, and we felt like we would be receiving the benefits in the second, third and fourth quarters if we kept banging that rock because, eventually, we were hoping it would wear them down. And our offensive line, they got stronger as the game went on.”

Birmingham won even though Martinez finished with 98 passing yards, completing 13-of-23 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions.

Martinez, who was the UFL Most Valuable Player in the regular season, also won the MVP Award for the championship game.

Two Stallions with Alabama football roots played on Saturday. Wide receiver Marlon Williams (McGill-Toolen) had four receptions for a team-high 36 yards, and guard Deonte Brown (Austin, Alabama) did not record any stats.

Meet the 6 Democrats in Tues. Election Vying to Fill House Seat Vacated by John Rogers

By

Birmingham Times

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June 17, 2024

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People voting election poll — Some Birmingham-area voters will be going to the polls Tuesday to select a Democratic nominee to run for the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat. (Adobe Stock)

By Virginia Martin | birminghamwatch.org

Some Birmingham-area voters will be going to the polls Tuesday to select a Democratic nominee to run for the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat, which recently was left vacant after former Rep. John Rogers resigned and pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

Candidates running for the Democratic nomination to the Alabama House of Representatives District 52 seat, from left: Dedra Campbell, Kelvin Datcher, Eric Major, LaTanya Millhouse, Eyrika L. Parker and Frank Woodson.

Six Democrats are running for the seat: Dedra Campbell, Kelvin Datcher, Eric Major, LaTanya Millhouse, Eyrika L. Parker and Frank Woodson. If none of the candidates gets more than half of the votes, there will be a runoff between the top two votegetters on July 16.

One Republican is running for the seat – Carlos Crum. Since he had no challengers for the Republican nomination, there won’t be a Republican ballot in Tuesday’s election.

The general election on Oct. 1 will pit Crum against the Democratic winner.

One polling location change has been reported by the Jefferson County Board of Registrars. The voting site at Miles College remains on campus but has been moved to the student center from the gym.

House District 52 covers parts of Birmingham, including the Glen Iris, Powderly, Southwest Birmingham and West End communities; along with sections of Homewood, Mountain Brook, Bessemer and unincorporated Jefferson County. See the map here.

You can determine whether you’re in House District 52 by looking up your name on the Secretary of State’s website.

BirminghamWatch’s Voter Guide for the race also includes candidate profiles on the candidates, a compilation of the candidates’ statements on why they should be elected and the issues that are most important to them.

Rogers has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The charges stem from a kickback scheme that involved giving $400,000 from the taxpayer-funded Jefferson County Community Service Fund to the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League and then, along with his assistant, receiving $200,00 of that money back.

According to the plea deal, Rogers will serve 14 months of home confinement and an undefined length of time on supervised release, and Rogers agreed to pay $197,950.45 in restitution along with his two alleged conspirators, according to his plea agreement.

Two others previously pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Rep. Fred Plump, a Democrat from Fairfield who was executive director of the league, resigned from the Legislature and pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges in June 2023. Varrie Johnson Kindall, Rogers’ assistant and companion, pleaded guilty in February to conspiring with Rogers and Plump to defraud the fund.

Plump’s seat in the Legislature was filled by Travis Hendrix after a special election in October 2023.

Updated at 12:08 p.m. on June 17, 2024 p.m.