HAGERSTOWN, Md. – In 1950, a young and talented Negro Leagues player, Willie Mays, embarked on a journey that would forever change his life and baseball history. At just 19 years old, Mays decided to forgo his high school prom to join the Trenton Giants, making his debut in affiliated professional baseball in the city of Hagerstown, a former slave-trading stronghold.
Mays quickly made a name for himself, becoming the first Black player to appear in the Class B Interstate League, despite facing racial discrimination and segregation in an era deeply entrenched in Jim Crow laws. Throughout his time in Hagerstown, Mays encountered racial epithets from fans and was forced to stay in a separate hotel away from his White teammates.
Over the years, Mays never forgot the impact that Hagerstown had on his career, often recounting his experiences in books, interviews, and speeches. Despite the challenges he faced, the city continued to hold a special place in his heart.
Decades later, the legacy of Willie Mays in Hagerstown lives on, with various baseball franchises in the city honoring his memory by retiring his jersey number. Most recently, the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, an expansion team in the independent Atlantic League, paid tribute to Mays in their first home game following his passing.
However, for some, Mays’s experience in Hagerstown remains an overlooked chapter in the city’s history. The lack of recognition for his contributions has prompted calls for a more prominent acknowledgment of Mays’s impact on the city.
Despite the challenges he faced, Mays’s resilience and talent on the field shone through, paving the way for future generations of Black baseball players. His return to Hagerstown in 2004 marked a significant moment of reconciliation, allowing the city to make amends for the past treatment of the baseball legend.
As the years have passed, Mays’s story continues to resonate with both baseball fans and residents of Hagerstown, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy left by one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Through his experiences in the city, Mays’s impact transcended the baseball diamond, leaving a lasting impression on the community and the game itself.