we could always claim to be the oldest ballpark. but now that games that were played here were considered major leagues. it's a major part really, really big in our history. >> it's that unique history and legacy that will live on forever as one of america's lasting baseball institutions. >> it just carries on. and when you come here. you still sense of history. you look at the field. it's big and you look at the grass and it's green and you look at the infield infield dirt and it just feels baseball. it's something you just can't get anywhere else. >> so hats off to major league baseball and the friends of rickwood. this is going to be something that people were going to be talking about for quite some time in birmingham. it jackson will send it back to you. >> what a special night there in alabama as we take it back here to the bay. >> yeah. looking at all that fog at lawrence. this is typical summer pattern. not exactly baseball weather. yeah. about that. summer is here in the bay area. that fog has rolled back in. we do have som

it is the ballpark where mays began his career. >> rickwood field is the oldest professional ballparkt was once home to mays and the birmingham black barons of the leagues. >> the giants will face the cardinals tomorrow evening at rickwood field. and what was meant to recognize the leagues legacy will now also be a national tribute to willie mays. >> ktvu is greg lee joins us live tonight from birmingham, alabama. greg, what was it like to take those first steps there at the ballpark in birmingham? >> yeah. mike, julie, good evening to you. it is truly surreal. we were on the field a short time ago for batting practice for this celebrity softball game, and you could just feel the chills, the history of the men who have played here, including willie mays, and what they have endured. when you think of rickwood field and indulge me in a little bit of history here, this is what you think of the original facade to this ballpark. and in 1910, this ballpark was built and many people have asked me, why is it called rickwood field? well the owner of the city's team was named rick woodward. the

this is good is america's oldest ballpark. built in 1910, and so many players have come through here hall of fame players as well. you name it. they play here from the reggie jackson's to the willie mays is to the lou gehrig's, the hank aarons, babe ruth ty cobb. i could go on and on. she was joe jackson. everyone has touched the blades of grass here at this field and it is really an american treasure that really a lot of people don't know about. it's one of those hidden diamonds in the rough, if you will. and major league baseball is coming to town and revitalize this ballpark. and one of the most fascinating things about it when you see it on tv tomorrow, give you a little sneak peek. i am absolutely enamored. by the way, they designed the outfield wall. there are a lot of speculations could they keep charm, the old-school midst of this building here? and i got i got to tell you, they absolutely did. they capture the essence of what rickwood field is all about. the history of btrning in the history of baseball in america. it

and we'll check in on preparations live at the ballpark. that's all coming up in just a few minutes, but 1st let's get to the heat. it is a 1st alert weather day heat advisory is in effect across much of the bay area right now as temperatures climbed to triple digits in some spots. from our chopper, you can see just how dry it is especially in the east bay hills. and we caught up with some folks out before noon today at the rose garden in san jose. hats on umbrellas. out to beat the heat in the south bay and even in san francisco, they're feeling the heat as well today. meteorologist darren peck is tracking our temperatures and the risks. out there. well, pick out your part of the bay numbers today are going to be about 20 degrees above where they were yesterday. so if you look at livermore, you're sitting well into the mid and upper 90s. 85. in redwood city is a hot day is going to be low 90s for san jose. these numbers we've already done in the south bay have already been here, but we have not been 1 degree shy of 100. in antioch yet hock

every sunday this ballpark would be filled. this was one of the greatest ballparks we played in. even if he'd never picked up a baseball greason would be an american icon. he's been a preacher in birmingham for five decades, grew up neighbors with a future doctor, martin luther king jr, and became one of the first black men to serve in the marines. greason first took the mound at age 22 and played five seasons in the leagues. what was your go to pitch? looked like a fastball. yeah. and drop off the table. it was awful. i had two strikes on you. i said by. during his time with the birmingham black barons, who called rickwood field home, he was teammate, mentor and friend to willie mays, one of the greatest players of all time. what was your relationship with him like? we were like brothers and whatever could do to help him stay strong in the faith and believe he could be one of the best. there was grease in himself finally made it to the majors in 1954, becoming the first black pitcher in saint louis cardinals history. god gave me gifts. i used it and it was a blessing. some rich

number 24, the giants ballpark, 24 willie mays plaza. with the mays statue and the city of san francisco also celebrates willie mays day, may 24th. again number 24 is the number we will be seeing and hearing a lot about here in the coming days. >> yeah, a lot of people think of him and as the greatest player, a hall of famer, a giants legend. i wonder if you could ask willie mays who he looked to, who are some of his favorite players? who would he say? i mean, i would be so curious to know that, but probably some of his teammates, you know, willie mccovey and some of the players that he played with on the giants, i would imagine, well, i know who he played with, would want to play with. >> yeah. >> highest bat. well, we at one time. >> at one time. >> yeah. >> let's take a moment. now we do have more on the life and legacy of willie mays from fox news tom rinaldi. let's take a look at this. >> willie mays, the all around star of the san francisco giants. >> that was him. we could watch and cheer and marvel, but mostly we felt willie mays

we're live at the ballpark coming live at the ballpark coming up. ow network is no network for business. that's why more choose comcast business. and now, we're introducing ultimate speed for business —our fastest plans yet. we're up to 12 times faster than verizon, at&t, and t-mobile. and existing customers could even get up to triple the speeds... at no additional cost. it's ultimate speed for ultimate business. don't miss out on our fastest speed plans yet! switch to comcast business and get started for $49.99 a month. plus, ask how to get up to an $800 prepaid card. call today! >> bay area baseball fans get a rare treat tonight at oracle park as the giants are hosting the yankees in game. one of a 3 game weekend series. and we have our >> resident yankees. i think you can tell the excitement right? they are the american league's best team and usually they face the a's here in the bay area. so it's the first time in 5 years, the bronx bombers of playing in san francisco and ben ross is lucky to be at the ballpark tonight. what's happening then? hey, how's it going, guys? yeah. i mean

we've been in the ballpark several times. he was just a fixture at the ballpark. years after he retired . and, you know, growing up as a kid, if even if you didn't play baseball, you knew willie mays, you knew you knew his name, you knew who he was. and really what he stood for. so when it comes to our weather forecast back here across the bay area, we are starting to see some improvements in that air quality. right now, most of the bay area is good to moderate and that's because the weather pattern is beginning to change. let me show you more details about this right now and our microclimate forecast. and here's what we have happening. the storm track is moving unusually close to the bay area through tomorrow, so it's going to help to get some cooler weather in here. and we're also going to see the smaller system develop that will get some fog back at the coastline and will help to push this smoke off towards the east. now through tomorrow. i do think we'll still have a smoke advisory for the north bay with unhealthy air at times, but the rest of the bay area rig

the ballpark will be open tomorrow for free. here's nbc's sergio quintana. you can see throughout the day that there are plenty of people who've been coming out here and leaving lots of flowers out here at the willie mays statue. we've been talking with people who say that they are obviously mourning his loss, but they are also celebrating his legacy. and there has been not just people coming out here and snapping photos and leaving pictures, but there was also a group that came out here and sang some acapella songs in his honor, including i left my heart in san francisco. that group is called the curtis family c-notes. and then in talking with security out here, i'm told that the writer director spike lee even came out and spent a little bit of time out here, talked with people about the legacy of willie mays. now, for people who still want to pay their respects, obviously you can come out, you can leave flowers at the statue yourself, but there's also a small museum, a pop up museum that opened up in may. it has a really excellent small exhibit of willie m

nbc's jocelyn moran joins us from the ballpark this evening. jocelyn, from alabama to san francisco, it's going to be special. hum. yeah, exactly. raj we spoke to a couple of people here at oracle park who say they will not be at work tomorrow because they are going to be here inside. they're planning to watch the game from that scoreboard screen. they say it is important for them because they want the chance to honor and remember a legend, the greatest in baseball. tonight, there are more and more flowers surrounding the willie mays statue at oracle park. if you ask fans tonight, he's the greatest baseball player to have ever lived. he had the skills, the tools the player needs on the field, but he also had an important quality outside of the game that people remember and respect him for. he was a part of the community. he was humanitarian. he was a good person. he did everything all together, bundled up, no problem. and there's no one that can ever surpass him. carlos is one of the fans who plans on being inside oracle park tomorrow with his

if it will be had played in a a ballpark. that was a little more friendly to right handed hitters then came park was think what he's i think what his career numbers would have 660 homeowners, even having the plane can take part for as long as he did. you've got to figure he would have 40 45. maybe, you know, they're they're certainly talk that, you know, hank aaron, god rest his soul broke babe ruth's record of 7.14, 1974, if may's played candlestick. it might a- have been mister mays who passed babe ruth in 1974. or maybe a few years earlier. >> we're talking about the fact that, you know, he made fairly frequent visits even as he did hit his early 90's and would come to the ballpark in acknowledge people people loved seeing him. seems like the kind of thrived on that. >> i think he's resident and i think deal that if you talk to the players who got to. interact with will know getting players in the giants clubhouse these days. you know, they were not nearly old enough to seen him play, but they they certainly understood the

this is the oldest professional ballpark in america. 1910.e birmingham barrons and in the negro league the birmingham black barrons. one of the guys who played for a couple seasons recently departed and re general dairy willie mace. he will be part told here tonit while major league baseball embraced that sort of baseball inside of a dream what this represents is baseball inside of a time capsuled size and scope of this feels like you are going back to the 1940s. 10,000 fan also get to enjoy this in person. but, which makes it an intimate affair. but, you, and everyone watching right now at home, will get to watch it on fox tonight. it's a major league baseball game. it's the giants and cardinals. it's on fox and at rick wood field it. will be an amazing experience tonight, steve. >> steve: that's fantastic. do the concession stands. will they have 1940s prizes i'm hoping? >> will: i don't know about prices but food items, i just walked by and took it in. bavarian pretzels, steve. everything does feel like i'm walking through about 146. >> st

and it's not just the ballpark that's changing. amanda harry spent time in west oakland learning about the neighborhoods transition. to come out and visualize him the change in oakland that you know, i'm just happy to be living long enough to be able to see this 67 year old richard griffin jr drove out to 18th street between campbell and would to check out raimondi park for opening day. construction crews worked to transform it. couldn't recognize it almost this isn't the 1st time he's been here, griffin grew up. away from this park on wood street. apartments way back in the old days in the projects to minute he says he played empire. and coached baseball, right on this field. despite how intimately familiar with it when he looks around, he says he's blown away. and when i wrote out here and saw the new buildings in the apartment and condos. it's like a whole new town. i was saying, wow, this is a minor league town. >>just more than a year ago. this street wood street to his home to oakland's largest encampment it spans several blo

ben ross is actually out there at the ballpark.y lively out there behind you been what's going on out there. >> yeah, there and i mean, the excitement is through the roof here at oracle park. i guess there is no roof, but it's a lot of buzz for this matchup. and, you know, one of the big storylines, obviously, aaron judge is in northern california native tonight will be playing his first ever game in this ballpark will be the 34th mlb park that he's played you know, he almost ended up as a giant a couple of offseasons ago. it didn't end up happening and he stuck with the yankees. and so the big question sort of on everyone's mind right now is what's the reception going to be like? you got a lot of yankee fans here. a lot of giants fans, his family will be here. is it going to be cheers? is it going to be even yankees manager aaron boone didn't really know. take a listen. >> his family still here and so he's excited to play here that we're here 19. was hurt. so i know he's excited that i would imagine look most superstars. there's a

. >> we celebrate life together at the ballpark.he ballpark is a wonderful place. >>> and people all over the internet shaking their heads at another example of crazy bay area real estate, the viral listing you won't believe. ( ♪♪ ) you made a cow! actually it's a piggy bank. my inspiration to start saving. how about a more solid way to save? i'm listening. well, bmo helps get your savings habit into shape with a cash reward every month you save. both: cash reward? and there's a cash bonus when you open a new checking account to get you started. wow. anything you can't do? ( ♪♪ ) mugs. ♪ bmo ♪ did my legs shrink? i can move them. i mean, i knew alaska airlines' premium class had extra legroom but this... this feels different. okay. crazy idea. on the count of 3... i'm going to try and cross my... ohhhhhhhhhhh boyy that's nice. woooooo! ( ♪♪ ) >>> it's an east coast/west coast rivalry at oracle park tonight. in about an hour the giants face off against the new york yankees the first time in a three-game series. it's the yankees' firs

the giants are back at the ballpark, paying tribute to willie mays.it's the giants first home game since the hall of famer died last week. let's take you inside the ballpark now. nbc's terry mcsweeney is there along the field for us. and terry, i would imagine this is going to be a really special night right where you are. i had a major. it is an extremely special night already. this is the first home game for the san francisco giants ever without willie mays in existence to at least send his love and to watch many of the games play in many back in the day. very different day. if you take a look at the scoreboard, it has been well, now they've taken the tributes off of that, but they were paying tribute after tribute from mayor breed, spike lee, the chicago cubs, the atlanta braves, everybody and their brothers saying, willie mays, you were the best. thank you very much. take a look at the clock out here tonight. the face of the clock has been changed. it will be number 24 all night long. and now they're giving a tribute narrated by dusty baker to wil

it's not just the ballpark that's changing. amanda harry spent some time in west oakland learning all about the neighborhoods transition. to come. visualize him changing change in oakland that you know, i'm just happy to be living long enough to be able to see this 67 year old richard griffin jr drove out to 18th street between campbell and would to check out raimondi park. for opening day. construction crews worked to transform it. couldn't recognize it almost this isn't the 1st time he's been here, griffin grew up feet away from this park on wood street. apartments. way back nowadays in the projects to minute he says he played empire. and coached baseball, right on this field. despite how intimately familiar with it when he looks around, he says he's blown away. and when i wrote out here and saw the new buildings in the apartment and condos. it's like a whole new town. i was saying, wow, this is a minor league town >>just more than a year ago. this street wood street to his home to oakland's largest encampment. it spent sever

our live coverage from the ballpark begins at 7 p.m. it's going to be a good day at the ballpark.t's going to be fantastic. >>> tonight, former president trump lashing out a day after the historic verdict convicting him of 34 felonies. the trump legal team vowing to appeal, questioning the fairness of the judge and jury. mr. trump claiming without evidence that the new york court acted in conjunction with the white house and the doj in a rigged trial. president biden in his first comments calling the claims, dangerous, but will it change the political landscape with the election rapidly approaching. mr. trump raking in campaign donations in the hours after the verdict, and what about voters as a nation makes sense of a historic moment. our team coverage ahead. >>> also tonight, the new legal defeat for abortion in texas. the state supreme court rejecting the latest challenge to one of the country's most restrictive abortion laws.

that ballpark was deemed unusable and unsafe just over a month ago and the arrival of the ballers will hopefully provide an economic boost to west oakland. >> amanda hari spent time there speaking with residents about this huge transition. >> reporter: 67-year-old richard griffin jr. drove out to 18th street between campbell and wood to check out raimondi park. >> i'll be here for opening day. >> reporter: as construction crews worked to transform it. >> i couldn't recognize it almost. >> reporter: but this isn't the first time he's been here. griffin grew up feet away from this park on wood street. >> grew up in apartments way back in the days in the project. hey, wait a minute. >> reporter: he says he played, umpired, and coached baseball right on this field. despite how intimately familiar he is with it, when he looks around, he says he's blown away. >> when i rode out here and saw the new buildings and the apartments and condos, it's like a whole new town and i was saying wow! this is a minor league town. >> reporter: just more than a year ago this street, wood street, was home to

some say they immediately went to the ballpark in china basin to honor him. and while the giants are away in chicago, ktvu is amber lee live tonight outside the ballpark in san francisco, amber mike, there is a growing memorial for willie mays here in front of oracle park. >> fans were nostalgic as they gathered here to remember the man who they describe as the greatest baseball player who ever lived, so impressed that there were already flowers there within minutes of him. >> it just shows how much the city loves him. >> a steady stream of fans came to oracle park to pay homage to willie mays at his likeness that adorns the home of the san francisco giants. >> i was watching the game on tv and it was announced in the middle of the of the middle of the inning, and i felt just the need to come here and pay my respects. >> 177 year old fan tells me. as a teenager, he watched mays play at candlestick. there is sadness at the legendary baseball player's passing. >> it's like something hit me right there in my chest. >> but he recalls with fondness, a lifetime of

thanks to mlb ballpark bites. ballpark experience to your door. >> order now, and you could be enjoying a philly cheesesteak loaded with ballpark sizzling heater or the ball bucket all by first pitch to get the app, just head to our website. that's ktvu dot com, and you're going to click on the web links section. and right there you'll find the link to download your new favorite delivery app. and you'll be able to order these delicious food. i'm looking at the philly cheesesteak. yeah, that's the one. and then the heater is this one over here on the right. that's the we have. >> yeah. >> those are the fries cold. because if they're not i might try some i mean honestly sure. you know i think about the giants ballpark and it's all about the garlic fries. and i've heard about. but i've never had like the dodger dog down in la. so a lot of these ballparks are very regional. you know, people go to the game to have the food, it's really an interesting idea. yeah, yeah. and >> all right. are the fries cold? let's find ou

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when do we expect them at the ballpark? greg, yeah. >> mike, we know that charter plane for the giants is set to arrive from chicago. they played their last game of the series with the cubs this morning. they'll get in tonight. and there are a number of community events tomorrow. they have batting practice. as you would expect with a normal game, this is a regular season game that they are going to play here at rickwood, so they certainly want to win. but i have to tell you, you cannot step on that field. and i know these are professionals without feeling that energy and sort of the chill and the tickle in the back of your throat, knowing the history of the men that came before them. we should also add that it is an incredibly intimate setting. i mean, you have fans that are right there. and again, we said, this ballpark fits about 9000 regularly, but they've had to adjust for media for as well as some accessible seating. so about 8100 seats and those tickets have been sold out a very long time. >> i can hear the sound of t

i think ballpark is one of the places where you can really feel how the building us deal with the form a separation without glossing over a history. this is one of the most vibrant diverse and interesting places invalid sundays, at ballpark on very busy as that's when the populace, the market takes place. but the park is still worth a visit even if only to see them, then the lie back. if you're feeling very brave, you can join the festival. 5 at the open at karaoke, and grab the mike yourself. the wednesday lunch time, 1 pm time for some classical music for free. you don't believe me coming on and see for yourself. the balance celebrity is one of the best concept holds in the world. it's musicians are incredible, but what many people don't know is that they play full free every wednesday. the either solo or in small songs and the for the in front of the grand concert hall. you don't need a ticket. just the craving for classical music. the invalid of an odd rules this 3 button. why is that? and how can i find the best pieces i asked someone who knows the city streets i've seen inside ou

at ballpark, i'm very busy as that's when the populace, the market takes place, but the park is still worth a visit even if early to see them then the life back. if you feeling very raise, you can join the festival. 5 at the open at karaoke and read the mike yourself, the wednesday launch time, 1 pm time for some classical music for free. you don't believe me coming on and see for yourself. the balance celebrity is one of the best concept holds in the world. it's musicians are incredible, but what many people don't know is that they play full screen every wednesday. the either solo or in small it also means the for the in front of the grand concept hole. you don't need a ticket, just the craving for classical music. the invalid of an odd ruse, this 3. but why is that? and how can i find the best pieces i asked someone who knows the city streets i've seen inside out then is the tickets we have this large, we're all as big things i talk to you. but the beauty is also the details of some of the some of the, you know, like business unexplained with extremely painless, extremely vows souls

birmingham, alabama is the country's oldest professional ballpark.ons from 1924 to 1960, and now it's preparing for a major moment in the spotlight. on june 20th, the mlb will hold a regular season game there. we visited the field earlier this year with comedian and baseball enthusiast roy wood jr. as you can see, work was already in progress preparing for the big game. wood actually had the opportunity to play there when he was in high school. they've taken down the existing outfield wall, which is exposed. the old outfield wall, the wall out there. now, that's where they used to have to hit the ball. baseball fields was too big, man. if old school players played in today's dimensions, they would have had twice the home runs. this is wild. mlb recently announced it would include stats from the -- league in its historical records. the move reshapes record books gives new recognition to -- league players and historical sites like rickwood, which were home to black teams during segregation. the cardinals and giants will go head to head there this upcom

of this ballpark. the great players who played on this field behind me, including a 17 year old willie mays. considered 1 of the greatest, if not the greatest renault brooks, former voice of the san francisco giants, believes there is no argument when it comes to willie mays. >>is the the greatest players to ever play the game and you cannot convince me otherwise. so honored to be here at this historic ballpark. >>she said. to step into rick >>woodfield, >>where a young willie mae started his baseball career, she says you can feel his spirit and the spirit of some of baseball's greats. >>hollowed ground. about that. the best way i can explain it. this is hollowed brown. and so many of our negro league heroes played on this field >>is the same feeling. john hayashi and his daughter, lizzie, felt this afternoon as they to walked inside. >>priceless. to be honest, because all its history being the best all around player. play the game. >>father daughter trip turned bitter sweet after they learned about th

walking into the ballpark. >> these past two weeks have been tough for giants fans.e lost another giants legend and fellow hall of famer last week at 93 years old. matt lively joining me in studio now with a look at orlando cepeda's life and legacy. >> reporter: yeah, along with mays, orlando cepeda was another future hall of famer when the giants arrived in san francisco from new york. for more on the life of the baby bull, here is vern glenn. >> i play with the great willie mays, which i learned so much from him and with the great hank aaron, the best teammate, a great friend. i played with bob gibson. >> reporter: the giants moved to san francisco in 1958, and willie mays was the headliner. but it was the 20-year-old puerto rican that took the city by storm. orlando cepeda won rookie of the year in 1958, hitting 96 rbis. he could not only hit home runs, but he could play the conga drums, dance to the cha chas, and played with the giants in 1962 and on deck when willie mccovey was at the plate. >> and a liner strike to richardson, the game is over in the world seri

. >> it is a surprisingly quick turnaround since the ballpark was deemed unusual just over a month ago just the ballpark, amanda harry spent time in west oakland when about the neighborhoods transition. >> come out and visualize some of the change in oakland, happy to be able to see this took 67 old richard griffin jr. drove out to 18th street between campbell and wood to check out for monday park. as construction crews work to transform it. but this isn't the first time he has been here, he grew up feet away from this park on wood street. >> way back in the days in the project. >> reporter: he says he played , i'm tired, and coached baseball right on this field despite how intimately familiar he is with it, when he looks around, he says he is blown away. >> when i saw the new buildings and the apartments and condos , it is like a whole new town. i was saying, wow, this is a minor-league town truck just more than a year ago, this street, wood street, was home to oaklands largest encampment. it spanned several blocks and hundreds of people lived here since setting it down, the city has

this is one of the most vibrant, diverse and interesting places invalid sundays, at ballpark on very busy as that's when a puppy. lastly, market takes place, but the park is still with the visit even if early to see them, then the life back. if you feeling very brace, you can join the festival. 5 at the open at karaoke and read the mike, you'll sell the wednesday launch time 1 pm time for some classical music for free. you know, believe me, come along and see for yourself the balance. so money is one of the best concept holds in the well, it's musicians are incredible. but what many people don't know is that they play full screen every wednesday. the either solo in small songs and the for the in front of the grand concert hall. you don't need a ticket, just the craving for classical music. the invalid of an odd rules this 3 button. why is that? and how can i find the best pieces? i awesome. someone who knows the city streets i've seen inside out. that is, the tickets you have this large 0 is big thing is i talked to you, but the beauty is also the details and some of the, some of the

he grew up just a few miles from this ballpark.e mays, in so many ways, was bigger than baseball. he was a magical part of american culture, and we in the bay area had the privilege to see him up close. if you ask someone who's the best baseball player of all time, more often than not, the answer is going to be willie mays. not just fans, but fellow hall of famers will tell you the same thing. well, mays was just the greatest of min, just god gifted, i guess. but, never seen anybody better. great, great. he makes it so easy for us his last year. i'm playing left field for the padres. he hit a fly ball to left. it was a you know, a little texas leaguer. i caught the ball when i caught it, i flipped it in, but i was shaking. my hands were shaking. you know what i mean? i just caught willie mays fly ball. i called my brother when i went home after we lost, but i called him. i said i played against willie mays today. there was nothing on the field that willie mays couldn't do. he can take up the whole field and play the whole field and

willie mays legacy hits well beyond any ballpark, and his death leaves an impression for generations and decades to come. nbc bay area's ginger conejero saab joins us live in san francisco with more. good morning, ginger. good morning marcus and laura. you know, it's, just a moment in time where there are so many people who have been, who have been influenced, who have been inspired by the say, hey, kid, this is a moment where they are saying thank you and giving their respects. i want to first show your attention or turn your attention to a growing memorial outside of san francisco's oracle park this morning. that is where fans here in san francisco and across the bay area and even beyond, have left their flowers, notes and mementos to the say, hey, kid. they were there to show their respect to the best all around baseball player of all time. willie mays was the incarnation of the continuity of baseball from generation to generation, which i now have shared with my daughter and my father shared with me. now, the san francisco giants are not in san francisco right now. they're in chi

every time i come into this ballpark i swear they've added something new, something different for the fans to enjoy, but it's not just right here at raimondi. our max darrow explains businesses around the community and this park are all benefiting from the ballers. >> reporter: just about a block or so away from raimondi park a man sets off on his mission to help rebuild the brand of an oakland neighborhood. >> two years ago if you came and looked at this area, i mean it was in bad shape. none of the streets were paveed. there was homeless encampments everywhere. >> reporter: harv singh is in charge of recruiting and identifying small businesses for the west oakland farmers market, night market, and the soon to open food hall, prescott market. >> west oakland is open for business. the more folks that we invite to come play, the better. >> reporter: on this day he's headed to piedmont avenue. >> we're going to go visit grace at tea on piedmont, might be a possible fit for prescott market and also for our night market. that's cool. >> reporter: harv is here to evaluate her business and

when the ballpark opened, and one that she intentionally got near the willie mays statue. >> it says loyal from game one. when i heard the news yesterday, the first thing that came to my mind was my dad gets to meet willie mays in heaven. >> so yeah, you know, he means a lot. not just to the baseball community, but, yeah, the minority community as well. >> i think that he is one of the, i'd say, the greatest sports athlete ever. i think he transcends baseball. he transcends sports. he meant so much to black people in this country, a thought echoed by san francisco chronicle sports columnist scott ostler. >> there were still people skeptical, you know, and we're not sure if we want black people in the game, you know, and willie helped break down a lot of that reticence and that backwards thinking. >> and as mays broke barriers for communities, he entertained with an ability that san franciscans still talk about today. >> everybody just loved him. everybody would scream his name and the whole stadium would just go wild for willie mays. i mean, even when we were kids, it was willie mays

we'll take it to the ballpark in just a moment. we start, though, with our microclimate weather alert, triple digit temperatures in parts of the bay area. it's going to be another hot one tomorrow. and you know this. when the temperature rises is the fire. danger also rises. fire crews getting and actually keeping close eyes on our dry hills. our sky ranger was overhead today in the foothills of the east bay. you see that those used to be green foothills. it is now brown. it was also hot enough in san francisco, our sky ranger seeing a lot of people down below, getting in some beach time. this is crissy field, baker beach and ocean beach also had some nice crowds. let's bring in our chief meteorologist jeff ranieri. okay, as predicted as forecasted, it's hot. what are you seeing tonight and tomorrow jeff. oh we're going to stay with more of these temperatures right near the triple digits. if not 100 for a few locations. and let's look at today. we got up to 101 in napa, walnut creek, 101, brentwood 100, santa rosa 100 and concord 9

and in the oldest ballpark in the country where. incredible. >> all right. we are back here and checking on our weather. >> we are the weekend almost upon us. meteorologist sandhya patel is here at summertime officially. sandy. >> it is indeed. and dan and i hope you're ready for some hot weather, because the next two days inland areas are going to get pretty hot. >> let me show you right now a time lapse from our mount tam cam, a smoky sunset tonight. you can clearly see as the sun was going down, the smoke layers from the colusa county fire up the sites. fire that was moving through our area. air quality has been good to moderate. you can see some pockets of moderate air quality right now. now we don't have an air quality advisory tomorrow. there was one up today because of that smoke. but you will notice in the upper parts of the atmosphere we will continue to see some smoke and haze as we head towards tomorrow morning and then becoming less pronounced tomorrow evening on live doppler seven. we've got a pretty good push of the marine layer. it is about 20

it will continue tomorrow, when the ballpark opens up to fans so they can watch the rickwood field game on the scoreboard. that game is being played in the very same ballpark where mays played in the leagues with the birmingham black barons so many years ago. we begin our coverage with abc seven news reporter j.r. stone. >> tears from diehard willie mays fans who came out to oracle park to remember the say-hey kid. >> my dad went to opening day, the first giants game ever, steel stadium in 58, and got to see willie mays play. and i lost my dad almost two years ago. >> sorry, i brought flowers for, for willie, but for my dad too. >> we walked with eileen beason as she searched for her family's brick, one that she bought for her dad on father's day, when the ballpark opened, and one that she intentionally got near the willie mays statue. >> it says loyal from game one. when i heard the news yesterday, the first thing that came to my mind was my dad gets to meet willie mays in heaven. >> so yeah, you know, he means a lot. not just to the baseball community, but, yeah, the minority communit

it's the oldest ballpark in the country, built in 1910. mays played there for the birmingham black barons in the late 40s before ultimately joining the new york giants. his legacy is front and center at the stadium. there's a mural. you see it right there near the entrance of mays. the chairman of rickwood field talked with nbc sports bay area's laura b'rit earlier today. willie mays is the greatest baseball player of all time, and we're very proud that he came from birmingham. we're proud that he still cares about birmingham. think about willie mays about 50 yards from where we are standing there with his hands on his hips, thinking, i hope that next ball comes to me because i will catch it. and i understand. ian, there was actually another key event there where the giants actually spoke. yeah, you know, another planned event that's taking on a new tone. certainly today, a mural of willie mays was unveiled in downtown birmingham to celebrate the say hey kid. six different artists spent the past week painting it since the news of his death

this is the brand new ballpark or the renovated ballpark in west oakland for the opening night for the oakland ballers. yep. that's the new independent minor league team that begins here at home in west oakland. tonight. we are live a slow network is no network for business. that's why more choose comcast business. and now, we're introducing ultimate speed for business —our fastest plans yet. we're up to 12 times faster than verizon, at&t, and t-mobile. and existing customers could even get up to triple the speeds... at no additional cost. it's ultimate speed for ultimate business. don't miss out on our fastest speed plans yet! switch to comcast business and get started for $49.99 a month. plus, ask how to get up to an $800 prepaid card. call today! it's your time to cash in. so don't just play. stay... at northern california's premier casino resort. book your getaway now at cachecreek.com. tonight we're talking smiles and optimism. a new era for baseball in oakland. so fun. opening night for the oakland ballers. that's the new independent minor league team. of course. nbc bears velena

here's a live look at the ballpark. we're going to take you to the special ceremony happening in just a few minutes. the news at six starts right now. good evening, and thanks for being with us on this monday. i'm raj mathai, and i'm jessica aguirre. questions, concerns and a criminal investigation. after a man ripped down a pride flag from a home in san jose. it happened in the almaden valley neighborhood. nbc bay area's marianne favro first broke this story last night. she joins us now in san jose with surveillance video of the suspect in a story. you'll see only on nbc bay area. san jose police met with the victims this afternoon, and if forwarded this case to the hate crime unit for review. this security camera video shows a man jumping out of a black car, running to a home in san jose, and tearing down a pride flag. he then runs off, jumps back into the car and takes off. it felt very violating. kind of felt dehumanizing. it happened friday night while showed us the damaged flag holder and shredded flag. he's a pri

tribute. >> inside rickwood field, the oldest ballpark in america, the longtime home of the birmingham black barons and where 17 year old willie mays began his professional career, the baseball world paid tribute to the leagues and honored the say, hey, kid. >> i could share a lot of things, but there it goes. >> you can't control it right now. i know for me, it's just too soon. yeah, so forgive me. to the public and the people, it's just too soon because it's an out of control feeling like giants. >> great. barry bonds emotional. when asked about his godfather's impact on his life, mays, his son michael said his dad would want this game to be a celebration of his life. >> i'm overwhelmed with, you know, joy and positivity. i couldn't have done this without all the love that's, you know, he's sending me and all these fans and the giants and it's just a birmingham. it's really wonderful to see this kind of inspiration and joy and community coming together. >> giants manager bob melvin played here in the minors and returned for the first time in four decades. he had a special message for

tickets. >> watkins hopes visitors to rickwood feel the gravity of the game and understand the ballpark'sial place in baseball and u.s. history. you can look out there and see willie mays in your dreams. >> you can look out there and see satchel paige on the mound, or babe ruth or lou gehrig. all those greats came here and it's just a place where memories can come alive. and yet we're tying the future in greg lee ktvu fox two news and greg lee will bring us live corage from alabama. >> he's traveling there nex week. you'll also be able to catch that game between the giants and the cardinals. one week from today. it starts at four in the afternoon right here on ktvu. >> well, graduates from ames k through 12 college prep charter district are celebrating today because all 84 seniors are going to college. the k through 12 charter school has maintained a 100% college acceptance rate for the past 15 years. the school's motto is breaking the cycles of poverty in oakland through education. the school has also been awarded for its efforts to help black and latin x students achieve education goals

it will continue tomorrow, when the ballpark opens up to fans so they can watch the rickwood field gamen the scoreboard. that game is being played in the very same ballpark where mays played in the leagues with the birmingham black barons so many years ago. we begin our coverage with abc seven news reporter j.r. stone. >> tears from diehard willie mays fans who came out to oracle park to remember the say-hey kid. >> my dad went to opening day, the first giants game ever, steel stadium in 58, and got to see willie mays play. and i lost my dad almost two years ago. >> sorry, i brought flowers for, for willie, but for my dad too. >> we walked with eileen beason as she searched for her family's brick, one that she bought for her dad on father's day, when the ballpark opened, and one that she intentionally got near the willie mays statue. >> it says loyal from game one. when i heard the news yesterday, the first thing that came to my mind was my dad gets to meet willie mays in heaven. >> so yeah, you know, he means a lot. not just to the baseball community, but, yeah, the minority community

fans as they pay their respects to willie mays from right here in the bay area at the ballpark in san francisco. the 11:00 news on ktvu, fox two starts now. and while the giants may have lost that game to the cardinals, the honor to play was held from birmingham to here in the bay area. good evening once again, everyone. i'm mike mibach and i'm julie julie haener. >> just two days after willie mays death, tonight was a celebration of mays legacy. the san francisco giants organization opened the gates at oracle park to fans just outside. willie mays plaza is a growing memorial, but inside a haven for fans. as they shared their memories of the forever giant. >> i actually grew up watching him idolizing, you know, the way he played the game. that's how i chose to play center fielder myself. i think we all thought he would live forever. >> you know, one of those people and he's so he he spent so much time coaching players from the minor leagues, helping players and giving back to the community more than he, longer than he actually played baseball. >> and at center field, a large statue st