The Cincinnati Red Stockings, established in 1869, were a groundbreaking professional baseball team in post-Civil War America, led by Harry Wright and his brother George, gaining fame with an undefeated record. Baseball's early years were marked by raw, chaotic games relying on brute strength and instinct rather than refined strategies, showcasing a love for the game that persists today. Meanwhile, a tribute game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham honoring Negro Leagues history, including a memorial for Willie Mays, aims to attract more African American players to the sport, reflecting on its rich past and seeking to address the decline in Black representation in baseball.