In a poignant moment during a Negro League tribute game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, Major League Baseball legend Reggie Jackson opened up about the racism he endured while playing in Alabama. The National Baseball Hall of Famer, now 78 years old, candidly expressed that he would not wish those experiences on anyone.

Returning to Rickwood Field in Birmingham, where he first played as a member of the Birmingham A's, was not an easy task for Jackson. Recalling the discrimination he faced, including being subjected to racial slurs and being denied entry into restaurants and hotels, he shared his painful memories during a Fox Sports pregame show.

Describing the dehumanizing treatment he received, Jackson revealed, "I walked into restaurants and they would point at me and say that n----- can't eat here." He went on to narrate an incident where he was pointed out with the N-word at Charlie Finley's country club, causing the entire team to leave. Eventually, they were allowed in, but the experience left a lasting impact.

Despite the hardships, Jackson expressed gratitude for the support he received from his manager, Johnny McNamara, and his teammates. They stood by him, making sure that if he couldn't eat or stay in a particular place, nobody would. They even provided him a place to stay when threats against his safety compelled him to leave his apartment complex.

Jackson's time in Birmingham was marked by the terror of the Ku Klux Klan, and he highlighted the tragic Baptist Street Church bombing in 1963, where four Black girls lost their lives due to an act of racial hatred perpetrated by Klan members. The memories of this violent racism still haunt him, and he emphasized how important it was to have had the support of his white friends and teammates throughout his career.

The Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field also served as a tribute to Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who started his career playing for the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays sadly passed away earlier this week at the age of 93. The game honored not only Mays but also 60 Negro Leagues players, making it the largest official gathering of Negro Leagues players in nearly 30 years, according to Major League Baseball.

Reggie Jackson's candid reflection on the racism he faced serves as a reminder of the hardships Black baseball players endured during a deeply troubling period in American history. As the MLB continues to pay homage to the achievements and struggles of the Negro Leagues, it also acknowledges the progress that has been made.