Mobile Alabama celebrates its sports legends with new Hall of Fame Walk
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Mobile Alabama celebrates its sports legends with new Hall of Fame Walk
The “Hall of Fame Walk’ is a new permanent installation on Mobile’s downtown waterfront honoring six Hall of Fame athletes who were all born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. The honorees include National Baseball Hall of Famer Henry “Hank” Aaron, Satchel Paige, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith, and Willie McCovey, as well as Pro Football inductee and former Houston Oiler Robert Brazile Jr. Two of the living legends featured in the display were in attendance, along with family, friends, and former teammates representing the other Honorees. The Hall of Hall of fame Walk features stunning 9-foot-tall bronze statues of each of these legendary athletes sculpted by Michigan-based artist Brett Grill and commissioned by the City of Mobile as part of a larger renovation project. The upgraded plaza includes new landscaping, hardscaping, built-in seating, and a striking new water feature, creating a space that invites both reflection and celebration.
Located in front of the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center, the “Hall of Fame Walk” is a new permanent installation on Mobile’s downtown waterfront honoring six Hall of Fame athletes who were all born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. The honorees include National Baseball Hall of Fame members Henry “Hank” Aaron, Satchel Paige, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith, and Willie McCovey, as well as Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and former Houston Oiler Robert Brazile Jr.
The Hall of Fame Walk features stunning 9-foot-tall bronze statues of each of these legendary athletes sculpted by Michigan-based artist Brett Grill and commissioned by the City of Mobile as part of a larger renovation project. The upgraded plaza includes new landscaping, hardscaping, built-in seating, and a striking new water feature, creating a space that invites both reflection and celebration.
However, the centerpieces are undoubtedly the impressively lifelike statues, which Mobilians, athletes, and fans came together to celebrate during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hall of Fame Walk on Tuesday, June 24. Two of the living legends featured in the display, Billy Williams and Robert Brazile, were in attendance, along with family, friends, and former teammates representing the other honorees.
Some of the other notable guests at Tuesday’s celebration were Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell, and two of Mobile’s other great professional baseballers, Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy and World Series champion Cleon Jones.
In addition to celebrating Mobile’s rich sports legacy, the Hall of Fame Walk will serve as a tourism anchor along the city’s downtown waterfront. With several nearby developments already underway, the installation enhances the downtown experience while also highlighting the incredible impact athletes from Mobile have made and continue to make in multiple professional sports leagues.
“We are extremely proud of all that these incredible men accomplished on and off the field, and we will forever be proud to call Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith, Willie McCovey, and Robert Brazile Mobilians,” Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “The Hall of Fame Walk is about honoring Mobile’s unrivaled sports heritage, but it’s also about the enduring power of sports to bring people together and inspire future generations to chase the dream of greatness.”
The vision for the Hall of Fame Walk was first conceived by a Mobile native who is a baseball legend in his own right. Miracle Met and World Series Champion Cleon Jones first approached the city with a concept to honor an “All Mobile” team fielded by professional baseball players from Alabama’s Port City. Over time, that concept was refined and expanded into the Hall of Fame Walk as it exists today.
“People ask me why there are so many Hall of Famers from Mobile. It must be in the water. We have the greatest pitcher of all time in Satchel Paige, two of the greatest hitters of all time in Hank Aaron and Billy Williams and the greatest defensive shortstop of all time in Ozzie Smith, and then there’s the rest of us,” Jones said. “This is one of the happiest days of my life. It took seven years to put this together; seven years for perfection. Enjoy this. There’s more to come.”
Chicago Cubs on Billy Williams:
“This is a fitting tribute for a true legend. Billy Williams represents everything that’s right about baseball. His textbook swing, tireless work ethic, and unshakable humility left an indelible mark not only on the Chicago Cubs, but on the game of baseball itself.” – Tom Ricketts, Executive Chairman, Chicago Cubs.
Tennessee Titans on Robert Brazile:
“Few men have made a bigger impact on our organization and the game of football than ‘Dr. Doom.’ On the field, he redefined what it means to play linebacker, earning his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Off the field, Robert’s heart for his community is a legacy just as powerful as his play.” – Tennessee Titans Controlling Owner, Amy Adams Strunk
San Francisco Giants on Willie McCovey:
“It’s deeply moving to see Willie McCovey honored with a beautiful statue in his hometown of Mobile. He was a towering figure in baseball and a beloved Giant whose legacy is forever ingrained in our organization. The Giants are proud to have been a part of his extraordinary career and impactful life.” – The San Francisco Giants