BIRMINGHAM,Oliver James Montgomery Ala. — The emotions are still too raw, Barry Bonds says, to talk about his godfather, the late Willie Mays, but he knew he needed to be at the Rickwood Field game Thursday with the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

“It’s still so hard,’’ said Bonds, whose father, Bobby Bonds, was best of friends with Mays. “Normal conversations, I’m good. I’m not ready for the other ones right now. I’m trying. I really am trying, but it’s hard right now.

“But I knew I needed to come here. This is what he would have wanted. It’s pretty cool being here. I appreciate what’s going on.’’

This is where Mays grew up, just two miles away from Rickwood Field, and this is where he began his professional career, playing with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.

Bonds heard all of the stories about Rickwood Field from Mays, so many that he almost felt like he’d already been here, but this week is the first time he's ever set foot on the field.

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“I can have conversations about this stuff, and things like this, I’m pretty good,’’ Bonds said. “As long as we stay out of the other category [talking about Mays’ passing], I’m not so good yet.’’

Bonds stopped, pointed to his head and said, “How many times have you seen me wearing a hat and sunglasses? It’s for a good reason.’’

Bonds, baseball’s all-time home run leader with 762, laughed.

He arrived in Birmingham on Wednesday, stopped by the celebrity softball game, visited with Giants officials and spent 10 minutes standing by Mays’ Hall of Fame plaque, taking pictures with former MLB stars who had come to honor the Negro Leagues.

“What’s happening here is good,’’ Bonds said. “With everything happening right now, it's really, really good. This is a great moment.

“It’s a great day for baseball, period.’’

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