 Saturday, September 12, 1948. The Negro American League Pennant Series gets underway at Rickwood Field. The winner of this series will go on to the championship. It takes 11 innings, but the Black Barons take the victory in the series opening. Willie Mays hits a bases-loaded single to drive in the winning run. An exciting finish to Game 1, but it was Game 2 you wanted to be in.