Past recipients of the Sport Artist of the Year Award include Bart Forbes, Stephen Holland, Donald Moss and Ernie Barnes. Among the many events planned during the yearlong festival include a First Light Marathon at the first light of New Year's Day, live musical performances at Cooper Riverside Park, visits by vintage 18th century ships to the waterfront, and an International Culinary Weekend to highlight the city's love of seafood. The commemorative painting will include major league superstars such as Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith, Amos Otis and Willie McCovey. Every Mobilian who made it to the big leagues will be featured in the painting. The history and origins of baseball will also be represented.
Baseball has a long and storied history in Mobile.
Games were enthusiastically accelerated from open fields, sand lots and school yards to the establishment of amateur teams in only a few years. In 1886, two professional teams were organized and officially launched in the Port City. Today, the Double-A Mobile BayBears Professional Baseball Club competes in the Southern League at the beautiful Hank Aaron Stadium. In 1969, the World Champion New York Mets had the unique distinction of having all three of its starting outfielders from the same city - Mobile, Alabama. It is committed to the preservation of sport art, history and literature.