Bill Greason Celebrated as ‘American Legend, Ballplayer, War Hero and Minister’

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | Alabama News Center William “Bill” Greason, a former Negro League Baseball pitcher and a pastor for more than half a century, was taken on a trip down memory lane to celebrate his 100th birthday last week. Scratch that. Greason’s journey was around the basepath of Birmingham’s Rickwood Field. The centenarian was treated to a chauffeur-driven tour of his amazing life, bringing a few hundred people along for the ride. The honoree and others in attendance were taken back to Greason’s tours of duty in the Marines at first base, his time as a star pitcher with the Birmingham Black Barons at second base, his influence and contributions to Birmingham at third base and the church he has pastored for 53 years at home plate. Gerald Watkins, chairman and executive director of the Friends of Rickwood, was behind the wheel of the golf cart on which Greason rode. “This means a lot because we get to celebrate the life of an American legend, a ballplayer, a war hero and a minister that has served the area for many, many years,” Watkins said. “To be able to do this just adds to Rickwood’s allure in history.  I...