Stimpson Announces Reelection Bid, Baseball Courtyard

Cleon Jones, a resident of Mobile and a former professional baseball player with the New York Mets | image by John Sharp via al.com

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson recently shared a video announcing his run for a third term in office. Competition for the spot was previously announced by City Councilman Fred Richardson and Municipal Judge Karlos Finley. Additionally, prompted by the death of Hank Aaron last week, Stimpson revealed plans that the city has been working on plans for honoring him and other hometown baseball Hall of Famers, including Willie McCover, Satchel Paige, Billy Williams and Ozzie Smith. A “Hall of Fame Tribute Courtyard” would involve the creation of at least five monuments along Water Street leading into the Cooper Riverside Park, AL.com detailed. The idea is being driven by Stimpson and Cleon Jones, a Mobile native and resident who played with the New York Mets in 1965-1975 and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame. Stimpson said the project would require a public-private partnership. Progress is expected to be made this year, but funding and a timetable for the project’s completion is yet to be announced.