BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Former Major League umpire Ed Montague was less than two years old when his father made a fateful scouting trip to Rickwood Field in 1950.

Montague’s father, also named Ed, was working for the New York Giants when he was dispatched to Alabama with fellow scout Bill Harris to evaluate Alonzo Perry, a first baseman for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. It wasn’t long before another young player caught their eye, though: Willie Mays.

Instantly mesmerized by the teenager’s preternatural skills, the elder Montague moved quickly to sign Mays for $4,000 -- the coup of the century considering the generational star the “Say Hey Kid” would later become for the Giants.

That history was top of mind for the younger Montague, who was invited to Thursday’s “MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” in recognition of the role his dad played in bringing Mays to the Giants.

“It’s emotional,” said Montague, who was accompanied by his two sons, Brett and Eddie. “I’m probably going to get more emotional the more I talk about it. … To think of him sitting in the stands with all these other scouts and trying to hustle Willie away from the other guys -- I can picture them all.”

The event became even more poignant for Montague after Mays passed away on Tuesday at 93, two days before the Giants visited his hometown to pay tribute to the Hall of Famer.

Montague, 75, still remembers attending Opening Day at Seals Stadium when the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, as his dad brought him to the home clubhouse to meet Mays. Montague received a glove from the Giants superstar and later got a chance to watch Mays in action during his days as a vendor at Candlestick Park.

“A lot of great memories of Willie,” Montague said. “He was the best, the best ever. … It’s sad, but then again, the timing of this is in God’s hands. This is a celebration of life for Willie.”