The city of Macon has a rich baseball tradition.
Historic Luther Williams Field is the second oldest Minor League ballpark in the country.
The ballpark served as the backdrop for several films that focused on the trailblazing efforts of African Americans playing baseball.
Movies like "Bingo and the Travelling All-Stars" and, most recently, "42" tell the story of the Negro Leagues and the men who integrated baseball following in Jackie Robinson's footsteps.
Gordon Smith is a well-accomplished Boy Scout with Troop 170. They meet at Forest Hills United Methodist Church in Macon.
The Mount de Sales freshman is entering his fourth year of membership and already earned more than 40 merit badges along the way.
Now he's preparing for Eagle Scout promotion to wear the highest rank of achievement in the Scouts.
For the 15-year-old, the decision to turn to the diamond to help him earn gold was a no-brainer.
Gordon came up with the idea while vacationing in Kansas City with his family years ago.
"We wanted to stop by the Negro Leagues Museum, and when I got there, I thought, 'I wonder are there any players here from Macon,' and I didn't find any, so I came back home and researched and found there were actually four players here from Macon and they had their contributions to professional sports also, so I wanted them to be recognized," says Smith.
Two already died - one was living in Birmingham, Alabama, and the other relocated back to Macon one year ago.
After living 58 years up north, Robert Scott was surprised to hear the news that his hometown was honoring the Negro League pioneers, and that honor was happening at historic Luther Williams Field, his 'Field of Dreams.'
"I remember hitting homeruns out here to left field, but I won't talk about the ones that were hit off me, though," Scott laughed.
84-year-old Scott was born in Macon. He played first base and pitcher for the Macon Braves and Macon Cardinals in the late 1940s, later joining the New York Black Yankees and the Memphis Blues before retiring with the Jackie Robinson All-Stars in 1950.
He and Robinson played together at Luther Williams Field and Scott says the "league of their own" was filled with many legends.
"The Negro league was just as good as the white league, but the only difference was they rode the trains and we rode the buses. We talk about MLK, but Jackie was the man. He walked the talk, and talked the talk, he was great. A great man," said Scott.
As we left the field, we noticed Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation crews had just finished installing the bronzed plaques.
They'll be unveiled Saturday, but Scott wanted a sneak peek.
"That's beautiful. That's great. That's a great honor."
Scott hopes his legacy is less about fast balls and grand slams and more about how he and other Negro Leaguers paved the way for future generations like Gordon Smith.
"History is education, and I would really be honored if the young people would stand up and be great again. They can be, but they have to put their minds together to do that," Scott says.
Scott, fellow Maconite Ernest Fann, who lives in Alabama, will be recognized along with the late Lemual Hawkins and the late Marion Cain at the official unveiling Saturday morning.
As part of Gordon Smith's project, he was able to raise nearly $3,000 to pay for the plaques.
Gordon is still in the 6-week process of presenting his project before Boy Scout administrators to see if it will be accepted or denied.
