Late on Tuesday evening, word started to leak out across various in-action sports broadcasts that Major League Baseball icon Willie Mays had passed away at the age of 93 years old. The Hall-of-Fame centerfielder is survived by one son, Michael.
Willie Howard Mays Jr. was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall-of-Fame in 1979.
Willie Mays Hall-of-Fame Accolades
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It is tough to know where to start when discussing “The Say Hey Kid”. Do you start with the legend being a 24x All-Star selection? How about straight 12 gold gloves while roaming the outfield for the Giants? Even those two stats barely scrape the surface of what Willie Mays meant to the game of baseball.
Willie Mays has a historic play simply called “The Catch” in the 1954 World Series Champion New York Baseball Giants. Sportswriters at the time could not even conceive that over-the-shoulder thievery was possible. Mays recounted in a book he had permission to attempt the daring play:
“When I came out of the Army, Leo [Durocher] said you could do it, but don’t miss the damn ball. I missed two. Ten years apart,” Mays recalled in the book “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid.”
Some Willie Mays Stats
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Willie Mays smacked 650+ home runs, stole over 325+ bases, and hit above .300 across a 35-year baseball career. That career also spanned several stints with the American Army. Between 1951 and 1973, Mays appeared in almost 3,000 games with 3,283 hits for the Giants and Mets. Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke highly of Mays on Wednesday:
“All of Major League Baseball is in mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and a legacy like no other began,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said. “Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast … Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime. … We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.”
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With various roles in the sports industry over two decades, Chris can speak with authority on the topics he covers. He can be located on X for real-time takes (@CBabosWrites).
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