The San Francisco Giants announced that MLB legend Willie Mays, known affectionately as the “Say Hey Kid,” passed away Tuesday afternoon.
Mays was 93 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93,” the Giants said in a statement.
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The MLB legend hit 660 home runs during his illustrious career. (Getty Images)
Willie’s son, Michael Mays, added: “My father passed away peacefully surrounded by those he loved. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the unwavering love you showed my father over the years. You all meant life to him.”
Mays has been one of the greatest players in baseball history since making his debut with the New York Giants in 1951 at age 20. He caught the eye of MLB teams while playing for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, and he was still in high school when scouts began seeking him out.
Mays went on to have an illustrious career that included 24 All-Star appearances, two MVP awards, 12 Gold Glover awards, two All-Star Game MVP awards, Rookie of the Year and a 1954 World Series championship, making him an easy Hall of Fame selection.
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“Today we lost a true legend,” Giants Chairman Greg Johnson said. “Among baseball’s greats, Willie Mays stood out for his extraordinary combination of talent, sharp intellect, showmanship and boundless joy. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid was truly a Giant for all time. He had a profound impact not only on the game of baseball, but on American society. He was an inspirational hero and will be forever remembered and deeply missed.”
Giants President and CEO Larry Baer added, “Willie is the reason I fell in love with baseball. My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick Stadium with my father and watching Willie stride across center field with grace and ultimate athleticism. Working with Willie for the past 30 years and seeing firsthand his passion for life and the unbridled enthusiasm he wanted to inspire young players and kids has been one of the joys of my life.”
Mays was known for his ability to wow crowds with his powerful home runs, slick base running and miraculous plays in center field. One of the most iconic plays in MLB history came during the 1954 World Series and will forever be known as “The Catch.”
On September 29, 1954, in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series in New York, Willie Mays of the New York Giants made an iconic over-the-shoulder fly ball catch against the then-Cleveland Indians. (Bruce Bennett Studios, Getty Images Studios/via Getty Images)
In Game 1, Mays, then with the Cleveland Indians, was sprinting deep into the Polo Grounds outfield in the top of the eighth inning with the score tied at 2-2. With runners on base, Vic Wertz hit a fly ball that looked like it would blow the lead away.
That was until Mays calmly caught the ball over his shoulder and quickly threw it back to stop the runner from advancing. The Giants won the game, 5-2, and the play will forever remain one of the greatest of all time.
“All of us at Major League Baseball mourn today. We are gathered in the very ballpark where an unparalleled career and legend began. Willie Mays took his versatile talents from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From the East Coast to the West Coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as he played a game that truly earned it status as the national pastime,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Mays’ No. 24 was retired by the Giants, but he remains the franchise leader in many statistics, including games played (2,857), hits (3,187), runs scored (2,011), doubles (504) and home runs (646). He finished his career with the New York Mets in 1973.
“Willie Mays was one of the greatest players in baseball history,” Mets co-owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Willie finished his Hall of Fame career in Queens and was a key player on our 1973 National League Championship team. Mays played with style and grace that was second to none. Alex and I are thrilled to fulfill our earlier promise that Joan Payson will have his iconic No. 24 retired as a member of the Mets in 2022.”
“On behalf of our entire organization, we offer our thoughts and prayers to Willie’s family and friends.”
Mays, who served in the Army for most of 1952 and all of 1953, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2015.
Not only is he one of the best players in baseball history, he is also widely considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The Giants will hold a memorial service for Mays at a later date. In the meantime, fans wishing to express condolences may send letters to the Mays family at the San Francisco Giants, c/o Forever 24, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107.
MLB icon Willie Mays passed away on June 18, 2024 at the age of 93. (Getty Images)
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MLB is also scheduled to hold a regular-season game on Thursday at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where Mays played Negro League games with the Black Barons, between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.
“Thursday’s game at historic Rickwood Field was planned to honor Willie Mays and his teammates. While the sadness remains, the game will be a national memorial to an American hero who will forever remain on the short list of the most influential people our great sports world has ever seen,” Manfred said.
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