James Myers of OAN
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 8:52 AM
The San Francisco Giants announced that MLB legend Willie Mays, nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” passed away Tuesday afternoon. He was 93 years old.
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“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.
Mays thrilled fans across the nation during baseball’s golden age with his phenomenal power, incredible speed and incredible glove.
Nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid” for his eagerness to greet everyone and his friendly nature, Mays played 22 seasons in the major leagues, debuting with the New York Giants in 1951 and then becoming a mainstay with San Francisco when the team moved to the West Coast. He finished his career with the New York Mets in 1973.
Mays, a Hall of Famer and considered one of the greatest players in baseball history, made his debut with the New York Giants in 1951 at age 20. Mays was a standout player and caught the eye of MLB teams while playing for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League.
Mays went on to have an incredible career that saw him become an All-Star 24 times, an MVP twice, a Gold Glover 12 times, an All-Star Game MVP twice, a Rookie of the Year award and a World Series championship in 1954, easily earning him a place in the Hall of Fame.
Baseball experts considered Mays to be a rare “five tool” talent, with phenomenal speed, a pitching ability to rival the best outfielders, average hitting, outstanding defense and long-range hitting ability.
Mays compiled the kind of stats players only dream of: “The Say Hey Kid” finished with a career batting average of .301, 660 home runs (sixth all-time), 3,293 hits (12th all-time), 1,909 RBIs (11th all-time) and 2,068 runs scored (seventh all-time).”
“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 the social fabric of America. He was an inspirational hero and will be forever remembered and deeply missed.”
Giants President and CEO Larry Baer added, “I fell in love with baseball simply because of Willie. My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick Stadium with my father and watching Willie circle center field with grace and ultimate athleticism. Working with Willie for the past 30 years and witnessing 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 is also known for making one of MLB’s most iconic plays, known as “The Catch,” during the 1954 World Series.
In Game 1, Mays, then with the Cleveland Indians, sprinted to center field with the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning. With runners on base, Vic Wirtz hit a long ball that looked like it might break the tie.
That was until “The Say Hey Kid” made an incredible catch over his shoulder and quickly threw the ball to stop the runner from advancing, giving the Giants a 5-2 victory and making this incredible play one of the greatest in MLB history.
“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 itself the status of the national pastime,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“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, our thoughts and prayers go out to Willie’s family and friends.”
Nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid,” he served in the Army from 1952 to 1956. In 2015, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Barack Obama.
Mays is also considered by most experts to be one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports.
The Giants will hold a memorial service for Mays at a later date. In the meantime, fans wishing to express their condolences may send letters of condolence to the Mays family at the San Francisco Giants, c/o Forever 24, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94107.
Additionally, MLB is scheduled to play a regular-season game on Thursday at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where Mays played Negro League games with the Black Barons (against the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals).
“Thursday’s game at historic Rickwood Field was designed 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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