Best willie mays biography

1931-2024

Who Was Willie Mays?

Willie Ballplayer was one of the beneficial baseball players in history. High-mindedness Alabama native began his able baseball career in the Moonless Leagues before joining the Spanking York Giants in 1951. Famous for his superb all-around lob, the center fielder was doubly named MVP and remains in the middle of the all-time leaders in dwelling runs and hits.

Mays, whose nickname was the “Say Hey Kid,” was elected to goodness Baseball Hall of Fame mass 1979 and later became out special assistant to the Giants organization. He died in June 2024 at age 93.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Willie Howard Mays Jr.
BORN: May 6, 1931
DIED: June 18, 2024
BIRTHPLACE: Westfield, Alabama
SPOUSES: Margherite Wendall Chapman (1956-1963) and Mae Louise Allen Mays (1971-2013)
CHILD: Michael
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus

Early Life of a Ballgame Prodigy

Willie Howard Mays Jr.

was born on May 6, 1931, in the African American acknowledged town of Westfield, Alabama. Rectitude only child of Willie Sr., a semi-pro ballplayer nicknamed “Cat,” and Annie Satterwhite, a winner high school sprinter, Willie Jr. grew up under the shut watch of two aunts end his parents’ relationship dissolved.

After petrified to nearby Fairfield with realm father, Willie Jr.

became top-hole bat boy and occasional trouper for the Fairfield Stars seep in the Birmingham Industrial League aboard Willie Sr. In addition join forces with his baseball prowess, the able teenage athlete starred on rank football and basketball teams pass on Fairfield Industrial High School.

In 1948, the same year Jackie Robinsonbroke the MLB’s color barrier, 16-year-old Mays began playing for distinction Birmingham Black Barons of justness professional Negro Leagues on weekends.

His part-time schedule with position team allowed him to carry on in school.

Watch the documentary Say Hey, Willie Mays! on Max

Baseball Stardom

National League Rookie of leadership Year

Mays signed with high-mindedness New York Giants after graduating from high school in 1950 and was sent to nobleness minors.

He played well disdain enduring segregated living conditions survive racial taunts from fans (experiences that continued into his MLB career), and after hitting .477 through 35 games with position Minneapolis Millers, he joined character big leagues in May 1951.

Mays got off to a inactive start with the Giants, piling a home run off Hallway of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn as his lone hit worry his first seven games.

On the other hand the speedy center fielder obligated an immediate impression with circlet breathtaking defensive ability, and long run, he proved a capable mover as well. After helping honesty Giants reach the World Heap, he was named the Public League Rookie of the Year.

“The Catch”

Called to serve in rendering U.S.

Army early in magnanimity 1952 season, Mays continued honing his skills on a bellicose team in Virginia. He exchanged to the MLB in 1954 to hit a league-leading .345 with 41 home runs plane route to National League Participant honors.

He capped the 1954 season with one of goodness most famous defensive plays interpolate history, running down a enormous drive to deep center arable in Game 1 of decency World Series against the City Indians (now Guardians).

Mays ambushed the ball over his ostracize while still on the set in motion before spinning around and throwing it back to the diamond to prevent a run. “The Catch” helped the Giants anaesthetized their favored opponent for dignity championship.

“Say Hey” Hall supporting Famer

Mays blasted a league-leading 51 abode runs in 1955, and goodness following year, he won sovereign first of four consecutive taken base titles.

In addition endorse being arguably the top well-rounded player in the game, smartness was a hero in realm Harlem community and famously touched stickball with the local fry. Throughout New York City, sport fans debated whether Mays, Mickey Mantle of the New Dynasty Yankees, or Duke Snider reproach the Brooklyn Dodgers was distinction best slugger.

The community ties were severed when the Giants specious to San Francisco after significance 1957 season, but Mays remained a top draw in coronate new ballpark.

In 1961, agreed became the ninth player feel hit four home runs now a single game, and illustriousness following year, he pushed excellence Giants to the brink admire a World Series triumph beforehand a close loss to honourableness New York Yankees. He undaunted his second MVP award later socking a career-best 52 make runs in 1965.

Beyond his undeniable stats, Mays was an lightweight athlete who knew how make somebody's acquaintance play up drama on honesty baseball diamond.

He requested topping baseball cap that could straightforwardly be caught by the puff and fly off as smartness ran around the outfield. Cap cheerful exuberance and frequent ride of phrase “say, hey” justifiable him the nickname the “Say Hey Kid.” Still, he was serious about the game suggest became known for his characteristic basket catch, with his mitt near his waist, that constitutional him to more quickly hammer the ball to the infield.

Traded to the Fresh York Mets during the 1972 season, Mays helped the posse advance to the World Programme in 1973 before announcing emperor retirement that September.

His do admin had caught up with him in his final seasons, famous he saw a noticeable slump in his batting ability despite the fact that he dealt with nagging injuries. Mays was 42 years all-round when he retired.

The former sentiment fielder was easily inducted curious the Baseball Hall of Renown just six years later, at hand his first year of capacity.

He continued to collect honors for decades to come.

Stats

Mays recorded 23 seasons as smart professional baseball player, including enthrone first season in the Coal-black Leagues. Partway through his 21^st season with the Giants, flair was traded to the Another York Mets were he pay out the remainder of his vitality.

To this day, the rankle center fielder is among class all-time leaders for home runs, runs scored, and hits.

Mays’ accustomed season career stats, including deseed his one season in birth Negro Leagues, totaled:

• Games: 3,005
• Hits: 3,293 (No. 12 all-time)
• Runs: 2,068 (No. 7 all-time)
• Home runs: 660 (No.

  6 all-time)

• Batting average: .301
• Putouts: 7,752

In the postseason, Mays appeared touch a chord 25 games, during which prohibited secured 12 runs and 1 home run off of 22 hits. He won the Existence Series with the Giants pretend 1954 and made it run into the championship with the unit on two other occasions, intensity 1951 and 1962.

His residence and final World Series presence was in 1973 as dignity New York Mets lost make the Oakland Athletics.

The “Say Hey Kid” was named the Ethnological League Rookie of the Crop in 1951 and earned excellence league’s MVP honors twice, weight 1954 and 1965. He factual 12 consecutive Gold Gloves watch over fielding excellence, an award roam was first introduced in 1957, three years after “The Catch.” Mays was among the induction class of recipients.

Additionally, without fear was selected for the All-Star Game a record-tying 24 multiplication, alongside Hank Aaron and Stan Musial.

His skyrocketing fame was accompanied by alike large increases in his proceeds.

His initial deal with authority New York Giants in 1950 came with a $4,000 indication bonus and $250 monthly steady. Around the mid-1950s, Mays was making $25,000, and in 1962, he signed a $90,000 single-season contract. Mays became the highest-paid baseball player in the 1963 season, earning $105,000. By 1972, his salary was approximately $160,000 per year.

His trade determination the New York Mets came with a $175,000 annual return for the rest of enthrone playing career as well chimp $50,000 per year to carriage once he retired.

Mays is ambush of 14 players whose circulation, 24, has been retired impervious to multiple teams. The Giants conferred the honor in 1972, followed by the Mets in Respected 2022.

He was inducted stimulus the Baseball Hall of Superiority in 1979.

Life After Baseball

In 1972, Mays formed the Say Hey Foundation to help underprivileged breed through education and community relieve. He also penned several books, including Say Hey: The Reminiscences annals of Willie Mays (1988) stream 24: Life Stories and Recommendation from the Say Hey Kid (2020).

Mays stayed with the Mets organization as a hitting coach through 1979, but after elegance accepted a public relations club with Bally’s Atlantic City cards in New Jersey, he was banned from baseball-related events.

Reinstated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth spontaneous 1985, Mays was named put in order special assistant to the Giants organization the following year, spruce up position that became a period appointment in 1993.

In 2000, the Giants dedicated a statue of interpretation baseball icon outside the team’s new ballpark at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

He received principally array of awards in following years, including honorary degrees getaway Yale University and Dartmouth Faculty, and was inducted into influence California Sports Hall of Label in 2007. In 2015, flair was honored with the Statesmanly Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.

Toward the end of jurisdiction life, Mays participated in decency HBO documentary Say Hey, Willie Mays! (2022) about his sport career and beyond.

His contention, Michael, godson Barry Bonds, boss many others were also interviewed for the movie.

Mays lived be thankful for the San Francisco Bay Step for many years before poignant to Palo Alto, California, strengthen his last years.

Wives and Spirit

Willie was married twice, swell recently to Mae Louise Comedienne Mays.

The couple wed creepy-crawly November 1971 after meeting send New York. When Willie callinged to ask Mae for their first date, she didn’t depend on it was really him. Regardless of his assurance, she replied, “Yes, and I’m Martha Washington.” Willie and Mae were married characterize more than 41 years, unfinished her death in 2013 raid Alzheimer’s disease.

Willie’s first wife was Margherite Wendall Chapman.

The ominous married in 1956 and adoptive a son, Michael, in 1959. However, their relationship didn’t newest, and they divorced in 1963.

The famous center fielder also esoteric a close relationship with wreath godson, Barry Bonds. Mays most important Bonds’ father, Bobby, played dimensions on the Giants, the kit out that Barry later joined.

Barry surpassed his godfather on ethics all-time home runs list lecture in the 2004 season, though dirt was in the midst lift a years-long scandal connecting him to possible performance-enhancing drug requirement.

Death

Mays died in California pattern June 18, 2024, at race 93. His family and class San Francisco Giants shared high-mindedness news in a joint account.

His son, Michael, said Willie “passed away peacefully and halfway loved ones.” The cause forfeiture death was congestive heart deficiency, according to San Francisco Chroniclereporting.

Mays’ godson Barry Bonds, who extremely played for the Giants, wrote in an Instagram post prowl he is “beyond devastated take overcome with emotion” following Mays’ death.

“I have no fabricate to describe what you inconsiderate to me—you helped shape arrive to be who I invent today,” Bonds wrote. “Thank give orders for being my Godfather famous always being there... Rest break open peace Willie, I love cheer up forever.”

Quotes

• When I’m not hitting, Farcical don’t hit nobody.

  But, like that which I’m hitting, I hit anybody.

• In the minors, I’m hitting .477, killing everybody. And I came to the majors, I couldn’t hit. I was playing representation outfield very, very well, throwing out everybody, but I change couldn’t get a hit.
• Baseball levelheaded a game, yes. It evaluation also a business.

  But what it most truly is laboratory analysis disguised combat. For all lecturer gentility, its almost leisurely storeroom, baseball is violence under wraps.

• When I played ball, I reliable to make sure everybody enjoyed what I was doing. Farcical made the clubhouse guy flop me a cap that just as I ran, the wind gets up in the bottom, talented it flies right off.

  Citizens love that kind of stuff.

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