Hall of Fame baseball player Willie Mays has died, the San Francisco Giants announced on social media. He was 93 years old.
Known as the “Say Hey Kid” for his enthusiastic greetings, Mays was a five-tool player who excelled at hitting for both power and average. He also stood out in running, throwing, and fielding.
Career Highlights
Over his 23 major league seasons, primarily with the New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants, Mays accumulated an impressive 660 career home runs, ranking second only to the legendary Babe Ruth. His 12 Golden Gloves reflect his defensive prowess. One of the most celebrated plays in baseball history was his dramatic over-the-shoulder catch during the 1954 World Series as he ran toward the center field wall.
Induction and Honors
In 1979, Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, solidifying his status as one of the greatest players. Furthermore, in 2015, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, bestowed by President Barack Obama.
Mays as a 13-year-old. Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesWillie Mays holds a baseball bat in the clubhouse of the American minor league team Minneapolis Millers on May 19, 1951. Mays played a short stint with the team, then affiliated with the New York Giants. Minnesota Historical Society/Corbis Historical/Getty ImagesMays gets his plane ticket to New York to join the New York Giants, in Omaha, Nebraska on May 24, 1951.
AP
From left: Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Hank Thompson hold bats on their shoulders in Yankee Stadium in 1951. The trio made up the first all-Black outfield in World Series history. Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesMays is sworn into the US Army by Capt. William F. Donegan on May 19, 1952. He served in the Army from 1952 to 1954, after winning the National League Rookie of The Year in 1951.Mays bids goodbye to his baseball shoes, while also holding his Army-issued boots, at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on May 29, 1952.Mays leads soldiers through calisthenics as a physical training instructor at Fort Eustis, Virginia, on February 19, 1953.Released from the Army after two years of service, Mays waves to an assembled crowd during spring training in Phoenix, Arizona on March 4, 1954.Mays plays stick ball with kids in New York’s Harlem neighborhood in 1954. Bettmann Archive/Getty ImagesMays makes a leaping, one-handed catch off Duke Snider of the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 15, 1954.Jackie Robinson congratulates Mays after the New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers to make it to the World Series.Mays yells ‘Say hey!’ before the second game of the 1954 World Series.Mays catches a ball over his shoulder during the first game of the 1954 World Series, preventing two runners from scoring.Mays gets batting tips from Joe DiMiaggio at the 32nd annual dinner of the Baseball Writers in 1955.Margherite Wendell poses with Mays, hours after their wedding on February 14, 1956.Mays plays catch with baby Herbert Henderson during his house-hunting stay in San Francisco on November 14, 1957.Mays gets a kiss from his dog Pepe while moving into their new San Francisco home on January 15, 1958.Mays interacts with young fans while sitting with fellow San Francisco Giant Willie McCovey in the dugout of Candlestick Park in 1960.Mays shakes hands with television host Ed Sullivan during a segment about the All-Star Game.Mays watches the ball he hit go over the fence, marking his 511th home run in the National League.Mays with Atlanta Braves outfielder Hank Aaron on August 3, 1969.Mays cries during a farewell ceremony at Shea Stadium after retiring from professional baseball.Teammates douse Mays with champagne after the Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs to win the division championship.Mays waves to the crowd as the Giants retire his No. 25 jersey on Willie Mays Day.Mays throws out the last pitch at 3Com Park in San Francisco on September 30, 1999, before the Giants moved into their new stadium.Mays stands next to a statue of himself during its dedication at Pacific Bell Park on March 31, 2000.
San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds shared heartfelt words about Mays, expressing his gratitude for Mays’ guidance and support, marking the profound influence Mays had on the generations of players that followed.
Mays, President George W. Bush, and First Lady Laura Bush watch ‘Tee Ball on the South Lawn’ in Washington, D.C. on July 30, 2006.Mays is honored prior to the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park in San Francisco.President Barack Obama speaks with Mays about Air Force One during the MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis on July 14, 2009.Mays waves to the crowd after receiving a cake for his 81st birthday at AT&T Park in San Francisco.President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Mays at the White House on November 24, 2015.Mays greets VIP attendees during the inauguration ceremony for Mayor London Breed in San Francisco.
Willie Mays’ legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time is firmly established in the hearts of fans and the history of the sport.
