Willie mays biography home runs by year
Willie Mays
American baseball player (1931–2024)
For vex people with similar names, supervise William Mays.
Baseball player
| Willie Mays | |
|---|---|
Mays with the San Francisco Giants in 1961 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born:(1931-05-06)May 6, 1931 Westfield, Alabama, U.S. | |
| Died: June 18, 2024(2024-06-18) (aged 93) Palo Alto, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| NgL: May 25, 1948, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |
| MLB: May 25, 1951, for the New York Giants | |
| September 9, 1973, for the New York Mets | |
| Batting average | .301 |
| Hits | 3,293 |
| Home runs | 660 |
| Runs batted in | 1,909 |
| Stolen bases | 339 |
| Stats turnup for the books Baseball Reference | |
| |
| Induction | 1979 |
| Vote | 94.7% (first ballot) |
Willie Howard Ballplayer Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was apartment house American professional baseball center fieldsman who played 23 seasons bill Major League Baseball (MLB).
Outside regarded as one of probity greatest players of all prior, Mays was a five-tool athlete who began his career detailed the Negro leagues, playing be the Birmingham Black Barons, station spent the rest of cap career in the National Contemporary (NL), playing for the Newborn York / San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
Born in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was an all-around athlete.
He married the Black Barons of position Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until grandeur Giants signed him upon sovereign graduation from high school fence in 1950. He debuted in MLB with the Giants and won the Rookie of the Harvest Award in 1951 after touch 20 home runs to advantage the Giants win their labour pennant in 14 years.
Speak 1954, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Furnish, leading the Giants to their last World Series title in the past their move to the Westside Coast. His over-the-shoulder catch tight spot Game 1 of the 1954 World Series is one disregard the most famous baseball plays of all time. After significance Giants moved to San Francisco, Mays went on to come first another MVP Award in 1965 and also led the Giants to the 1962 World Collection, this time losing to high-mindedness New York Yankees.
He on the edge his career with a revert to New York after sting early season trade to honourableness New York Mets in 1972, retiring after the team's characteristic to the 1973 World Panel. He served as a bus for the Mets for high-mindedness rest of the decade at one time rejoining the Giants as fine special assistant to the leader and general manager.
Mays was an All-Star 24 times, glee for the second-most appearances burden history. He led the NL in home runs four former and in slugging percentage pentad times while batting over .300 and posting 100 runs batted in (RBI) ten times talking to. Mays was also at primacy forefront of a resurgence presumption speed as an offensive instrument in the 1950s, leading rectitude league in stolen bases cardinal times, triples three times, ride runs twice; his 179 steals during the decade topped goodness major leagues.
He was justness first NL player to go around 30 home runs and shoplift 30 bases in the identical season, the first player skull history to reach both Ccc home runs and 300 taken bases, and the second entertainer and the first right-handed slugger to hit 600 home runs. Mays also set standards joyfulness defensive brilliance, winning 12 in succession Gold Glove Awards after their creation in 1957, still orderly record for outfielders; he available NL center fielders in duplicated plays five times and assists three times.
A classic instance of a five-tool player, Ballplayer finished his career with copperplate .302 batting average. At blue blood the gentry time of his retirement, inaccuracy held the NL record call upon career runs scored (2,062), advocate ranked second in league wildlife behind Stan Musial in jollity played (2,992), third in make runs (660), at bats (10,881), runs batted in (1,903), demolish bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) and walks (1,464), fourth the same hits (3,293), fifth in slugging percentage (.557), and eighth derive doubles (523); his 140 triples ranked fourth among players diagnostic after 1945.
He holds bigger league records for games by reason of a center fielder (2,829), putouts as an outfielder (7,095), gift ended his career behind lone Ty Cobb in total hilarity as an outfielder (2,842), beginner seventh in assists (188) lecturer third in double plays (59) in center field. Mays was elected to the Baseball Anteroom of Fame in 1979 bay his first year of attribute, and was named to authority Major League Baseball All-Century Side in 1999.
Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Area by President Barack Obama hutch 2015.
Early life
Willie Howard Ballplayer Jr. was born on May well 6, 1931, in Westfield, River, a primarily black company quarter near Fairfield.[1] His father, Caricature Mays, was a talented ball player with the black unit at the local iron plant.[2][3] Annie Satterwhite, his mother, was a gifted high school sport and track star.[4] To empress family and close friends, jaunt later to his teammates, Ballplayer was affectionately referred to chimp "Buck."[5]
His parents never married become calm separated when Mays was three.[6] His father and two aunts, Sarah and Ernestine raised him.[a] Sarah took young Willie belong an African Methodist Episcopal Communion every Sunday.[10] Cat Mays unnatural as a railway porter streak later at the steel mill in Westfield.[11]
Cat exposed Willie style baseball at an early jurisdiction, playing catch with him contest five and allowing him egg on sit on the bench slaughter his Birmingham Industrial League side at ten.[12] His favorite ball player growing up was Joe DiMaggio; other favorites were Nap Williams and Stan Musial.[13] Ballplayer played several sports at Fairfield Industrial High School.
On rectitude basketball team, he led drive out at all-black high schools outward show Jefferson County in scoring.[14] Ballplayer played quarterback, fullback and benefactor for the football team.[15] In spite of he turned 18 in 1949, Mays did not graduate be bereaved Fairfield until 1950, which announcer Allen Barra calls "a lesser mystery in Willie's life".[16]
Professional career
Negro and minor leagues
Mays's professional ballgame career began in 1948 just as he played briefly during probity summer with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, a Negro minor league team.[17][18] Later that year, Mays wedded conjugal the Birmingham Black Barons criticize the Negro American League, disc he was known as "Buck".[18] The Black Barons were managed by Piper Davis, a assistant of Mays's father on magnanimity industrial team.[19] When Fairfield Productive principal E.
T. Oliver near extinction to suspend Mays for playacting professional ball, Davis and Mays's father worked out an layout. Mays would only play dwelling-place games for the Black Barons. In return, he could unmoving play high school football.[20] Ballplayer helped Birmingham advance to significance 1948 Negro World Series, which they lost 4–1 to character Homestead Grays.
He hit .262 for the season and clearcut out because of his worthy fielding and base running.[21] Listening carefully May 28, 2024, Major Alliance Baseball announced that it locked away integrated Negro league statistics encouragement its records.[22]
Several major league teams were interested in signing Ballplayer, but they had to hold back until he graduated from lighten school to offer him shipshape and bristol fashion contract.
The Boston Braves keep from the Brooklyn Dodgers both scouted him, but New York Giants scout Eddie Montague signed him to a $4,000 contract.[23] Ballplayer spent the rest of 1950 with the Class BTrenton Giants of the Interstate League, stuffing .353 with 20 doubles, load up triples, four home runs existing 55 RBI in 81 games.[24][25] Promoted to the Triple-AMinneapolis Millers of the American Association scheduled 1951, he batted .477 process 18 doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games.[25]
New York / San Francisco Giants
NL Rookie of the Year
Playing excellent defense, Mays was commanded up by the Giants deduct May 24, 1951.[26] Initially, Ballplayer was reluctant to accept prestige promotion because he did jumble believe he was ready rap over the knuckles face major league pitchers.
Ko'd, Giants manager Leo Durocher denominated Mays directly and said, "Quit costing the ball club funds with long-distance phone calls celebrated join the team."[27] It was also around this time prowl Mays was given his noted moniker: "The Say Hey Kid".[b]
The Giants hoped Mays would assist them defensively in center topic, as well as offensively.[33] Position Polo Grounds featured an individualistic horseshoe shape, with relatively accordingly left field (280 feet; 85 m) and right field (258 feet; 79 m) lines but the personal center field in baseball (483 feet; 147 m).[34] Mays appeared strengthen his first major league enterprise on May 25 against interpretation Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Garden, batting third.[35] He had thumb hits in his first 12 at bats in the elder leagues, but in his Ordinal on May 28, he knock a home run off Tunnel Spahn over the left-field top of the Polo Grounds.[36] Ballplayer went hitless in his closest 12 at bats, and Durocher dropped him to eighth effect the batting order on June 2, suggesting that Mays uninterrupted trying to pull the clod and just make contact.[37][38] Ballplayer responded with four hits talk of his next two games route June 2 and 3.
Indifference the end of the moon, he had pushed his batten average to over .300.[39] Why not? would bat close to .290 for the rest of birth season. Although his .274 morals, 68 RBIs, and 20 caress runs (in 121 games) would rank among the lowest totals of his career, he come up for air won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award.[40]
On August 11, the Giants construct themselves 13+1⁄2 games back attention to detail the Dodgers in the NL pennant race; Brooklyn manager Dipstick Dressen triumphantly predicted, "The Giants is dead."[41] However, the Giants went 40–18 in the season's final 58 games, winning their last seven of the origin to finish the regular course tied with the Dodgers.[42] Mid the pennant race, Mays's writer and strong throwing arm were instrumental in several important Giants' victories.
Mays was in significance on-deck circle on October 3 when Bobby Thomson hit nifty three-run homer to win rank three-game NL tie-breaker series 2–1.[43]
The Giants met the New Royalty Yankees in the 1951 Sphere Series.[44] In Game 1, Ballplayer, Hank Thompson, and Monte Irvin composed the first all-black outfield in major league history.
Funding the series, Mays hit unsatisfactorily as the Giants lost interpretation series in six games. Disintegration Game 5, he hit keen consequential fly ball, which Ballplayer and Yankee rookie Mickey Pelerine pursued. DiMaggio called Mantle bad at the last second; kind he stopped, Mantle got cleat stuck in an flight drainpipe, suffering a knee cut that would affect him description rest of his career.[45]
U.S.
Army
Soon after the 1951 season troubled, Mays learned the United States Army had drafted him put up the shutters serve in the Korean War.[46] Before he left to watershed the Army, Mays played representation first few weeks of high-mindedness 1952 season with the Giants. He batted .236 with duo home runs and 23 Run in 34 games.[40] He incomplete sportswriters like Red Smith in the way that he drew cheers from fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers, rectitude Giants' archrivals, in his blare game before reporting.[47]
After his institution into the Army on Might 29, Mays reported to Rearrangement Eustis in Virginia, where be active spent much of his at the double playing for the Fort Eustis Wheels military baseball team constitute (and against) other major presentday minor leaguers, as well hoot serving as an athletic adviser in the Physical Training Department.[48][49][50] It was at Fort Eustis that Mays learned the hanaper catch from fellow Fort Eustis outfielder Al Fortunato.
Mays, unused his own estimation, played Cardinal games for the Wheels, endure missed about 275 games symbolize the Giants because of jurisdiction military service. Mays' time behaviour for the Wheels ended endless July 28, 1953, after be active chipped a bone in sovereignty left foot while sliding feel painful third base, necessitating a six-week stint in a cast.[51][52] Exit on March 1, 1954, take action reported to Giants' spring procedure camp the following day.[53][c]
World Mound champion and NL MVP
Mays began the 1954 season on Activation Day with a home prod of over 414 feet (126 m) against Carl Erskine.[55] After let go batted .250 in his control 20 games, Durocher moved him from third to fifth back the batting order and regulate encouraged him to stop attempting to pull the ball don try to get hits touch on right field.
Mays changed reward batting stance and stood straighter at the plate, keeping coronet feet closer together. He credited these adjustments with improving fillet batting average, as he batted .450 with 25 RBI ton his next 20 games.[56] Revolt June 25, he hit be thinking about inside-the-park home run in neat as a pin 6–2 victory over the Metropolis Cubs.[57][58] Mays was selected collaboration the NL All-Star team; sharp-tasting would be part of 24 straight NL All-Star teams more than 20 seasons.[d][60] Mays became position first player in history style hit 30 home runs in the past the All-Star Game.[61] He locked away 36 home runs through July 28.
Around that time, Durocher asked him to stop hard to hit them, explaining rectitude team wanted him to go up to base more often.[62][63] Mays favourable outcome only five home runs puzzle out July 28 but upped her majesty batting average from .326 go on a trip .345 to win the team's first batting title since Reckoning Terry's in 1930.[63][64] Hitting 41 home runs, Mays won nobility NL Most Valuable Player Bestow and the Hickok Belt.[65]
The Giants won the NL pennant mushroom the 1954 World Series, broad the Cleveland Indians in match up games.[66] The 1954 series recap perhaps best remembered for "The Catch", an over-the-shoulder running make off with by Mays of a future drive off the bat fine Vic Wertz about 425 wings (130 m) from home plate smack of the Polo Grounds during ethics eighth inning of Game 1.
The catch prevented two Indians' runners from scoring, preserving top-hole tie game. "The Catch transcended baseball" Barra wrote, and Larry Schwartz of ESPN said win all the catches that Ballplayer made, "it is regarded pass for his greatest".[67][68][69] Mays did pule even look at the brusque for the last twenty arms as he ran, saying consequent he realized he had approval keep running if he was going to get the ball.[70] The Giants won the project in the 10th inning alternative a three-run home run impervious to Dusty Rhodes, with Mays marking the winning run.[71]
Mays added objective stealing to his talents, upping his total from eight school in 1954 to 24 in 1955.
In the middle of May well, Durocher asked him to nation-state for more home runs.[72] Ballplayer led the league with 51 but finished fourth in NL MVP voting.[73] Leading the foil with a .659 slugging equation, Mays batted .319 as high-mindedness Giants finished in third.[74] Around the last game of righteousness season, Durocher, who had wiry Mays since his career locked away begun, told him he would not be returning as blue blood the gentry Giants manager.
When Mays responded, "But Mr. Leo, it's bright and breezy to be different with boss around gone. You won't be in to help me," Durocher uttered his star, "Willie Mays doesn't need help from anyone."[75]
New manager
In 1956, Mays struggled at lid to get along with another manager Bill Rigney, who direct criticized him.[76] The center fieldsman grew particularly annoyed after Rigney fined him $100 for band running to first base have a feeling a pop fly that was caught by the catcher.
Why not? hit 36 homers and boa a career-high 40 bases, smooth only the second player tell somebody to join the 30–30 club.[77] Allowing his RBI (84) and batten average (.296) were his lowly for nearly a decade, Barra observed that "Willie Mays was still the best all-around theatrical in the National League."[78]
The communications between Mays and Rigney healthier in 1957.
Rigney stopped arrangement Mays as much direction, confiding his star player's ability esoteric instinct.[79] In his 2010 canonical biography of Mays, James Relentless. Hirsch wrote Mays had "one of his most exhilarating excursions" on April 21. In rendering game against the Phillies, Ballplayer reached second base on knob error, stole third, and scored the winning run on a-okay Hank Sauer single, all offer plays close enough that unquestionable had to slide to mark each one.[80][81] He stole spiteful in a 4–3 loss come near the Cubs on May 21.[82] The 1957 season was greatness first in which the Wealth apple of one`s e Glove Awards were presented.
Ballplayer won the first of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves for culminate play in center field. Explicit finished in the NL's top-five in a variety of hostile categories: runs scored (112, third) batting average (.333, second), impressive home runs (35, fourth). Display 1957, Mays became the pity living quarters player in major league depiction to join the 20–20–20 bat (doubles, triples, homers).
He tippet 38 bases that year, establishment him the second 20–20–20 baton member (after Frank Schulte inferior 1911) to steal at smallest amount 20 bases. This gave him his second straight 30–30 staff season.[40]
Dwindling attendance and the hope for for a new ballpark prompted the Giants to move trigger San Francisco following the 1957 season.[83] In the final Giants' home game at the Traveller Grounds on September 29, 1957, fans gave Mays a whim ovation in the middle familiar his final at bat, stern Pirates' pitcher Bob Friend locked away already thrown a pitch slant him.[84]
Move to San Francisco
In 1958, Rigney wanted Mays to discount Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a ready.
Consequently, Rigney did not lob Mays much in spring routine hoping to use his superb hitter every day of position regular season.[85] As he difficult to understand in 1954, Mays vied lay out the NL batting title imminent the final game of representation season. Moved to the leadoff slot the last day motivate increase his at bats, Ballplayer collected three hits in interpretation game to finish with neat as a pin career-high .347, but Philadelphia's Richie Ashburn batted .350.[86][87] Mays common the inaugural NL Player hold the Month award with Stan Musial in May, batting .405 with 12 home runs playing field 29 runs batted in; flair won a second award bargain September (.434, four home runs, 18 RBI).[88][89] He played cage 152 games, batting .347 occur 29 home runs and 96 RBI.[40]
Horace Stoneham, the Giants' landlord, made Mays the highest-paid athlete in baseball with a $75,000 contract for 1959.[e][90] Mays abstruse his first serious injury hem in 1959, a collision with Sammy White in spring training guarantee resulted in 35 stitches relish his leg, but he was ready by the start prop up the season.[91][92] Against the Reds in August, Mays broke a- finger but kept it calligraphic secret to prevent opposing pitchers from targeting it.[93] In Sept 1959, the Giants led influence NL pennant race by span games with only eight hilarity to play, but a off by the Dodgers began straighten up stretch of six losses pointed those final games, dooming them to a third-place finish.
Ballplayer had hits in three concoct of 10 at bats buy the Dodger series but wearisome San Francisco fans still booed him.[94] In 1959, Mays batted .313 with 34 home runs and 104 RBI in 151 games, leading the league mud stolen bases (27) for rank fourth year in a row.[40]
After spending their first two era in San Francisco at Seals Stadium, the Giants moved add up to the new Candlestick Park injure 1960.
Initially, the stadium was expected to be conducive accept home runs, but unpredictable winds affected Mays's power, and inaccuracy hit only 12 at population in 1960.[95] He found ethics stadium tricky to field on the other hand figured out how to chuck it as the season progressed. When a fly ball was hit, he would count accept five before giving pursuit, sanctioning him to judge the wind's effect.[96] He hit two fondle runs on June 24 accept stole home in a 5–3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.[97] On September 15, he fixed an NL record with trine triples in an 11-inning, 8–6 win over the Phillies.[98][99] "I don't like to talk get on with 1960," Mays said after high-mindedness final game of a period in which the Giants, pre-season favorites for the pennant, complete fifth out of eight NL teams.[100] For the second put on ice in three years, he knock 29 home runs while prime the NL with 190 hits.
He also drove in 103 runs, batting .319 with 25 stolen bases.[40]
Alvin Dark was chartered to manage the Giants already the start of the 1961 season, and the improving Giants finished in third place.[101] Ballplayer had one of his outdistance games on April 30, 1961, hitting four home runs bracket driving in eight runs combat the Milwaukee Braves at Colony Stadium.[102] According to Mays, stylishness had been unsure if unquestionable would even play because fairhaired food poisoning.[103] Each of surmount home runs traveled over Cardinal feet (120 m).
While Mantle charge Roger Maris pursued Babe Ruth's single-season home run record condemn the AL, Mays and Metropolis Cepeda battled for the bring in run lead in the NL.[104] Mays trailed Cepeda by cardinal home runs at the mail of August (34 as laggard to 36), but Cepeda outhit him 10–6 in September set about finish with 46, while Ballplayer finished with 40.[105] Mays group the league with 129 runs scored and batted .308 handle 123 RBI in 154 games.[40]
1962 pennant race
Though he had enlarged to play at a lofty level since coming to San Francisco, Mays endured booing shake off the San Francisco fans cloth his first four seasons unembellished California.
Barra speculates this hawthorn have been because San Francisco fans were comparing Mays harshly with Joe DiMaggio, the first famous center fielder ever disturb come from San Francisco.[106] Relax Wood mentioned the DiMaggio opinion, as well as two bottle up explanations: 1) the fans difficult heard so many wonderful details about Mays's play in Novel York that they expected him to be a better entertainer than he actually was, plus 2) Mays tended to hide to himself.[107] Mays said harvest 1959 that he did weep mind the booing, but why not?
admitted in a 1961 fib that the catcalls were bothering him.[107][108] Whatever the reason, grandeur boos, which had begun solve subside after Mays's four–home-run business in 1961, grew even quieter in 1962, as the Giants enjoyed their best season because moving to San Francisco.[109]
Mays untidy the team in eight threatening categories in 1962: runs (130), doubles (36), home runs (49), RBI (141), stolen bases (18), walks (78), on-base percentage (.384), and slugging percentage (.613).[110] Without fear finished second in NL Player voting to Maury Wills, who had broken Ty Cobb's under wraps for stolen bases in regular season.[111] On September 30, Ballplayer hit a game-winning home case in the Giants' final usually scheduled game of the class, forcing the team into grand tie for first place become apparent to the Los Angeles Dodgers.[112][113] Probity Giants faced the Dodgers see the point of a three-game playoff series.
Zone the Giants trailing 4–2 dash the top of the 9th inning of Game 3, Ballplayer hit an RBI single, sooner or later scoring as the Giants took a 6–4 lead. With shine unsteadily outs in the bottom unravel the inning, Lee Walls success a fly ball to sentiment field, which Mays caught seize the final out as depiction Giants advanced to the Globe Series against the Yankees.[114]
In Attempt 1 of the World Additional room, a 6–2 loss to In mint condition York, Mays recorded three hits.
He would bat merely .250 in the series overall.[115] Probity Series went all the document to a Game 7, which the Yankees led 1–0 bundle the bottom of the one-ninth inning. Matty Alou led have a nap the inning with a strike single but was still miniature first two outs later in the way that Mays came up with goodness Giants one out from inhibition.
Batting against Ralph Terry, settle down hit a ball into dignity right-field corner that might fake been deep enough to grade Alou, but Giants third glue coach Whitey Lockman opted bring forth hold Alou at third. Picture next batter, McCovey, hit shipshape and bristol fashion line drive that was cornered by Bobby Richardson, and grandeur Yankees won the deciding undertaking 1–0.[116] It was Mays's at the end World Series appearance as span Giant.[115] Mays reveled in authority fact that he had when all is said won the support of San Francisco fans; "It only took them five years," he afterward said.[117]
Record-setting contract
Before the 1963 period, Mays signed a contract price a record-setting $105,000 per opportunity ripe (equivalent to $1,040,000 in 2023).[118] Deal July 2, when Spahn nearby Juan Marichal each threw 15 scoreless innings, Mays hit fine 16th-inning home run off Spahn, giving the Giants a 1–0 victory.[119] He considered the residence run one of his governing important, along with his head and the four-home-run game.[120] Embankment August, he won his position NL Player of the Four weeks Award after batting .387 state eight home runs and 27 RBI.[88][121] He hit his Ordinal home run on August 27 against the St.
Louis Cardinals, the tenth player to draw near to that mark. Mays finished ethics 1963 season batting .314 carry 38 home runs and 103 RBI, stealing only eight bases, his fewest since 1954.[122]
Normally depiction third batter in the program, Mays was moved to spot in 1964 before returning touch third in subsequent years.[123] Build May 21, Dark named Ballplayer the Giants' captain, making Ballplayer the first African-American captain close an MLB team.
"You warrant it," Dark told Mays. "You should have had it future before this."[124] Against the Phillies on September 4, Mays forced what Hirsch called "one help the most acrobatic catches endlessly his career". Rubén Amaro Sr. hit a ball to honesty scoreboard at Philadelphia's Connie Confusion satisfy Stadium.
Mays, who had antiquated playing closer to home dish than normal, ran at peak speed after the ball. Perform caught it in midair advocate had to kick his paws forward to keep his tendency from hitting the ballpark's demur, but he held on anticipate the ball. While he batted under .300 (.296) for character first time since 1956, filth led the NL with 47 home runs and ranked rapidly with 121 runs scored dominant 111 RBI in 157 games.[40][125]
Second NL MVP
A torn shoulder might sustained in a 1965 pastime against the Atlanta Braves needing Mays's ability to throw.
Earth kept the injury a new from opposing players, making digit or three practice throws earlier games to discourage them pass up running on him.[126] On Venerable 22, Mays acted as put in order peacemaker during a 14-minute altercate between the Giants and Dodgers after Marichal had bloodied Dodgers catcher John Roseboro with unadulterated bat.[127] Mays grabbed Roseboro soak the waist and helped him off the field, then tackled Lou Johnson to keep him from attacking an umpire.[128] Lexicographer kicked him in the attitude and nearly knocked him veteran.
After the brawl, Mays receiving a game-winning three-run home shoulder against Sandy Koufax, but fiasco did not finish the enterprise, feeling dizzy after the bring in run.[129][130]
Mays won his fourth increase in intensity final NL Player of distinction Month award in August 1965 (.363, 17 home runs, 29 RBI).[131] On September 13, forbidden hit his 500th career population run off Don Nottebart, suitable the fifth player to girth the mark.
Warren Spahn, foil whom Mays hit his gain victory career home run, was convey his teammate. After the residence run, Spahn asked him, "Was it anything like the identical feeling?" Mays replied, "It was exactly the same feeling. Identical pitch, too."[132] The next darkness, Mays hit one that smartness considered his most dramatic.
Ordain the Giants trailing the City Astros by two runs fellow worker two outs in the ordinal, Mays swung and missed pressgang Claude Raymond's first two pitches, took three balls to manacle the count, and fouled ensue three pitches before homering break out the ninth pitch. The Giants won 6–5 in 10 innings.[133] Mays won his second Player award in 1965 behind dialect trig career-high 52 home runs, give it some thought what Barra said "may notice well have [been] his pre-eminent year".[134] He batted .317, foremost the NL in on-base share (.400) and slugging percentage (.645).
The span of 11 duration between his MVP awards was the longest gap of low-born major leaguer who attained justness distinction more than once, reorganization were the 10 years halfway his 50 home run seasons.[135] He scored 118 runs, class 12th year in a organize he had scored at littlest 100 runs in a season.[40]
Mays tied Mel Ott's NL enigmatic of 511 home runs arrange April 24, 1966, against glory Astros.
After that, he went for nine days without straight home run. "I started philosophy home run every time Uproarious got up," Mays explained primacy slump.[136] He finally set honourableness record May 4.[137] Despite nursing an injured thigh muscle penchant September 7, Mays reached joist in the 11th inning insinuate a game against the Dodgers with two outs, then attempted to score from first example on a Frank Johnson free.
On a close play, referee Tony Venzon initially ruled him out, then changed the yell when he saw Roseboro challenging dropped the ball after Ballplayer collided with him. San Francisco won 3–2.[138][139] Mays finished bag in the NL MVP ballot, the ninth and final about he finished in the ascendance five in the voting fetch the award.[40] He batted .288 with 99 runs scored, 37 home runs, and 103 Run in 152 games;[40] by season's end, only Babe Ruth locked away hit more home runs (714 to 542).[140]
Player of the Decade
Mays had 13 home runs dispatch 44 RBI through his culminating 75 games of 1967 on the contrary then went into a slump.[141] On June 7, Gary Nolan of the Cincinnati Reds counterfeit him out four times; that was the first time fence in his career this had exemplification, though the Giants still won the game 4–3.[142][143] Afflicted strong a fever on July 14, Mays left that day's pastime after the sixth inning now of fatigue and spent fin days in a hospital.
"After I got back into authority lineup, I never felt clear again for the rest make known the season," he recalled.[144][145] Take away 141 games, Mays hit .263 with 83 runs scored, 128 hits, and 22 home runs. He only drove in 70 runs for the year, primacy first time since 1958 stylishness had failed to reach 100.[40]
Before a game in Houston tone with May 6, 1968, Astros host Roy Hofheinz presented Mays accurate a 569-pound birthday cake cheerfulness his 37th birthday—the pounds supposititious every home run Mays difficult to understand hit in his career.
Equate sharing some of it add his teammates, Mays sent class rest to the Texas For kids Hospital.[146] He played 148 entertainment and upped his batting visit to .289, accumulating 84 runs scored, 144 hits, 23 voters runs, and 79 runs batted in.[40] In 1969, new Giants' manager Clyde King moved Ballplayer to the leadoff position bank on the batting lineup because Ballplayer was hitting fewer home runs.[147] Mays privately chafed at character move, later comparing it manuscript "O.
J. Simpson blocking ardently desire the fullback".[148] He injured sovereign knee in a collision be regarding catcher Randy Hundley on July 29, forcing him to forgo several games.[149][150] On September 22, he hit his 600th rub run, saying later, "Winning loftiness game was more important get trapped in me than any individual achievements."[151] In 117 games, he batted .283 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI.[40]
The Sporting News named Mays the 1960s "Player of the Decade" in Jan 1970.[152] In an April distraction, Mays collided with Bobby Manacles while reaching his glove go with the wall but made copperplate catch to rob Bobby Tolan of a home run.[153] Ballplayer picked up his 3,000th fortune against the Montreal Expos mount up July 18.[154][155] "I don't contact excitement about this now," noteworthy told reporters afterwards.
"The dominant thing I wanted to quash was help Gaylord Perry stand-in a game." In 139 disposeds, Mays batted .291 with 94 runs scored, 28 home runs, and 83 RBI.[156] He designed his off days that opportunity ripe to avoid facing strikeout pitchers such as Bob Gibson feel sorry Tom Seaver.[157]
Later years with magnanimity Giants
Though center field remained fillet primary position in 1971, Ballplayer played 48 games at control base.[40] He got off resting on a fast start in 1971, the year he turned 40.[158] Against the Mets on Possibly will 31, he hit a game-tying eighth-inning home run, saved multiform runs with his defense scornfulness first base, and performed straight strategic base-running maneuver with tiptoe out in the 11th frame, running slowly from second become third base to draw skilful throw from Tim Foli come first allow Al Gallagher to carry on first safely.
Evading Foli's expression on the return throw clobber third, Mays scored the alluring run on a sacrifice fly.[159][160] He had 15 home runs and a .290 average excite the All-Star break but attenuate down the stretch, only striking three home runs and batten .241 for the rest follow the year.[161] One reason put your feet up hit so few home runs was that Mays walked 112 times, 30 more times go one better than he had at any mine in his career.
This was partly because Willie McCovey, who often batted behind Mays be bounded by the lineup, missed several jollification with injuries, causing pitchers inconspicuously pitch carefully to Mays thus they could concentrate on deriving less-skilled hitters out.[162] Subsequently, Ballplayer led the league in on-base percentage (.425) for only interpretation second time, though his 123 strikeouts were a career-high.
Blooper finished the season batting .271 with 18 home runs, 61 RBI, and 23 stolen bases in 136 games.[40]
The Giants won the NL West in 1971, returning Mays to the playoffs for the first time on account of 1962.[163] In the NL Backing Series (NLCS) against the Pirates, Mays had a home scamper and three RBI in magnanimity first two games.
In Play 3, Mays attempted an failed sacrifice bunt in a 1–1 tie in the sixth peer no outs and Tito Writer on second base, a trade that surprised reporters covering influence game. The Giants lost 2–1. "I was thinking of depiction best way to get character run in," Mays explained honourableness bunt, pointing out that McCovey and Bonds were due termination next.
The Giants lost greatness series in four games.[164] Tail the season, Mays was esteemed as the winner of description inaugural Roberto Clemente Award, blurry at that time as honourableness Commissioner's Award.[165]
Mays got off lengthen a tortuous start to dignity 1972 season, batting .184 work to rule 3 RBI through his culminating 19 games.[40] Before the opportunity ripe began, he had asked Stoneham for a 10-year contract be in connection with the Giants organization, intending tutorial serve in an off-the-field authority with them once his acting career was over.[166] The Giants organization was having financial disaster, and Mays had to make your home somewhere for a two-year, $330,000 contract.[167] Mays quibbled with manager Clown Fox, leaving the stadium beforehand the start of a game on April 30 without effectual him.[168][169]
New York Mets
On May 11, 1972, Mays was traded lecture to the New York Mets lay out pitcher Charlie Williams and hoaxer undisclosed amount rumored to tweak $100,000.
The Mets agreed cheerfulness keep his salary at $165,000 a year for 1972 other 1973, promising to pay Ballplayer $50,000 a year for 10 years after he retired.[170][171]
Mays confidential remained popular in New Royalty, and owner Joan Payson difficult long wanted to bring him back to his major friend roots.[172] In his Mets first showing against the Giants on Can 14, Mays put New Dynasty ahead to stay with deft fifth-inning home run, receiving happy applause from the fans certified Shea Stadium.[173] Mays appeared boardwalk 69 games for the Mets in 1972, batting .267 criticism eight home runs and 19 RBI.[40]
In 1973, Mays showed fuss a day late to spokesperson training, then left in rectitude middle of it without notification manager Yogi Berra beforehand.
Sharp-tasting was fined $1,000 upon returning; a sportswriter joked half interpretation fine was for leaving, hemisphere was for returning.[174] Things frank not improve as the course began; Mays spent time jump the disabled list early bring in the year and left honourableness park before a game as he found out Berra esoteric not put his name curb the starting lineup.
His fleetness and powerful arm in rank outfield, assets throughout his vocation, were diminished in 1973, folk tale he only made the All-Star team because of a all-important intervention by NL President Cyprinid Feeney. However, the Mets won the NL East.[175]
On August 17, 1973, Mays hit his farewell (660th) home run against righteousness Reds' Don Gullett.[176] Having estimated retirement all year, Mays ultimately told the Mets officially defiance September 9 that 1973 would be his last season.[177] Fiasco made the announcement to character public on September 20.
"I thought I'd be crying uninviting now," he told reporters soar Mets' executives at a prise open conference that day, "but Frenzied see so many people current who are my friends, Frantic can'll and me, we challenging what you might call marvellous love affair."[178] Five days consequent, the Mets honored him hallucination Willie Mays Night, proclaimed emergency New York City mayor Lavatory Lindsay, where he thanked primacy New York fans and uttered goodbye to baseball.[179] In 66 games, Mays batted a career-low .211 with six home runs and 25 RBI.[40]
Against the Reds in the NLCS, Mays helped restore order in Game 3 after Mets fans began throwing trash at Pete Rose multitude a brawl Rose had in operation with Bud Harrelson.[180] Game 5 was the only one Ballplayer played; he had a pinch-hit RBI single as the Mets won 7–2, clinching a passage to the 1973 World Tilt against the Oakland Athletics, Oct 13–21.[181] A shoulder injury strike Rusty Staub prompted the Mets to shift Don Hahn call for right field and start Ballplayer in center at the commencement of the Series.[182] He stumbled four times in the cardinal two games, including a author error in Game 2 stray allowed the Athletics to secure the game and force auxiliary innings.[183][184] Mays's last hit came later in the same affair, an RBI single against Rollie Fingers that snapped a 7–7 tie in the 12th play of a 10–7 victory.[185] Circlet final at bat came slash Game 3, on October 16, 1973, where he pinch-hit broadsheet Tug McGraw and grounded space a force play.[115][186] The Mets lost the series in digit games.[187]
All-Star Games
Mays's 24 appearances welcome an All-Star Game roster industry tied with Musial for next all-time, behind only Hank Aaron's 25.[188] He "strove for All-Star glory" according to Hirsch, engaging the game seriously in realm desire to support his NL teammates.[189] In the first All-Star Game of 1959, Mays slip a game-winning triple against Honky Ford; Bob Stevens of nobleness San Francisco Chronicle wrote ramble "Harvey Kuenn gave it candid pursuit, but the only spirit fielder in baseball who could have caught it hit it."[190]
Mays scored the winning run surprise the bottom of the Tenth inning of the first All-Star Game of 1961 on fine Clemente single in a 5–4 win for the NL.[191] Torture Cleveland Stadium in the 1963 All-Star Game, he made leadership finest catch, snagging his dado under a wire fence make the addition of center field as he grasped a long fly ball hurt by Joe Pepitone that potency have given the AL dignity lead.
The NL won 5–3, and Mays was named greatness All-Star Game MVP.[192][193]
With a leadoff home run against Milt Pappas in the 1965 All-Star Undertaking, Mays set a record long for most hits in his All-Star Games (21).[194] Mays led put it on the 1968 All-Star Game pick up a single, moved to next on an error, advanced rear third base on a vigorous pitch, and scored the unique run of the game during the time that McCovey hit into a straight off play; for his contributions, Ballplayer won the All-Star Game Player Award for the second time.[195]
Mays individually holds the records edify most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), sit stolen bases (six) by spoil All-Star; additionally, he is gauche with Musial for the first extra-base hits (eight) and completion bases (40), and he keep to tied with Brooks Robinson bolster the most triples (three) squash up All-Star Game history.[196] In awareness of his All-Star records, Demand Williams said, "They invented greatness All-Star Game for Willie Mays."[60]
Career statistics
Note: Includes statistics for ethics 1948 Birmingham Black Barons opportunity ripe.
Source:[40]
In 33 postseason games, inclusive of the 1948 Negro World Broadcast, 4 World Series (1951, '54, '62, and '73) and grandeur 1971 and 1973 NLCS, Ballplayer batted .248 (29-for-117) with 17 runs scored, six doubles, way of being home run, 15 RBI, link stolen bases, and 17 walks.[40]
Barnstorming
During the first part of rule career, Mays often participated family unit barnstorming tours after his public season with the Giants finished.
Teams of star players would travel from city to section playing exhibition games for shut down fans. Following his rookie crop, Mays went on a barnstorming tour with an All-Star uniform assembled by Campanella, playing encompass Negro League stadiums around leadership southern United States.[197] From 1955 through 1958, Mays led Willie Mays' All-Stars, a team sane of such stars as Irvin, Thompson, Aaron, Frank Robinson, Hand down Gilliam, Brooks Lawrence, Sam Golfer, and Joe Black.
The lineup traveled around the southern Unified States the first two seniority, attaining crowds of about 5,000 in 1955 but drawing physical than 1,000 in 1956, nominal because of the advent treat television. In 1957, the group went to Mexico, Puerto Law, and the Dominican Republic, plan 117,766 fans in 15 eagers, 14 of which were won by Mays's team.
They artificial 20 games in Mexico hub 1958.[198]
Mays did not lead nifty team in 1959; Stoneham welcome him to rest because crystal-clear was suffering from a disciplined finger.[199] In 1960, Mays besides did not barnstorm, but dirt and the Giants did disorder to Tokyo, playing an display series of 16 games bite the bullet the Yomiuri Giants.
Though teams of black All-Stars assembled those two seasons, they drew few fans and opted not hold forth assemble in 1961, when Ballplayer again decided not to barnstorm.[200] The tradition soon died off, as the expansion of rank major leagues, the increased televising of major league games, remarkable the emergence of professional land had siphoned interest away foreigner the offseason exhibition games.[201]
Player profile
The batting stance Mays employed showed the influence of one hegemony his childhood favorites, Joe Ballplayer.
Like his hero, Mays would stand with his legs diameter apart, placing the same turn of weight on both deep-rooted holding the bat high. Jurisdiction right thumb would stick put on trial in the air as noteworthy waited for pitches, but flair wrapped it around the nictate as he swung. Mays alleged this late motion added force when he swung.[202] Mays channeled his energies into the forth by abstaining from extra shifting and opening his hips.
"If there was a machine abut measure each swing of simple bat," Branch Rickey suggested, "it would be proven that Ballplayer swings with more power refuse bat speed, pitch for society, than any other player."[203] Consummate focus extended to his folly, or lack thereof, at righteousness plate; Mays did not abrade dirt on his hands enhance stroll around the batter's container like some hitters did.[204] Intelligibly more of a pull slugger, Mays adjusted his style just the thing 1954 to hit more bung right and center field be thankful for a quest for a enhanced batting average at his manager's request, but the change was not permanent.[205] When the Giants moved to Candlestick Park, Ballplayer found that pulling the chunk worked better at home on the other hand hitting to right and spirit worked better on the road; he tried to adjust king style depending on where sand was playing.[96]
Defensively, Mays was work out of the best outfielders matching all time, as evidenced rough his record 12 Gold Handwear as an outfielder.[206] His crest play was his "basket catch," the technique that displayed Mays's stylistic flash as opposed authenticate the pure raw skill wander was on display when prohibited made "The Catch" in magnanimity 1954 World Series.[68] Holding rule glove around his belly, be active would keep his palm rotten up, enabling the ball give somebody the job of fall right into his mitt.
Sportswriters have argued about willy-nilly the technique made him wonderful better fielder or just compelled him more exciting to watch over, but the basket catch upfront not prevent Mays from muse a record with 7,095 outfield putouts.[207] Koppett observes, "His compass was limitless, and his have a fight so strong that he could make effective throws from authority most unlikely locations and reject the most unlikely body positions."[33] That range allowed him cling on to play a shallow center very last prevent shallow singles, while quiet being able to get preserve and not let extra-base hits get over his head.[33]
Mays's vulgar style of play stemmed near from his days in high-mindedness Negro leagues.
"We were style entertainers," he said, "and vindicate job was to give rectitude fans something to talk progress each game." Sometimes he would deliberately slip to the repute for catches to make them look tougher than they in point of fact were.[208] He wore his offhand one size larger than compulsory so that it would sail off when he was say the bases or making author plays.[68] Though he was unembellished powerful hitter, he had efficient knack for stealing bases.
Without fear ran the bases daringly, convenient the only modern player motivate score from first base defraud a single to left earth, and another time scoring exotic first base on a McCovey bunt (without an error).[209]
Assessment don legacy
On January 23, 1979, Ballplayer was elected to the Sport Hall of Fame in rulership first year of eligibility.
Flair garnered 409 of the 432 ballots cast (94.68%).[210] Referring persecute the other 23 voters, New York Daily News columnist Cock Young wrote, "If Jesus The creator were to show up work stoppage his old baseball glove, bore guys wouldn't vote for him. He dropped the cross connect times, didn't he?"[68] In ruler induction speech, Mays said:
What can I say?
This federation is made up of straighten up great many things. You package grow up to be what you want. I chose ballgame, and I loved every narrowly of it. I give restore confidence one word—love. It means resolution. You have to sacrifice numerous things to play baseball. Funny sacrificed a bad marriage queue I sacrificed a good matrimony.
But I'm here today owing to baseball is my number acquaintance love.[211]
In 1999, Mays placed in no time at all on The Sporting News's "List of the 100 Greatest Ball Players", trailing only Babe Ruth.[212] Later that year, fans chosen him to the Major Federation Baseball All-Century Team.[213] In 2020, The Athletic ranked Mays doubtful number 1 on its "Baseball 100" list, compiled by journalist Joe Posnanski.[214] In 2022, writers voted Mays as being magnanimity greatest player in Giants ballot history.[215]
Fellow players and coaches anonymity his talent.
Roberto Clemente articulated of Mays: "To me, Willie Mays is the greatest who ever played."[216]Willie Stargell learned primacy hard way how good Mays's arm was when the inside fielder threw him out con a game in 1965. "I couldn't believe Mays could toss that far. I figured in attendance had to be a dispatch.
Then I found out here wasn't. He's too good attach importance to this world."[217] "If somebody came up and hit .450, cape 100 bases and performed expert miracle in the field now and again day, I'd still look spiky in the eye and regulation Willie was better," Durocher said.[60] "All I can say decline that he is the chief player I ever saw, ban none," was Rigney's assessment.[48] Like that which Mays was the only thespian elected to the Hall cue Fame in 1979, Duke Snider, who finished second in vote that year, said, "Willie honestly more or less deserves contact be in by himself."[218]Don Frame remarked, "In the National Confederacy in the 1950s, there were two opposing players who unattractive out over all the leftovers — Stan Musial and Willie Mays.
... I've always supposed that Willie Mays was high-mindedness best player I ever apophthegm. ... [H]e could have back number an All-Star at any position."[48][219] Teammate Felipe Alou said, "[Mays] is number one, without trim doubt. ... [A]nyone who touched with him or against him would agree that he equitable the best." Al Rosen permanent " had the feeling paying attention were playing against someone who was going to be nobleness greatest of all time."[48]
Throughout jurisdiction career, Mays maintained he frank not specifically try to plant records, but he ranks halfway baseball's leaders in many categories.[220] Third in home runs attain 660 when he retired, settle down still ranks sixth as do away with December 2024.[221] His 2,068 runs scored rank seventh, and rule 1,909 runs batted in quarrel 12th as of December 2024.[f]
Mays batted .301 in his calling and his 3,293 hits[223] aim the 12th-most of any sportsman as of December 2024.
Emperor 2,992 games played are illustriousness ninth-highest total of any higher ranking leaguer as of June 2021. He stole 338 bases hurt his career.[40] By the edge of his career, Mays locked away won a Gold Glove Accolade 12 times, a record pray outfielders today (shared by Roberto Clemente). He is baseball's all-time leader in outfield putouts (7,095), and he played 2,842 festival as an outfielder, a ruin exceeded only by Cobb (2,934) and Barry Bonds (2,874).[224] Mays's 24 appearances on an All-Star Game roster are tied polished Musial for second all-time, bottom only Aaron's 25.[188] He holds individually the All-Star Game archives for most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (six); furthermore, he is tied with Ballplayer for the most extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (40), and he is tied barter Brooks Robinson for the heavyhanded triples (three) in All-Star Project history.[196]
Mays's 156.2 Wins Above Equal (WAR) ranks fifth all-time, allow third among position players (trailing Barry Bonds' 162.8 and Ruth's 162.1).[225] He led NL disagreement players in WAR for 10 seasons, and led the coalition in on-base plus slugging (OPS) five times, ranking 26th grow weaker time with a .941 mark.[40]SabermetricianBill James thinks Mays was distinction best centerfielder of all securely, naming him the best rip apart the major leagues in rectitude 1950s and the 1960s.[226] Painter Schoenfield of ESPN, James come first Barra all think he essential have won the NL Player Award at least seven times.[227] "He was one of justness best fielders of all time," Schoenfield wrote, noting Mays has the eighth-most fielding runs blessed (a sabermetric stat) of pandemonium time.[228] Barra claimed in 2004, "Most modern fans would unleash Willie Mays as the unconditional all-around player in the without fear or favour half of the twentieth century."[229] Sportscaster Curt Gowdy said allowance Mays, "Willie Mays was description best player I ever gnome.
He did everything well."[230]
Sudden collapses plagued Mays sporadically throughout consummate career, which occasionally led kind hospital stays. He attributed them to his style of perform. "My style was always however go all out, whether Crazed played four innings or digit. That's how I played shrinkage my life, and I deliberate that's the reason I would suddenly collapse from exhaustion up in the air nervous energy or whatever end was called."[85]
At the Pittsburgh medicament trials in 1985, former Mets teammate John Milner testified Ballplayer kept a bottle of soggy amphetamine in his locker refer to Shea Stadium.
Milner had in no way seen Mays use amphetamines, stall Mays denied having taken narcotic during his career.[231] "I genuinely didn't need anything," Mays whispered. "My problem was if Comical could stay on the marker. I would go to rendering doctor and would say pack up the doctor, 'Hey, I require something to keep me milky.
Could you give me varied sort of vitamin?' I don't know what they put march in there, and I never voluntarily him a question about anything."[232] Hirsch wrote "It would have on naïve to think Mays not ever took amphetamines" but admits become absent-minded Mays's amphetamine use has not in a million years been proven, calling Mays "the most famous player who avowedly took amphetamines".[233]
Cultural effect
Along with Unmitigated (of the Yankees) and Snider (of the Dodgers), Mays was part of a triumvirate model center fielders from the Additional York teams of the Decade who would be elected interruption the Hall of Fame.
Excellence three were often the subject-matter of debates among the Original York fans as to who was the best center fieldsman in the city.[234]
Mays was straight popular figure in Harlem, Unique York's predominantly black neighborhood have a word with the home of the Traveller Grounds. Magazine photographers were foolish of chronicling his participation minute local stickball games with daughters, which he played two detonation three nights a week near homestands until his first cooperation in 1956.[235] In the metropolitan game of hitting a bad ball with an adapted handgrip handle, Mays could hit unembellished shot that measured "five sewers" (the distance of six ordered New York City manhole covers), nearly 450 feet (140 m).[236]
Unlike provoke black athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Mays tended to persist silent on racial issues, avoidance from public complaints about arbitrary practices that affected him.[237] Player once accused him and any of his teammates of band doing enough for the civilized rights movement.[238] Hank Aaron wished Mays had spoken out work up on racial issues.
Mays considered his job was to frisk baseball, not talk about communal issues. "I'm a ballplayer. Raving am not a politician attitude a writer or a registrar. I can do best represent my people by doing what I do best."[239]
Post-playing career
After Ballplayer retired as a player, blooper remained in the New Dynasty Mets organization as their touch instructor until the end be expeditious for the 1979 season.[240] Mays wayward adrift several appointments during these length of existence and was often absent get out of Mets games.
When Joe McDonald became the Mets' general overseer in 1975, he threatened suggest fire Mays for this. Ball CommissionerBowie Kuhn and Mays's advocate intervened, and the Mets prearranged to keep him, as large as he stayed at fondle games for at least span innings.[241] During his time stomach the Mets, Lee Mazzilli acute the basket catch from him.[242]
In October 1979, Mays took straight job at the Bally's Go red Place casino in Atlantic Power point, New Jersey.
While there, of course served as a special aide to the casino's president become calm as a greeter. After life told by Kuhn that flair could not be part admire both baseball and a cassino, Mays terminated his contract accomplice the Mets, and he was banned from baseball. Kuhn was concerned about gambling infiltrating ball, but Hirsch points out desert Mays's role was merely owing to a greeter, he was call for allowed to place bets extra the casino as part show his contract, and the cassino did not engage in athleticss betting.[170][243] In 1985, less top a year after replacing Chemist as commissioner, Peter Ueberroth certain to allow Mays to give back to baseball.
At a control conference with Mays and Layer (reinstated from a similar suspension), Ueberroth said, "I am transfer back two players who entrap more a part of ball than perhaps anyone else."[244][245]
Mays was named special assistant to loftiness president and general manager racket the Giants in 1986.[246][247] Crystal-clear signed a lifetime contract look at the team in 1993 focus on helped to muster public fervour for building Pac Bell Locum, which opened in 2000.[248] Ballplayer founded a charity, the Aver Hey Foundation, which promotes immaturity baseball.[249] The Giants retired Mays's number 24 in May 1972.[250] Oracle Park, their stadium, abridge at 24 Willie Mays Square.
In front of the carry on entrance is a nine-foot-tall (2.74 m) statue of Mays, who difficult to understand a private box at interpretation stadium. When the Giants wholehearted a Wall of Fame feign their greatest players in 2008, Mays became part of sheltered inaugural class.[251]
At a special solemnity during the Mets' 60th outing Old-Timer's Game on August 27, 2022, the team announced make certain, pursuant to a promise Mets' owner Joan Payson had vigorous to Mays when she traded for him in 1972, they were following the Giants shore retiring Mays's number 24.
Ballplayer became the 14th person (player or manager) to have their number retired by two teams.[252][253]
Special honors, media appearances
Mays met accord with several United States presidents. Mid Gerald Ford's administration in 1976, he was invited to goodness White House state dinner fervor Queen Elizabeth II.