Willie Mays “The Say Hey Kid” Passes Away At 93

Willie Mays photo from the Library of Congress

It’s one of those where were you when, kind of evenings. I was at home watching the Giants take on the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago when Jon Miller broke the news at 5:56 pm live on the air that the “Say Hey Kid” Willie Mays had passed away peacefully in his home at the age of 93. That was four minutes ago.

The Giants fan in me is devastated but even more the baseball fan in me feels even worse. Willie was a baseball player’s favorite baseball player. The original five tool player meaning that he could run, field, throw, hit for average and hit for power. He is regarded as the best all around baseball player who ever lived.

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Ted Williams, one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, was famously quoted as saying “They invented the All Star game for Willie Mays” and he meant it. Willie appeared in 24 of them with only Hank Aaron besting him with 25.

Willie finished his career with 12 Gold Gloves tied for first by an outfielder, 660 home runs which is six on the all time list, 4th in total bases at 6,080, 3293 hits which leaves him 13th all time. A forever Giant is an understatement. We’ve all seen the statue at Third and King in front of the ballpark which I’m sure is being filled with flowers as I type this.

It is bittersweet as the Giants will be taking on the St. Louis Cardinals in Birmingham, Alabama at Rickwood Field this Thursday, June 20th to honor Willie Mays and his Negro League team, the Black Barons. Willie played for the Black Barons on weekends as he was still only 17. He wasn’t there long as after graduation he was picked up by the then New York Giants.

Willie Mays statue at the ballpark. Photo by Josta Photo via Flickr

Willie Mays made his New York Giants debut in 1951 where he won the National League Rookie of the Year award. Willie would be a staple in center field at the Polo Grounds in Manhattan, which boasted an astonishingly deep center field at 483 feet. That was a lot of ground to cover but gave us photos of some of the most iconic catches in the history of the game. Think the other “Catch” in the 1954 World Series. That would be the only championship he would win with the orange and black.

Willie wasn’t just a great ballplayer. He was a man of the people. A cultural icon. He regularly greeted fans and even played stickball with the youth on the streets of New York. He missed two years in the prime of his career serving the United States Military in the Korean War.

Still this wasn’t enough when the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. Willie was met with opposition in the high end area of the Twin Peaks neighborhood when attempting to buy a home. A battle he would eventually win. Oh and the hearts he forever won here in San Francisco.

Willie loved San Francisco, loved baseball and ultimately loved the Giants. He was a mentor to young prospects making himself readily available for younger players. He is famously the godfather to one Barry Lamar Bonds. There is the Willie Mays Scholarship Fund made in his honor.

Willie Mays, the ultimate ballplayer, has left his glove on the field for the final time. Willie is a forever icon that will continue to transcend generations if not centuries of fans. I think the folks at Wrigley just said it best. When the PA announcer asked for a moment of silence and announced the Say Hey Kid had passed away the crowd rose to their feet and instead, gave a lengthy standing ovation. Well said Chicago.

Willie Mays

Forever Baseball

1931-2024