Willie Mays
The Say Hey Kid, a five-tool legend who won one World Series title with the Giants and retired after the 1973 World Series with the Mets.
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 major league seasons. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Mays was a five-tool player who began his career in the Negro leagues, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons, and spent the rest of his career in the National League (NL), playing for the New York / San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
- Role
- Center Fielder
- Affiliation
- New York Mets (1972–1973)
- Status
- Retired Legend / Hall of Famer
- Key Achievement
- Led the Mets to the 1973 World Series; Two-time NL MVP with Giants; 12 consecuti
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Mays led the Giants to the 1954 World Series title, their last before moving to the West Coast. He also led the Giants to the 1962 World Series, which they lost to the New York Yankees. He ended his career with a return to New York after an early season trade to the New York Mets in 1972, retiring after the team's trip to the 1973 World Series.
In Their Own Story
The narrative of Mays' final years is rooted in resilience and leadership. After spending most of his career with the Giants, where he won MVP awards in 1954 and 1965 and delivered iconic moments like his over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series, Mays faced a trade to the Mets early in the 1972 season. He embraced this new challenge, helping the team reach the 1973 World Series. His time with the Mets was brief but impactful, ending his playing days on a high note as he helped the franchise return to the big stage. Before leaving the field entirely, he served as a coach for the Mets throughout the rest of the decade, ensuring his influence extended beyond his final at-bats.
Reader's Guide
Mays was an All-Star 24 times, tying for the second-most appearances in history. He led the NL in home runs four times and in slugging percentage five times while batting over .300 and posting 100 runs batted in (RBI) ten times each. He was the first NL player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, the first player in history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, and the second player and the first right-handed hitter to hit 600 home runs. Mays also set standards for defensive brilliance, winning 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards after their creation in 1957, still a record for outfielders.
Did You Know?
- Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama, on May 6, 1931.
- He was nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid".
- Mays won the NL MVP Award in 1954 and 1965.
- He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 in his first year of eligibility.
- Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015.
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