Willie Mays

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Lore & Background

Born in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was an all-around athlete. He joined the Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until the Giants signed him upon his graduation from high school in 1950. He debuted in the National League with the Giants and won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. In 1954, he won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, leading the Giants to their last World Series title before their move to the West Coast. His over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series is one of the most famous baseball plays of all time. After the Giants moved to San Francisco, Mays went on to win another MVP Award in 1965 and also led the Giants to the 1962 World Series, this time losing 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. He served as a coach for the Mets for the rest of the decade before rejoining the Giants as a special assistant to the president and general manager.

In Their Own Story

In 1951, Giants manager Leo Durocher called Mays directly to urge him to join the team, telling him to 'Quit costing the ball club money with long-distance phone calls.' Mays made his debut on May 25 against the Philadelphia Phillies but went hitless in his first 12 at-bats. He finally connected for a home run off Warren Spahn on May 28, hitting it over the left-field roof of the Polo Grounds. After Durocher dropped him to eighth in the order to focus on making contact, Mays responded with four hits in two games and pushed his average over .300 by month's end. That year, despite a .274 average, he won the Rookie of the Year Award while helping the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. Later, in 1954, he secured the National League MVP Award, leading the Giants to victory over the Cleveland Indians. His journey included an early trade to the New York Mets in 1972, where he ended his career after the team's trip to the 1973 World Series.

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. Mays was also at the forefront of a resurgence of speed as an offensive weapon in the 1950s, leading the league in stolen bases four times, triples three times, and runs twice; his 179 steals during the decade topped the Major Leagues. 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; he led NL center fielders in double plays five times and assists three times. A classic example of a five-tool player, Mays finished his career with a .301 batting average. At the time of his retirement, he held the NL record for career runs scored (2,062), and ranked second in league history behind Stan Musial in games played (2,992), third in home runs (660), at bats (10,881), runs batted in (1,903), total bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) and walks (1,464), fourth in hits (3,293), fifth in slugging percentage (.557), and eighth in doubles (523); his 140 triples ranked fourth among players active after 1945. He holds Major League records for games as a center fielder (2,829), putouts as an outfielder (7,095), and ended his career behind only Ty Cobb in total games as an outfielder (2,842), ranking seventh in assists (188) and third in double plays (59) in center field. Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 in his first year of eligibility, and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015.

Did You Know?

• Mays was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama.
• He was nicknamed 'the Say Hey Kid'.
• Mays won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 1951.
• He won two NL MVP Awards (1954 and 1965).
• Mays was a 24-time All-Star.

Rise from Humble Beginnings to Hall of Fame

Born May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was raised by his father and two aunts after his parents separated when he was three. He played for the Birmingham Black Barons starting in 1948 while still in high school, making an agreement to only play home games so he could finish football season. After graduating in 1950, he signed with the New York Giants. He debuted on May 24, 1951, and after a slow start, won the Rookie of the Year Award with 20 home runs.

Dominant Power and Fearsome Reputation

Mays was a five-tool player who led the National League in home runs four times and slugging percentage five times. He finished with 660 home runs, 1,903 RBIs, and a .301 average. In 1954, he won MVP and led the Giants to their last World Series title before moving west. He later won another MVP in 1965. During the 1950s, he led the league in stolen bases four times, triples three times, and runs twice.

The Defining Heartbreak of 1962

In 1962, Mays led the Giants to the World Series against the New York Yankees. The team lost the series. This was one of two World Series appearances for Mays with the Giants; he also played in the 1954 and 1973 World Series.

Legacy and Impact Beyond the Field

Mays served as a coach for the Mets after his playing career ended following the 1973 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and named to the All-Century Team in 1999. In 2015, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. At retirement, he held records for games as a center fielder (2,829) and putouts as an outfielder (7,095), and was the first right-handed hitter to reach 600 home runs.