Willie Mays, who played 21 of his 23 major-league seasons with the Giants, making the iconic over-the-shoulder bucket catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, kept strong ties to the organization until his death Tuesday at age 93.
The “Say Hey Kid” made his professional debut at 16 years old in 1948 for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, where he played for three seasons before the Giants purchased his contract in 1950. He went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1951 and Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1965 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.
Running at top speed with his back to the plate, New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays gets under a 450-foot blast off the bat of Cleveland first baseman Vic Wertz to pull the ball down in front of the bleachers wall in the eighth inning of the World Series opener at the Polo Grounds in New York on Sept. 29, 1954. In making the miraculous catch with two runners on base, Willie came within a step of crashing into the wall. The Giants won 5-2. (AP Photo) ** FOR RELEASE WEEKEND, JULY 7-9, OR THEREAFTER** FILE** San Francisco Giants’ Willie Mays shows his batting form in the eighth inning against the American League during the All Star baseball game in Pittsburgh, in this July 7, 1959 file photo. Mays walloped a triple to the right center that won the game. Baltimore Orioles’ catcher Gus Triandos is seen at left. (AP Photo) Former San Francisco Giants player Willie Mays attends his godson’s Barry Bonds uniform number retirement ceremony before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) FILE – In this Aptil 30, 1961, file photo, San Francisco Giants star outfielder, Willie Mays, proudly displays the four baseballs in the clubhouse representing the four homers which he hit against the Milwaukee Braves in Milwaukee. The four homers tied the record of four homers in a single game held by nine other major league players at the time. The Giants won 14-4. Willie’s homers accounted for eight runs batted in.(AP Photo/File) New York Giants’ Willie Mays, takes a batting practice swing on June 24, 1954, in New York. Major League Baseball said Tuesday, May 28, 2024, that it has incorporated records for more than 2,300 Negro Leagues players following a three-year research project. Mays was credited with 10 hits for the 1948 Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, raising his total to 3,293. (AP Photo/John Lent) San Franciso Giants Hall of Fame Willie Mays helps dedicate his statue in front of Pacific Bell Park, the new home of the San Francisco Giants, April 1, 2000, in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area Newsgroup. Willie Mays throws out the final ceremonial “last pitch” following the conclusion of the Giants last game at Candlestick Park. (Contra Costa Times/Karl Mondon/Sept. 30, 1999) San Francisco Giant Willie Mays is met by teammates after hitting his 600th career major league home run against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Calif., on Sept. 23, 1969. (San Diego Union Tribune) Giants greats Willie Mays left, and Willie McCovey shares a special moment during the groundbreaking ceremony for the team’s new park in the China Basin area of San Francisco of Pac Bell Park. (Michael Rondou/Bay Area News Group archive) Willie Mays argues with home plate umpire Augie Donatelli during the 1973 World Series. (copyright 1973 Ron Riesterer) Still hurting from collision, Willie Mays spends pre-All Star game in bed, Saturday, July 12, 1965, Minneapolis, Minn. The San Francisco Giants outfielder has been named leadoff man for the National League team-to make his potential times at bat five in theory. (AP Photo) FILE – San Francisco centerfielder Willie Mays licks his fingers in centerfield after cutting the birthday cake given to him by Judge Roy Hofheinz, standing, in celebration of his 37th birthday before a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Texas, in this May 6, 1968, file photo. The 569 pound cake, one pound for each of Mays home runs, contains 3,800 eggs, 150 pounds of butter, 150 pounds of sugar, 300 pounds of flour, and 100 pounds of almonds. The cake is in the figure of 24, Mays uniform number. Mays turns 90 on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky, File) Willie Mays showed a little outfield form as he grabbed a welcoming balloon during the parade here April 15, 1958. Hank Sauer seated next to him in the convertible looks on. An estimated 200,000 persons turned out for the big welcoming parade. The new San Francisco Giants meet the Los Angeles Dodgers here this afternoon in the first major league game to be played on the West Coast. (AP Photo) Willie Mays the fabulous San Francisco giant players is all set for workout at the Giant training camp at Casa Grande, Arizona March 2, 1964. Mays is one of the highest paid players in baseball, his contract is reported to be approximately $105,000. Willie shoved his glove toward the camera making it appear larger than normal. (AP Photo/RDS) Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants is pictured in 1970. (AP Photo) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 7: Willie Mays is honored by the San Francisco Giants game, Friday, May 7, 2021, as the oldest Hall of Famer celebrates his 90th birthday in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Karl Mondon/Bay Area News GroupFILE – San Francisco Giants baseball player Willie Mays connects for his 600th lifetime home run in San Diego, in this Sept. 23, 1969, file photo. Just about everyone saw something in Mays. Mays turns 90 on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/File) FILE – San Francisco Giants centerfielder Willie Mays eats part of a cake presented to him at home plate on his 41st birthday, before the start of the game with the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium in San Francisco, in this May 6, 1972, file photo. Mays turns 90 on Thursday, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/File) New York Mets Willie Mays reads mail on August 4, 1972 at Shea stadium in New York. (AP Photo/David Pickoff) San Francisco Giants’ winning pitcher Juan Marichal, left, congratulates teammate Willie Mays on ending the 16 inning scoreless ball game against the Milwaukee Braves, 1-0, in San Francisco, Ca., July 3, 1963. Mays blasted a home run over the left field fence, ending a pitching dual between Milwaukee’s Warren Spahn and Marichal that lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes. (AP Photo) mWillie Mays, San Francisco Giants outfielder, swings a bat as he tries home plate at his new home, Seals Stadium in San Francisco on Oct. 31, 1957. (AP Photo) dino vournas/staff 6/5/99 tribune sportsSome of the members of the All-Time Giants team of the 70’s took their bows Saturday before a game between the A’s and Giants at 3Com Park. Willie Mays doffs his cap to the crowd while (right to left) Bobby Bonds, Chris Speier (sp?) and Mike Sadek look on. San Francisco Giants’ centerfielder Willie Mays goes high against the right centerfield wall and fence at Seals Stadium, San Francisco, in an unsuccessful effort to catch the ball hit by Philadelphia’s Harry Anderson in the ninth inning of the game, Sept. 13, 1959. Anderson made a double but the Giants won, 1-0. At right is Giants’ right fielder Willie Kirkland. (AP Photo/Robert Houston) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 29: Former San Francisco Giants’ Willie Mays waves to the crowd during a postgame ceremony honoring San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer’s Willie Mays and Willie McCovey enjoy the pre-game, home opener festivities at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday, April 3, 2018. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Three former San Francisco Giants got together at Candlestick Park on Sept. 20, 1980 in San Francisco for an old timers game. Memories were stirred by these three Giants greats and Orlando Cepeda, left, received one of the loudest receptions of all. Center is Willie McCovey, 44, youngster of the group who retired this year and at right is Mr. Giant, Willie Mays. They all played in an old timers game that preceded Giants Astros game. (AP Photo/RHH) San Francisco, CA Circa 1965 – Giants teammates (from left) Harvey Kuenn, Orlando Cepeda, Willie Mays, and Willie McCovey. (By Tommy McDonough / Oakland Tribune)Published April 7, 1965 Former San Francisco Giants player Willie Mays acknowledges the crowd during his godson’s Barry Bonds uniform number retirement ceremony before their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) An image of Willie Mays is displayed on the video board while everyone observed a moment of silence during the sixth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) Willie Mays walks to his position in center field. This was Willie’s last game with the San Francisco Giants before he was traded to the Mets in 1972.(copyright photo 1972 by Ron Riesterer)
