Among the tributes to Willie Mays was this graphic from the San Francisco Giants
If you’re under perhaps 65 years of age, you may not fully grasp just how phenomenal a baseball player Willie Mays was. And while his career statistics on the indispensable Baseball Reference website reveal plenty of numbers in boldface, indicating that a player led his league in that particular category, unless you saw him play, you may not truly appreciate just how dominant he was. Not surprisingly, four of his individual season home run totals are in bold as are five of his slugging percentage numbers. But then you notice that he led the National League in triples three times and was the NL’s top base stealer in four consecutive seasons.
Mays’ accolades include two Most Valuable Player awards—he finished in the top 5 nine times—12 consecutive Gold Glove awards as the league’s—the game’s, really—top centerfielder, 19 consecutive seasons as an All-Star for the New York (and later, San Francisco) Giants (plus one, ceremonially, during his final season when he finished his marvelous career in a New York Mets uniform), and Rookie of the Year when he was a 19-20 year-old.
660 Home Runs
3,293 Hits
1,909 RBI
339 Stolen Bases
12x Gold Glove
24x All-StarRest in peace, Willie Mays. pic.twitter.com/k0wJnScpLW
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) June 19, 2024
The flashy player’s fielding prowess includes “the catch,” his over-the-shoulder grab that took place on the sport’s biggest stage, in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. [It’s so iconic that it has its own Wikipedia page, simply called “The Catch (baseball).”]
His somehow elegant uniform number, 24, was perfectly suited to him. Mays, for decades, was considered baseball’s unofficial Greatest Living Player. He retired after the 1973 season with a lifetime batting average of .301 and 660 home runs, still sixth all-time, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Mays died today (June 18, 2024) at age 93. Though most of his peers have already left us, Major League Baseball, numerous teams, many of its legendary players, and other celebrities including many classic rock legends, offered tributes to the “Say Hey Kid.”
Jon Miller took a moment during the broadcast to acknowledge the passing of Willie Mays pic.twitter.com/4ZcXDouOfZ
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 19, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93. pic.twitter.com/Qk4NySCFZQ
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 19, 2024
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport.
Mays was a two-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In… pic.twitter.com/kOqxNnetg7
— MLB (@MLB) June 19, 2024
We join the baseball world in mourning the passing of Willie Mays.
Statement from Steve and Alex Cohen: https://t.co/wP4B7GJH9L pic.twitter.com/5dWgQa5V93
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 19, 2024
We join the baseball community in mourning the loss of Willie Mays, one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Our thoughts are with Willie’s family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/6NyXmv0pkj
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 19, 2024
The great @Willie Mays has passed away. Had the honor of talking with him several times. He loved that we mentioned his ‘54 World Series catch in @CitySlickers.The man who hit the ball and the “ Giant” who caught it signed this ball. RIP #24.. a thrill to watch you play. pic.twitter.com/FTNSc99Kh1
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) June 19, 2024
“Statistics do not do him justice,” said veteran broadcaster Bob Costas. “You had to see him play. He exuded joy. He wasn’t just incredibly great.”
Ken Griffey, Jr., a fellow centerfielder, and one of baseball’s best players of his generation, called the news of Mays’ death “devastating. He pulled me aside at age 17 and established a mentorship that few people have. I’m so grateful for the time that I spent with him. He’s a true Giant on and off the field.”
He was a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a 2-time MVP, World Series champion, and a Hall of Famer.
The great Willie Mays has passed away. It was a privilege to know him. We were both honored by @MLB in 2010 with the Beacon Award, given to civil rights pioneers.
He was… pic.twitter.com/wdTTNUiEmt
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 19, 2024
Huey Lewis, who has been tied to the Bay Area for decades, wrote, “So sad to hear about Willie Mays. National Treasure. So glad I got to spend time with him. We played golf twice. Sweet, funny, generous, and such humility. The greatest baseball player of all time. They don’t make em like that anymore. RIP”
Sad to see that Willie Mays has passed away. When I was a kid the Giants came to San Francisco and Willie was the Greatest of All Time! I was lucky to see him play many many times at Candlestick Park and he is the standard that Greatness is measured by. pic.twitter.com/HjVCRhu4Gk
— John Fogerty (@John_Fogerty) June 19, 2024
From Derek Jeter, “One of the best to ever play the game and even a better person. Thoughts and prayers are with Willie’s family and loved ones.”
In a post-game interview, the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who grew up in northern California and was a childhood Giants fans, said, “I was a big Willie Mays fan. I wanted to play like Willie and make those catches like he did. The numbers he put up on the field and what he did are impressive, but him as a person and human being… he was bigger than baseball.”
I’ll never forget this day when I walked in and heard, “that’s that boy who wears his hat like this.”
RIP Willie Mays. You changed the game forever and inspired kids like me to chase our dream. Thank you for everything that you did on and off the field. Always in our hearts… pic.twitter.com/Xv2ZHbKFvt
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) June 19, 2024
There was a time in this country, when Willie Mays was young and the best all-around player who ever lived, when the greatest compliment you could pay any athlete was to say that they had some Willie Mays in them. And is again tonight, as the country says goodbye to the Say Hey…
— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) June 19, 2024
It was my pleasure and honor to have played against arguably the best @mlb @MLBPA player of all time. And to call #WillieMays my friend is incrediblyspecial #RIP “Say Hey” Kid pic.twitter.com/SFbH1kks41
— Dave Winfield (@DaveWinfieldHOF) June 19, 2024
I'm devastated to hear about the passing of the legendary Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the main reasons I fell in love with baseball. Cookie and I are praying for his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 19, 2024
Willie Mays (1931-2024): pic.twitter.com/89kVgMB2MF
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) June 19, 2024
Books about Willie Mays are available here.
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