Who Was Willie Mays?

Willie Mays is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players in history. Born in Alabama, he began his professional career in the Negro Leagues before making his debut with the New York Giants in 1951. Renowned for his exceptional all-around skills, Mays was a two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) and ranks among the all-time leaders in both home runs and hits. Affectionately known as the “Say Hey Kid,” he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Following his illustrious playing career, Mays served as a special assistant to the Giants organization. He passed away in June 2024 at the age of 93.

Early Life of a Baseball Prodigy

Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931, in the predominantly African American mill town of Westfield, Alabama. He was the only child of Willie Sr., a semi-professional baseball player affectionately known as “Cat,” and Annie Satterwhite, a champion sprinter in high school. Following the dissolution of his parents’ relationship, Mays was raised under the watchful eyes of two aunts. After relocating to nearby Fairfield with his father, he began his baseball journey as a bat boy and occasional player for the Fairfield Stars in the Birmingham Industrial League, where he often played alongside his father. In addition to showcasing his exceptional baseball talent, the gifted teenager excelled in football and basketball at Fairfield Industrial High School.

In 1948, a pivotal year in baseball history marked by Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier, a 16-year-old Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the professional Negro Leagues, playing on weekends. This part-time commitment allowed him to continue his education while pursuing his passion for baseball.

Baseball Stardom

National League Rookie of the Year

After graduating from high school in 1950, Mays signed with the New York Giants and was assigned to the minors. Despite facing segregated living conditions and racial taunts from fans—challenges that persisted throughout his MLB career—Mays thrived on the field. He impressed with a remarkable .477 batting average through 35 games with the Minneapolis Millers, which earned him a promotion to the major leagues in May 1951.

Initially, Mays struggled to make a mark with the Giants, managing only a single hit—a home run off Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn—in his first seven games. However, his extraordinary defensive skills quickly garnered attention, and he eventually proved himself as a capable hitter. His contributions were instrumental in helping the Giants reach the World Series, and he was subsequently named the National League Rookie of the Year.

“The Catch”

Mays was called to serve in the U.S. Army early in the 1952 season, where he continued to develop his skills on a military baseball team in Virginia. He returned to MLB in 1954 with a spectacular season, leading the league with a .345 batting average and hitting 41 home runs, earning him National League MVP honors.

The 1954 season culminated in one of the most iconic defensive plays in baseball history. In Game 1 of the World Series against the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Guardians), Mays made a breathtaking over-the-shoulder catch of a deep drive, preventing a run and solidifying his reputation as a defensive stalwart. This moment, famously known as “The Catch,” played a crucial role in the Giants’ victory over their favored opponents.

“Say Hey” Hall of Famer

Mays led the league with 51 home runs in 1955 and secured his first of four consecutive stolen base titles the following year. Beyond being one of the best all-around players of his era, Mays was a beloved figure in his Harlem community, frequently playing stickball with local children. In New York City, passionate debates arose among baseball fans regarding whether Mays, Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees, or Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers was the premier slugger of the time.

Though the Giants relocated to San Francisco after the 1957 season, Mays continued to captivate fans in his new ballpark. In 1961, he became the ninth player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. The subsequent year, he propelled the Giants to the World Series, only to face a narrow defeat against the New York Yankees. Mays achieved his second MVP award in 1965 after a career-high 52 home runs.

In addition to his impressive statistics, Mays was known for his flair and showmanship on the field. He famously requested a baseball cap that would catch the wind and fly off as he sprinted across the outfield. His infectious enthusiasm and signature phrase, “say, hey,” earned him the nickname “Say Hey Kid.” Mays was also renowned for his trademark basket catch, which allowed him to quickly transition from defense to offense.

Traded to the New York Mets during the 1972 season, Mays contributed to the team’s World Series run in 1973 before announcing his retirement that September. His final seasons were marked by a decline in batting ability due to age and persistent injuries. Mays retired at the age of 42.

Career Statistics

Mays enjoyed a remarkable 23-season career as a professional baseball player, including his inaugural season in the Negro Leagues. Midway through his 21st season with the Giants, he was traded to the New York Mets, where he completed his career. He remains one of the all-time leaders in home runs, runs scored, and hits. His regular season statistics, encompassing his time in the Negro Leagues, include:

• Games: 3,005
• Hits: 3,293 (12th all-time)
• Runs: 2,068 (7th all-time)
• Home Runs: 660 (6th all-time)
• Batting Average: .301
• Putouts: 7,752

In postseason play, Mays appeared in 25 games, recording 12 runs and one home run from 22 hits. He won the World Series with the Giants in 1954 and made two additional World Series appearances in 1951 and 1962. His final World Series appearance was in 1973 with the New York Mets, who lost to the Oakland Athletics.

Mays earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including being named National League Rookie of the Year in 1951 and winning the league MVP award twice (1954 and 1965). He was awarded 12 consecutive Gold Gloves for fielding excellence, a recognition first introduced in 1957, the year after “The Catch.” Mays was part of the inaugural class of recipients of this honor. Additionally, he was selected for the All-Star Game a record-tying 24 times alongside legends Hank Aaron and Stan Musial.

His rise to fame was accompanied by significant increases in salary. Mays’s initial contract with the New York Giants in 1950 included a $4,000 signing bonus and a monthly salary of $250. By the mid-1950s, he was earning $25,000 annually, and in 1962, he signed a $90,000 contract for a single season. He became the highest-paid baseball player in 1963, with a salary of $105,000, which grew to approximately $160,000 per year by 1972. Upon his trade to the New York Mets, Mays received a $175,000 annual salary for the remainder of his playing career, along with a $50,000 annual coaching salary after retirement.

Mays’s legacy extends beyond the field; he is one of 14 players whose number, 24, has been retired by multiple teams, with the Giants honoring him in 1972 and the Mets following suit in August 2022. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

Life After Baseball

In 1972, Mays established the Say Hey Foundation to support underprivileged children through education and community initiatives. He also authored several books, including Say Hey: The Autobiography of Willie Mays (1988) and 24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid (2020).

Mays remained with the Mets organization as a hitting instructor until 1979. However, after accepting a public relations role with Bally’s Atlantic City casino in New Jersey, he faced a ban from baseball-related events. He was reinstated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth in 1985 and named a special assistant to the Giants organization the following year, a role that became a lifetime appointment in 1993.

In 2000, the Giants unveiled a statue honoring Mays outside their new ballpark at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. His accolades continued in subsequent years, including honorary degrees from Yale University and Dartmouth College and induction into the California Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2015, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

In his later years, Mays participated in the HBO documentary Say Hey, Willie Mays! (2022), which explored his baseball career and life beyond the diamond. The documentary featured interviews with his son, Michael, godson Barry Bonds, and others.

Mays resided in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years before moving to Palo Alto, California, in his later years.

Wives and Son

Willie Mays was married twice, with his most recent marriage to Mae Louise Allen Mays, whom he wed in November 1971 after their initial meeting in New York. When Willie called Mae to invite her on their first date, she was initially skeptical and did not believe it was truly him. Despite his reassurances, Mae humorously responded, “Yes, and I’m Martha Washington.” Their union lasted over 41 years until Mae’s passing in 2013 due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Willie’s first marriage was to Margherite Wendall Chapman in 1956, and together they adopted a son, Michael, in 1959. Unfortunately, their marriage did not endure, leading to their divorce in 1963.

Additionally, Willie maintained a close relationship with his godson, Barry Bonds. Bonds’ father, Bobby, was a teammate of Mays on the San Francisco Giants, the same team Barry would eventually join. In the 2004 season, Barry surpassed Willie on the all-time home runs list, although this achievement was overshadowed by a lengthy controversy regarding his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Death

Willie Mays passed away in California on June 18, 2024, at the age of 93. His family, in collaboration with the San Francisco Giants, announced his death in a joint statement. His son, Michael, noted that Willie “passed away peacefully and among loved ones.” According to reports from the San Francisco Chronicle, the cause of death was congestive heart failure.

Barry Bonds expressed his grief through an Instagram post, stating he was “beyond devastated and overcome with emotion” at Mays’ death. “I have no words to describe what you mean to me—you helped shape me to be who I am today,” Bonds wrote. “Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there… Rest in peace, Willie; I love you forever.”