When I was a young boy, I played Little League. It was 1965 and our team did not have a name. So our coach asked us what we wanted the name to be, and I said the Giants. I also was able to get number 24 on the back of my jersey. Willie was my all-time favorite ball player. I played the outfield and he played the outfield, and I followed him and had all his baseball cards. Many years later, I was walking into the Epcot center in Florida and out the door came Willie Mayes. I knew it was him immediately. This was 1979. And I stuck my hand out and I said you are Willie. Mayes! he said yes, I am and I shook his hand hard and told him that he had been my idol since I was a little boy, and he smiled the biggest smile and said well I’m glad you watched me play baseball because I love the game. and we talked a little bit, and he went his way, and I went mine. I will never forget that kind smile and the great Willy Mayes. If there is a diamond in heaven, he is in centerfield .
The true GOAT of MLB. He hit 660 Hrs despite missing two year of military service, and playing in the Polo Grounds and, more impressively, in CandleStick Park before they build the centerfield wall, when the wind blew in. Ten years at the stick cost him at least 100 Hrs.
I’m 66. Saw a 40 year old Willie Mays hit a Bob Gibson pitch off the left field wall just inches above the glove of a leaping Lou Brock. Busch Stadium Saint Louis 1971. I was 13. Didn’t occur to me that that these three guys were going to become all of time baseball Hall of Fame greats…
I can’t believe that catch was 70 years ago this year (same year my house was built). It is sad though the anniversary of that catch and series is the same year of his passing :(
Think about this. Willie Mays was playing what is now considered major league level baseball when he was 17 YEARS OLD! Think that will ever happen again? And only hit into 45 double plays in his entire career! I think I could name some Hall of Famers that equaled that in 3 consecutive years of their careers! And hit many more home runs than doubles. Around 130 more! Huh! I only caught the end of his career, but all I know is that every last great player after him could only hope to be possibly compared to Mays. Isn't he why the term 5 tool player came about?
70 years old saw Willie as a sf giant not enough unfortunately... could hit for power, for average, could run the bases, could field, could throw, legit 5 tool player... however Willie actually eclipsed that, Willie had another superpower, he was likable in baseball Willie was just like Louie Armstrong in jazz, Dr J in Hoops, he was the sports,the genres ambassador , big smile approachable and he had an excitement, a charisma that you couldn't take your eyes off him. rest easy LEGEND
@thomasespositio3139 maaaaan i LOVE your summary, not from headlines or clips but from seeing Willie play with your own two eyes and a simple love for the game. I'm only 40, so admittedly, Willie Mays was just always a "old famous" name, until I actually got older, falling deeper in love with baseball each passing year (not a Giants fan either, in fact I'm a Red Sox fan growing up in Ohio lol). From 2012-2015 I was blessed to live in St Louis, only about 15 mins from Busch Stadium, and has luck would have it, was a Stay at home dad for those 3 years and spent a TON of time at Busch, around the game daily with an iconic ball club in an iconic baseball city that truly brings out the best about baseball, it's players and it's connections to fans with a weird ability to tie together several generations. My fav player all time is Teddy Ballgame but I've had amazing personal convos with: Musial, Ozzie Smith, Tony LaRussa and can vividly recall each guy mentioning Willie in the talk of "best all around player you ever seen" that Id inevitably ask as a starry eyed fan, amazed to be so close to greatness. I love this game man. And we're losing absolute TITANS of the game at an alarming rate. All the names I grew up hearing about from my grandpa or dad, they're all dying and it really just shows how brief, yet how beautifully intertwined, life is
Grew up in his era. I was/am a Cub fan. He was in the middle of his brilliant career when my uncle, also a Cub fan, introduced me to baseball. Like many other stars in sports, music, along with family and friends, the losses come frequently as one gets older. But the memories bring back moments of life that still shine. Say Hey, Mr. Mays. 💚💚
Very nice words from Barry Bonds. A legend among legends. Among millions of baseball players, definitely top five of all times. May you rest in peace, Willie.
When I was a kid, I was a huge giants fan and Willie Mays was my favorite player of all time. I used to ask people to call me Willie Mays when playing with my friends at bat (like a nickname). On read across America day, I got a biography of him and dressed up as him (just a giants shirt and hat). This was 2008. That's how big his legacy was to me. I don't want watch baseball anymore, probably can't even name a single current player; but I'm honestly disappointed to hear this
I saw him play in Pittsburgh in the 60's. Mays and Clemente were the 2 best players in the league. Mays had more power and Clemente had a better arm and better batting average. Both were fun to watch.
Willie Mays, "The Say Hey Kid", will ALWAYS be ONE OF THE TOP 5 GREATEST BASEBALL LEGENDS IN HISTORY!!! From playing in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons to the San Francisco Giants (winning the Rookie of the Year and the 1954 World Series), and Having arguably the "Greatest Catch" in History and 660 Home Runs!!! Thank you, Willie, for all the great memories!! Rest in Power!!
Sadly growing up in Michigan and no interleague play we only got to see him on Game of the Week on Saturdays or Baseball Digest. Definitely is in the conversation for GOAT. Missing two years cost him the home run title.
Willie Mays was to baseball like Jimi Hendrix was to the electric guitar. They both changed the game for everyone who followed them. Inspired countless others hoping to equal their greatness despite knowing how unlikely it would be. But knowing that never mattered to them. It was the joy they got from hoping to achieve something close to comparison to either of them.
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. was one of my introductions to baseball as a child. Back in the days when the sport was the national pastime. No labor troubles like in later years. There was so much innocence back then. Mays, Aaron, Banks, Mantle, Maris, Kaline, Koufax, Ford. There was a huge list of players I liked back then. But another part of my life is gone. He was truly one of the ambassadors of baseball. Number 24 of the New York-San Francisco Giants. May he rest in peace, privilege, and power. Thank you, sir, for all you did for the game, the country, and the world. You were the classiest act there was.
No words to describe the greatest center fielder EVER!! I see today's contracts on average players, no $ could afford this super star. Like Bob Hope used to say, thanks for the memories. 👍
I'm young enough to never have seen the man play but old enough to have heard stories from my father. I'm also a stat nerd. Whether you are in the camp of "you have never seen a player like Willie Mays unless you've seen him, no matter what the stats tell you", or in the camp of "men lie, women lie, numbers don't", Mays was one of the best to ever play the game, and he fits both of those arguments. No matter how you cut it, he was one of the best of the best to ever play. Truly the one player from the past I'd want to watch, given the opportunity.
You have no idea how many packs of baseball cards I opened praying it contained a Willie Mays card in it. I got more cavities from the gum in the packs than Willie Mays cards.
Power and grace on and off the field. That was Willie Mays. Saw him many times at Candlestick Park. A magnificent athlete. Thank you, Willie. May you rest in peace.
Thank you Willie for all you've done for the game of baseball and for being the "Human Being" you became. You will always be #1 in my opinion! May you continue to play the game with all the greats of the game.
Willie mays was the greatest of all time no perhaps about it we will never see another player like him at least i won't. no player in baseball ever could match his accomplishments on the field the word goat was created for him
My old Italian great uncle from Brooklyn was a baseball fanatic. After watching some program about Babe Ruth I told him Babe Ruth was the GOAT and he said "over WILLIE MAYS? Are you kidding? Never mind, I thought this kid knew something about baseball."
With 'The Catch' nobody's mentioning how far Willie had to run, almost 130 feet straight back to about 445 ft. Most couldn't have even gotten that far, catch it and throw back so quickly. No mention that his last hit in 12th inn. game 2 '73 Series put the Mets ahead and later scored. Willie towers over Barr-oid.
Rest in peace to a super I con stand up for what's right the set hey kid he did for us outside and in show all the love to all the great people who did it right on and off the field
One of my favorite players growing up. I remember a picture I saw of him playing stick ball in the street with some kids. The pros back then were not stuck up big shots like today. Gordie Howe and Al Kaline were the same. Just regular guys with awesome talent. God Bless Willie Mays.
The greatest all around player ever. He could do it all. I'm sure he lost at least a hundred home runs due to military service and playing the in the horrendous winds of Candlestick Park. Rest in peace Buck.
McCovey often said that he saw Willie lose over 100 HRs to the winds at Candlestick. Willie: best all-round player...ever.
22 дня назад
I think that the Giants' move to San Francisco helped Mays more than it hurt him. He started out playing in NYC at the Polo Grounds. NYC in the summer is hot and muggy and in my opinion a drain on the ballplayers. San Francisco is cool and dry and helped Mays tremendously.
I met Mr. Mays when I was a skycap in MSP and he was just walking down the sidewalk. At first I could not believe my eyes as he'd always been my favorite player since I was a kid. I got to shake his hand and he gave me an autographed baseball. Just thinking about that day makes me feel good.
Eas"T"exas Respect 🙏 🫡 2 One Of The Greatest 2 Eva Take the Diamond...Rest N "Baseball Heaven" Mr Willie Mays..You'll Truly Be Missed But Neva 4Gotten...😢
Compare the numbers willie put up to the ones the big money earners of today put up " MLB should have the (Willie mays) trophy given at the end of every season to the most outstanding player.
This type of news is always inevitable when it comes to our heroes, but it is no less sadder. It’s not just the end of a legendary life for one man, but a jolting reminder of the relenting passage of Father Time for all baseball fans. I was 3 when Mays retired, but it was comforting knowing he was enjoying the same game I’ve enjoyed. That’s gone now. Thankfully, the magic of technology preserves these memories not just for my generation, but future generations.
My father took me to games at Seals Stadium and later to Candlestick to see the Giants and Mays. He was so much bigger than us ordinary mortals! That basket catch still amazes me. Willy once said he wore his hat a size too big so it would fly off when he ran out in the field or between bases. He had a flare for the dramatic, for sure. Another of my childhood heroes passes on.
Jim Murray said jokingly, but not unrealistically that the first time he stepped up to the plate at Candlestick a hotdog wrapper from the left field bleachers blew across home plate. Imagine his numbers if he played in a different park.
Beleive this or not. My great uncle William melton Harris discovered and hired willie mays to play for the giants. My uncle started out in the minors and later played for the Pittsburgh pirates. He later became a scout for the giants and went to New Jersey and told willie mays you’re coming with us. The rest is history. Willie mays mentions my uncle twice in his auto biography. Check it out when you can. ✌️ rest easy willie!
22 дня назад
The Braves had an opportunity to get Willie Mays but they didn't think that he was as promising as Henry Aaron, so they took a pass on Mays. If they had taken Mays, they would have had Mays and Aaron on the same team. The Braves also had Eddie Matthews and he was no slouch either.
god bless you my kind sir.. we all love you and adore you.. your a legend your a practice to all kids around the world now.. you are now a baseball god.. please go play some ball wherever your going. God bless you Say Heyy Kid!!!!
The reason Bobby Thompson was in the batters box to hit the Home Run for the pennant, was because Willie was on deck. They didn't want to have to pitch to him
22 дня назад
Mays was just a rookie and terrified of coming to bat in such a pressure packed situation. He prayed hard for Thompson to hit a home run so he would not have to bat. His prayer was answered.
Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.
Goated
Never.
Say Hey followed his heart and he never went wrong.
@@im_spizaww he died what time
My Dad took me to Candlestick Park in 1973 for Willy Mays retirement....lost my dad in '91....but I'll never forget that.
Sorry for your lost 😔 🙏🏾
May your father rest in peace man. I'm glad he at least left a good and memorable memory for you 🙏🏻.
What a nice thing he did for you.
Sorry for your loss
When I was a young boy, I played Little League. It was 1965 and our team did not have a name. So our coach asked us what we wanted the name to be, and I said the Giants. I also was able to get number 24 on the back of my jersey. Willie was my all-time favorite ball player. I played the outfield and he played the outfield, and I followed him and had all his baseball cards. Many years later, I was walking into the Epcot center in Florida and out the door came Willie Mayes. I knew it was him immediately. This was 1979. And I stuck my hand out and I said you are Willie. Mayes! he said yes, I am and I shook his hand hard and told him that he had been my idol since I was a little boy, and he smiled the biggest smile and said well I’m glad you watched me play baseball because I love the game. and we talked a little bit, and he went his way, and I went mine. I will never forget that kind smile and the great Willy Mayes.
If there is a diamond in heaven, he is in centerfield .
Great comment rest up Willie
The true GOAT of MLB. He hit 660 Hrs despite missing two year of military service, and playing in the Polo Grounds and, more impressively, in CandleStick Park before they build the centerfield wall, when the wind blew in. Ten years at the stick cost him at least 100 Hrs.
He could've been the homerun king today
Willie Mays lived to be 93! Awesome! Good-bye to a legendary man, father, son and generational talent.
Rest In Eternal Peace Willie Mays. You'll always be The Say Hey Kid
Greatest baseball player who ever lived.
The grey player if all time got Clemente second
The greatest player of all time
The Say Hey Kid will never be forgotten MLB GOAT
I’m 66. Saw a 40 year old Willie Mays hit a Bob Gibson pitch off the left field wall just inches above the glove of a leaping Lou Brock. Busch Stadium Saint Louis 1971. I was 13. Didn’t occur to me that that these three guys were going to become all of time baseball Hall of Fame greats…
Can't believe i woke up to this, long live Willie Mays!
Willie the greatest catch in 1954. Hits 4 homers in 1961 in one game. The tribute from Jon Miller ( our Mark Twain of baseball) is extraordinary
I can’t believe that catch was 70 years ago this year (same year my house was built).
It is sad though the anniversary of that catch and series is the same year of his passing :(
And Willie doesn't even think it was his best catch! Huh?
Willie Mays is the goat 🐐 of baseball without question
Willie Mays. Jerry West. Bill Walton. Wow.
Death comes in 3s
Don't forget Larry Allen
Think about this. Willie Mays was playing what is now considered major league level baseball when he was 17 YEARS OLD! Think that will ever happen again? And only hit into 45 double plays in his entire career! I think I could name some Hall of Famers that equaled that in 3 consecutive years of their careers! And hit many more home runs than doubles. Around 130 more! Huh! I only caught the end of his career, but all I know is that every last great player after him could only hope to be possibly compared to Mays. Isn't he why the term 5 tool player came about?
Chet Walker
Willie.... thank you for helping make the game so... beautiful
70 years old saw Willie as a sf giant not enough unfortunately... could hit for power, for average, could run the bases, could field, could throw, legit 5 tool player... however Willie actually eclipsed that, Willie had another superpower, he was likable in baseball Willie was just like Louie Armstrong in jazz, Dr J in Hoops, he was the sports,the genres ambassador , big smile approachable and he had an excitement, a charisma that you couldn't take your eyes off him. rest easy LEGEND
@thomasespositio3139 maaaaan i LOVE your summary, not from headlines or clips but from seeing Willie play with your own two eyes and a simple love for the game. I'm only 40, so admittedly, Willie Mays was just always a "old famous" name, until I actually got older, falling deeper in love with baseball each passing year (not a Giants fan either, in fact I'm a Red Sox fan growing up in Ohio lol). From 2012-2015 I was blessed to live in St Louis, only about 15 mins from Busch Stadium, and has luck would have it, was a Stay at home dad for those 3 years and spent a TON of time at Busch, around the game daily with an iconic ball club in an iconic baseball city that truly brings out the best about baseball, it's players and it's connections to fans with a weird ability to tie together several generations. My fav player all time is Teddy Ballgame but I've had amazing personal convos with:
Musial, Ozzie Smith, Tony LaRussa and can vividly recall each guy mentioning Willie in the talk of "best all around player you ever seen" that Id inevitably ask as a starry eyed fan, amazed to be so close to greatness.
I love this game man. And we're losing absolute TITANS of the game at an alarming rate. All the names I grew up hearing about from my grandpa or dad, they're all dying and it really just shows how brief, yet how beautifully intertwined, life is
Grew up in his era. I was/am a Cub fan. He was in the middle of his brilliant career when my uncle, also a Cub fan, introduced me to baseball.
Like many other stars in sports, music, along with family and friends, the losses come frequently as one gets older. But the memories bring back moments of life that still shine.
Say Hey, Mr. Mays. 💚💚
The greatest baseball player ever! Rest in peace Mr Mays!
Love you Willie Mays! Thanks for all you did for the game!
Man. The greatest.
He was the best.He played with joy of a kid.
93 is a good long life. Godspeed, Willy!
Rest In Peace 💔Thank you for my memories. I saw him late 60’s at the Stick w the SF Giants. Legend lives forever ⚾️🧡🖤
Very nice words from Barry Bonds. A legend among legends. Among millions of baseball players, definitely top five of all times. May you rest in peace, Willie.
When I was a kid, I was a huge giants fan and Willie Mays was my favorite player of all time. I used to ask people to call me Willie Mays when playing with my friends at bat (like a nickname).
On read across America day, I got a biography of him and dressed up as him (just a giants shirt and hat).
This was 2008. That's how big his legacy was to me.
I don't want watch baseball anymore, probably can't even name a single current player; but I'm honestly disappointed to hear this
Thanks for this excellent video, wow, such good memories of a GREAT PLAYER & GENTLEMAN!!
The Say Hey Kid maybe gone... but his legend will never die.
Dam, I didn't know he was that great. Wow.. rest in paradise, Willie 🙏🏾 😔 😟
I grew up watching Willie. People of my generation know he was the best ever.
He was the greatest player of all time.
You must be from mars
god bless you, Willie Mays.
I saw him play in Pittsburgh in the 60's. Mays and Clemente were the 2 best players in the league. Mays had more power and Clemente had a better arm and better batting average. Both were fun to watch.
SAY HEY KID! WE LOVE YOU WILLIE! 🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡
Class act great man the greatest all around baseball player of all time
Willie Mays, "The Say Hey Kid", will ALWAYS be ONE OF THE TOP 5 GREATEST BASEBALL LEGENDS IN HISTORY!!! From playing in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons to the San Francisco Giants (winning the Rookie of the Year and the 1954 World Series), and Having arguably the "Greatest Catch" in History and 660 Home Runs!!! Thank you, Willie, for all the great memories!! Rest in Power!!
They were the NewYork Giants in 1954.
But doesn’t take away from his greatness. Top 10 of all time.
@@tomtalley2192 top 5 . FIVE. Better than Ruth . Also Ted , Aaron, rose , Mickey , Clemente , Rickey Henderson and Musial.
Joe Dimaggio was Willie's idol. Dimaggio said that Willie was the best player he ever saw.
Willie Mays: the greatest all-round player-ever! No one is close.
Sadly growing up in Michigan and no interleague play we only got to see him on Game of the Week on Saturdays or Baseball Digest.
Definitely is in the conversation for GOAT. Missing two years cost him the home run title.
Long live you legend♥️
I never saw Willie Mays play in real time, of course, but "The Catch" has gone down in MLB history as a historic play.
Willie Mays was to baseball like Jimi Hendrix was to the electric guitar. They both changed the game for everyone who followed them. Inspired countless others hoping to equal their greatness despite knowing how unlikely it would be. But knowing that never mattered to them. It was the joy they got from hoping to achieve something close to comparison to either of them.
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. was one of my introductions to baseball as a child. Back in the days when the sport was the national pastime. No labor troubles like in later years. There was so much innocence back then. Mays, Aaron, Banks, Mantle, Maris, Kaline, Koufax, Ford. There was a huge list of players I liked back then. But another part of my life is gone. He was truly one of the ambassadors of baseball. Number 24 of the New York-San Francisco Giants. May he rest in peace, privilege, and power. Thank you, sir, for all you did for the game, the country, and the world. You were the classiest act there was.
Just something for memory lane, who was the best centerfielder in New York city?
A golden age of baseball talent.
What a great person he was.
Willie Mays A Baseball Home Run Legend! I remember watching Home Run Derby when He appeared 5 Times!
Rest in Peace Willie Mays we will never forget you and your family members. 🙏 ❤️ 💔 💙 😢 😔
No words to describe the greatest center fielder EVER!! I see today's contracts on average players, no $ could afford this super star. Like Bob Hope used to say, thanks for the memories. 👍
The best ever!
Changed the game 🙏 rest up legend
My Step Dad Don Defesi took us to Candlestick park in the fog and chilly weather in late 80s early 90s. Great memories. Giants against Braves.
I'm young enough to never have seen the man play but old enough to have heard stories from my father. I'm also a stat nerd. Whether you are in the camp of "you have never seen a player like Willie Mays unless you've seen him, no matter what the stats tell you", or in the camp of "men lie, women lie, numbers don't", Mays was one of the best to ever play the game, and he fits both of those arguments. No matter how you cut it, he was one of the best of the best to ever play. Truly the one player from the past I'd want to watch, given the opportunity.
"Say Hey", my boyhood idle. I wore #24 and so did my son. God bless #24!😔
I am 73 and first heard of Willie Mays in the Third Grade. He and Micky Mantle were my favorite all time Baseball greats. I will miss him sorely.
Willie made Alabama so proud...rest in peace Home Run Homeboy.😊😊😊😊
My favorite player a kid from WNY
First Jerry, now Willie! What a devastating week!
660 with no steroids. Pure athlete. I have his baseball card and will own it forever
Wow , u are lucky, he is the GOAT
You have no idea how many packs of baseball cards I opened praying it contained a Willie Mays card in it. I got more cavities from the gum in the packs than Willie Mays cards.
And just a 170 lbs. Hank Aaron 180 lbs. How did these little buggers generate so much power?
Ever try the basket catch? I can't begin to tell you how many times I hurt my stomach trying it during a game.
I'm glad God let me live and I was able to watch the Say Het Kid........Love Willy Mays. Willy was a great person off the field also.
An absolute titan
Power and grace on and off the field. That was Willie Mays. Saw him many times at Candlestick Park. A magnificent athlete. Thank you, Willie. May you rest in peace.
The GOAT
Rest In Peace Willie Mays! 🕊️
Jerry West, Bill Walton and now Willie Mays! We are losing legends 🙏
Say Hey. God bless. I miss those athletes.
Thank you Willie for all you've done for the game of baseball and for being the "Human Being" you became. You will always be #1 in my opinion! May you continue to play the game with all the greats of the game.
Willie mays was the greatest of all time no perhaps about it we will never see another player like him at least i won't. no player in baseball ever could match his accomplishments on the field the word goat was created for him
My old Italian great uncle from Brooklyn was a baseball fanatic. After watching some program about Babe Ruth I told him Babe Ruth was the GOAT and he said "over WILLIE MAYS? Are you kidding? Never mind, I thought this kid knew something about baseball."
Heaven didn't just need a centerfielder. Heaven needed THE CENTERFIELDER!!! Rest in peace Willie .
With 'The Catch' nobody's mentioning how far Willie had to run, almost 130 feet straight back to about 445 ft.
Most couldn't have even gotten that far, catch it and throw back so quickly.
No mention that his last hit in 12th inn. game 2 '73 Series put the Mets ahead and later scored.
Willie towers over Barr-oid.
Rest in peace to a super I con stand up for what's right the set hey kid he did for us outside and in show all the love to all the great people who did it right on and off the field
He was way before my time. He was those myths we read in school. It’s like hearing Zeus died
One of my favorite players growing up. I remember a picture I saw of him playing stick ball in the street with some kids. The pros back then were not stuck up big shots like today. Gordie Howe and Al Kaline were the same. Just regular guys with awesome talent. God Bless Willie Mays.
The greatest all around player ever. He could do it all. I'm sure he lost at least a hundred home runs due to military service and playing the in the horrendous winds of Candlestick Park. Rest in peace Buck.
McCovey often said that he saw Willie lose over 100 HRs to the winds at Candlestick. Willie: best all-round player...ever.
I think that the Giants' move to San Francisco helped Mays more than it hurt him. He started out playing in NYC at the Polo Grounds. NYC in the summer is hot and muggy and in my opinion a drain on the ballplayers. San Francisco is cool and dry and helped Mays tremendously.
I met Mr. Mays when I was a skycap in MSP and he was just walking down the sidewalk. At first I could not believe my eyes as he'd always been my favorite player since I was a kid. I got to shake his hand and he gave me an autographed baseball. Just thinking about that day makes me feel good.
Saw him play for the Minneapolis Millers!
Eas"T"exas Respect 🙏 🫡 2 One Of The Greatest 2 Eva Take the Diamond...Rest N "Baseball Heaven" Mr Willie Mays..You'll Truly Be Missed But Neva 4Gotten...😢
My condolences to the Mays Family.
I got Willie's autograph in Phoenix during Spring Training back in the early 70s.
Say Hey!
All around player is the key that captures the essence of his impact. I have him with my model ranked #4 of all time in overall impact to the game.
No talk of the racism he endured while playing in his time. Poor job SVP.
Compare the numbers willie put up to the ones the big money earners of today put up "
MLB should have the
(Willie mays) trophy given at the end of every season to the most outstanding player.
This type of news is always inevitable when it comes to our heroes, but it is no less sadder. It’s not just the end of a legendary life for one man, but a jolting reminder of the relenting passage of Father Time for all baseball fans. I was 3 when Mays retired, but it was comforting knowing he was enjoying the same game I’ve enjoyed. That’s gone now. Thankfully, the magic of technology preserves these memories not just for my generation, but future generations.
My father took me to games at Seals Stadium and later to Candlestick to see the Giants and Mays. He was so much bigger than us ordinary mortals! That basket catch still amazes me.
Willy once said he wore his hat a size too big so it would fly off when he ran out in the field or between bases. He had a flare for the dramatic, for sure. Another of my childhood heroes passes on.
Rest in peace Willie Mays 😢
When they first announced his death on ESPN. The announcer literally said’ “ gone to soon”!!! He was 93 🤦🏻
Jim Murray said jokingly, but not unrealistically that the first time he stepped up to the plate at Candlestick a hotdog wrapper from the left field bleachers blew across home plate. Imagine his numbers if he played in a different park.
Rest well GOAT.....
REST IN PEACE, WILLIE MAYS AKA SAYHEY KID!!!!! 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Greatness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Willie had us imitating the "catch" as kids in the 80s. Even a decade after he retired.
..."passed" at 93 sounds more dignified
Say hey Willie... how boot dat? Saw Wiilie at many games at the Polo Grounds..When asked about that catch he said...how boot dat.
Thank you, Mr. Mays.
Beleive this or not. My great uncle William melton Harris discovered and hired willie mays to play for the giants. My uncle started out in the minors and later played for the Pittsburgh pirates. He later became a scout for the giants and went to New Jersey and told willie mays you’re coming with us. The rest is history. Willie mays mentions my uncle twice in his auto biography. Check it out when you can. ✌️ rest easy willie!
The Braves had an opportunity to get Willie Mays but they didn't think that he was as promising as Henry Aaron, so they took a pass on Mays. If they had taken Mays, they would have had Mays and Aaron on the same team. The Braves also had Eddie Matthews and he was no slouch either.
Legends never die rest in peace!
Rest in peace baseball ⚾️ legend Willie Mays
Rest in peace, Willie Mays. He will always be the Say Hey Kid.
The greatest baseball player of all time Clemente very close and Ruth
Say hey Willie to the greats on the other side.
A tip of the cap🧢to the "Say Hey Kid". May you Rest In Power.
god bless you my kind sir.. we all love you and adore you.. your a legend your a practice to all kids around the world now.. you are now a baseball god.. please go play some ball wherever your going. God bless you Say Heyy Kid!!!!
24 all stars is crazy considering he was out 2 for the military.
Greatest All Around Baseball "LEGEND "
The reason Bobby Thompson was in the batters box to hit the Home Run for the pennant, was because Willie was on deck. They didn't want to have to pitch to him
Mays was just a rookie and terrified of coming to bat in such a pressure packed situation. He prayed hard for Thompson to hit a home run so he would not have to bat. His prayer was answered.
Thank you for a childhood of belief in part Thanks to you 🎉93! How awesome! Rest in Peace
This video is fire!
Praying 🙏 for his family 👪 😢