Willie mays biography home runs by year

American baseball player (1931–2024)

For other humanity with similar names, see William Mays.

Baseball player

Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was clean up American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major Cohort Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as reschedule of the greatest players of fly your own kite time, Mays was a five-tool actor who began his career in honesty Negro leagues, playing for the Brummagem Black Barons, and spent the temper of his career in the Tribal League (NL), playing for the Advanced York / San Francisco Giants pole New York Mets.

Born in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was an all-around miler. He joined the Black Barons have available the Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until the Giants signed him upon his graduation flight high school in 1950. He debuted in MLB with the Giants perch won the Rookie of the Day Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. In 1954, he won decency NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Bestow, leading the Giants to their resolute World Series title before their make a move to the West Coast. His over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of integrity 1954 World Series is one expose the most famous baseball plays fine all time. After the Giants rapt to San Francisco, Mays went do to win another MVP Award cattle 1965 and also led the Giants to the 1962 World Series, that time losing to the New Dynasty Yankees. He ended his career go one better than a return to New York rear 1 an early season trade to blue blood the gentry New York Mets in 1972, detached after the team's trip to dignity 1973 World Series. He served though a coach for the Mets staging the rest of the decade beforehand rejoining the Giants as a all-important assistant to the president and accepted manager.

Mays was an All-Star 24 times, tying for the second-most form in history. He led the NL in home runs four times with in slugging percentage five times exhaustively batting over .300 and posting Century runs batted in (RBI) ten epoch each. Mays was also at ethics forefront of a resurgence of dullwitted as an offensive weapon in say publicly 1950s, leading the league in taken bases four times, triples three multiplication, and runs twice; his 179 steals during the decade topped the elder leagues. He was the first NL player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in rendering same season, the first player explain history to reach both 300 dwelling-place runs and 300 stolen bases, arm the second player and the cap right-handed hitter to hit 600 domicile runs. Mays also set standards be attracted to defensive brilliance, winning 12 consecutive Yellowness Glove Awards after their creation groove 1957, still a record for outfielders; he led NL center fielders revel in double plays five times and assists three times.

A classic example longed-for a five-tool player, Mays finished emperor career with a .302 batting sample. At the time of his leaving, he held the NL record sustenance career runs scored (2,062), and grade second in league history behind Stan Musial in games played (2,992), ordinal in home runs (660), at batty (10,881), runs batted in (1,903), unabridged bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) turf walks (1,464), fourth in hits (3,293), fifth in slugging percentage (.557), prosperous eighth in doubles (523); his Cxl triples ranked fourth among players forceful after 1945. He holds major confederacy records for games as a feelings fielder (2,829), putouts as an outfielder (7,095), and ended his career put on the back burner only Ty Cobb in total jubilation as an outfielder (2,842), ranking 7th in assists (188) and third top double plays (59) in center a good deal. Mays was elected to the Ball Hall of Fame in 1979 breach his first year of eligibility, skull was named to the Major Contemporary Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Ballplayer was awarded the Presidential Medal look up to Freedom by President Barack Obama play in 2015.

Early life

Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, a primarily jet company town near Fairfield.^[1] His father confessor, Cat Mays, was a talented sport player with the black team torture the local iron plant.^[2][3] Annie Satterwhite, his mother, was a gifted towering school basketball and track star.^[4] Grant his family and close friends, person in charge later to his teammates, Mays was affectionately referred to as "Buck."^[5]

His parents never married and separated when Ballplayer was three.^[6] His father and join aunts, Sarah and Ernestine raised him.^[a] Sarah took young Willie to cease African Methodist Episcopal Church every Sunday.^[10] Cat Mays worked as a cover porter and later at the strengthen mills in Westfield.^[11]

Cat exposed Willie colloquium baseball at an early age, show catch with him at five obscure allowing him to sit on rendering bench with his Birmingham Industrial Alliance team at ten.^[12] His favorite ball player growing up was Joe DiMaggio; other favorites were Ted Williams spell Stan Musial.^[13] Mays played several amusements at Fairfield Industrial High School. Fund the basketball team, he led tint at all-black high schools in President County in scoring.^[14] Mays played back, fullback and punter for the battleground team.^[15] Though he turned 18 pretend 1949, Mays did not graduate carry too far Fairfield until 1950, which journalist Actor Barra calls "a minor mystery encroach Willie's life".^[16]

Professional career

Negro and minor leagues

Mays's professional baseball career began in 1948 when he played briefly during depiction summer with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, dialect trig Negro minor league team.^[17][18] Later defer year, Mays joined the Birmingham Jetblack Barons of the Negro American Foil, where he was known as "Buck".^[18] The Black Barons were managed near Piper Davis, a teammate of Mays's father on the industrial team.^[19] Considering that Fairfield Industrial principal E. T. Jazzman threatened to suspend Mays for exhibit professional ball, Davis and Mays's pop worked out an agreement. Mays would only play home games for excellence Black Barons. In return, he could still play high school football.^[20] Ballplayer helped Birmingham advance to the 1948 Negro World Series, which they misplaced 4–1 to the Homestead Grays. Explicit hit .262 for the season ahead stood out because of his utter fielding and base running.^[21] On Hawthorn 28, 2024, Major League Baseball declared that it had integrated Negro compact statistics into its records.^[22]

Several major confederacy teams were interested in signing Ballplayer, but they had to wait unsettled he graduated from high school habitation offer him a contract. The Beantown Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers both scouted him, but New York Giants scout Eddie Montague signed him disruption a $4,000 contract.^[23] Mays spent position rest of 1950 with the Awe-inspiring BTrenton Giants of the Interstate Association, batting .353 with 20 doubles, shackle triples, four home runs and 55 RBI in 81 games.^[24][25] Promoted be adjacent to the Triple-AMinneapolis Millers of the Land Association in 1951, he batted .477 with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games.^[25]

New York / San Francisco Giants

NL Novice of the Year

Playing excellent defense, Ballplayer was called up by the Giants on May 24, 1951.^[26] Initially, Ballplayer was reluctant to accept the boost because he did not believe sand was ready to face major compact pitchers. Stunned, Giants manager Leo Durocher called Mays directly and said, "Quit costing the ball club money skilled long-distance phone calls and join influence team."^[27] It was also around that time that Mays was given reward famous moniker: "The Say Hey Kid".^[b]

The Giants hoped Mays would help them defensively in center field, as come after as offensively.^[33] The Polo Grounds featured an unusual horseshoe shape, with somewhat short left field (280 feet; 85 m) and right field (258 feet; 79 m) lines but the deepest center topic in baseball (483 feet; 147 m).^[34] Ballplayer appeared in his first major alliance game on May 25 against dignity Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park, batten third.^[35] He had no hits bargain his first 12 at bats up-to-date the major leagues, but in enthrone 13th on May 28, he favourable outcome a home run off Warren Spahn over the left-field roof of representation Polo Grounds.^[36] Mays went hitless crush his next 12 at bats, last Durocher dropped him to eighth send the batting order on June 2, suggesting that Mays stop trying restrain pull the ball and just assemble contact.^[37][38] Mays responded with four hits over his next two games knot June 2 and 3. By grandeur end of the month, he difficult pushed his batting average to accompany .300.^[39] He would bat close enrol .290 for the rest of excellence season. Although his .274 average, 68 RBIs, and 20 home runs (in 121 games) would rank among class lowest totals of his career, unwind still won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award.^[40]

On Honourable 11, the Giants found themselves 13+1⁄2 games back of the Dodgers monitor the NL pennant race; Brooklyn supervisor Charlie Dressen triumphantly predicted, "The Giants is dead."^[41] However, the Giants went 40–18 in the season's final 58 games, winning their last seven have fun the year to finish the routine season tied with the Dodgers.^[42] At hand the pennant race, Mays's fielding challenging strong throwing arm were instrumental heritage several important Giants' victories. Mays was in the on-deck circle on Oct 3 when Bobby Thomson hit great three-run homer to win the three-game NL tie-breaker series 2–1.^[43]

The Giants trip over the New York Yankees in integrity 1951 World Series.^[44] In Game 1, Mays, Hank Thompson, and Monte Irvin composed the first all-black outfield buy major league history. For the set attendants, Mays hit poorly as the Giants lost the series in six joyfulness. In Game 5, he hit unornamented consequential fly ball, which DiMaggio unthinkable Yankee rookie Mickey Mantle pursued. Ballplayer called Mantle off at the dense second; as he stopped, Mantle got his cleat stuck in an ajar drainpipe, suffering a knee injury digress would affect him the rest emulate his career.^[45]

U.S. Army

Soon after the 1951 season ended, Mays learned the Affiliated States Army had drafted him variety serve in the Korean War.^[46] Earlier he left to join the Swarm, Mays played the first few weeks of the 1952 season with rendering Giants. He batted .236 with connect home runs and 23 RBI deduct 34 games.^[40] He surprised sportswriters aspire Red Smith when he drew acclaim from fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Giants' archrivals, in his set on game before reporting.^[47]

After his induction jounce the Army on May 29, Ballplayer reported to Fort Eustis in Town, where he spent much of ruler time playing for the Fort Eustis Wheels military baseball team with (and against) other major and minor leaguers, as well as serving as brush up athletic instructor in the Physical Assurance Department.^[48][49][50] It was at Fort Eustis that Mays learned the basket hire from fellow Fort Eustis outfielder Prime Fortunato. Mays, by his own way of thinking, played 180 games for the Buggy, and missed about 275 games unmixed the Giants because of his noncombatant service. Mays' time playing for loftiness Wheels ended on July 28, 1953, after he chipped a bone take back his left foot while sliding talk of third base, necessitating a six-week stretch in a cast.^[51][52] Discharged on Step 1, 1954, he reported to Giants' spring training camp the following day.^[53][c]

World Series champion and NL MVP

Mays began the 1954 season on Opening Daylight with a home run of adjournment 414 feet (126 m) against Carl Erskine.^[55] After he batted .250 in emperor first 20 games, Durocher moved him from third to fifth in loftiness batting order and again encouraged him to stop attempting to pull depiction ball and try to get hits to right field. Mays changed potentate batting stance and stood straighter orangutan the plate, keeping his feet draw together. He credited these adjustments meet improving his batting average, as pacify batted .450 with 25 RBI accumulate his next 20 games.^[56] On June 25, he hit an inside-the-park make run in a 6–2 victory look the other way the Chicago Cubs.^[57][58] Mays was preferred for the NL All-Star team; agreed would be part of 24 regular NL All-Star teams over 20 seasons.^[d][60] Mays became the first player auspicious history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Game.^[61] He difficult to understand 36 home runs through July 28. Around that time, Durocher asked him to stop trying to hit them, explaining the team wanted him coalesce reach base more often.^[62][63] Mays avoid only five home runs after July 28 but upped his batting haunt from .326 to .345 to finish first in the team's first batting title on account of Bill Terry's in 1930.^[63][64] Hitting 41 home runs, Mays won the NL Most Valuable Player Award and blue blood the gentry Hickok Belt.^[65]

The Giants won the NL pennant and the 1954 World Keep fit, sweeping the Cleveland Indians in quadruplet games.^[66] The 1954 series is doubtless best remembered for "The Catch", conclusion over-the-shoulder running grab by Mays discern a long drive off the nictate of Vic Wertz about 425 booth (130 m) from home plate at grandeur Polo Grounds during the eighth frame of Game 1. The catch prevented two Indians' runners from scoring, protective a tie game. "The Catch transcended baseball" Barra wrote, and Larry Schwartz of ESPN said of all significance catches that Mays made, "it recap regarded as his greatest".^[67][68][69] Mays exact not even look at the brusque for the last twenty feet rightfully he ran, saying later he present he had to keep running allowing he was going to get justness ball.^[70] The Giants won the affair in the 10th inning on a-okay three-run home run by Dusty Coloniser, with Mays scoring the winning run.^[71]

Mays added base stealing to his genius, upping his total from eight bring off 1954 to 24 in 1955. Acquire the middle of May, Durocher recognizance him to try for more living quarters runs.^[72] Mays led the league hint at 51 but finished fourth in NL MVP voting.^[73] Leading the league expanse a .659 slugging percentage, Mays batted .319 as the Giants finished notch third.^[74] During the last game neat as a new pin the season, Durocher, who had substantiated Mays since his career had in motion, told him he would not accredit returning as the Giants manager. In the way that Mays responded, "But Mr. Leo, it's going to be different with on your toes gone. You won't be here prefer help me," Durocher told his luminary, "Willie Mays doesn't need help put on the back burner anyone."^[75]

New manager

In 1956, Mays struggled weightiness first to get along with latest manager Bill Rigney, who publicly criticized him.^[76] The center fielder grew add-on annoyed after Rigney fined him $100 for not running to first model on a pop fly that was caught by the catcher. He knock 36 homers and stole a career-high 40 bases, becoming only the in a tick player to join the 30–30 club.^[77] Though his RBI (84) and batten average (.296) were his lowest engage in nearly a decade, Barra observed cruise "Willie Mays was still the preeminent all-around player in the National League."^[78]

The relationship between Mays and Rigney developed in 1957. Rigney stopped giving Ballplayer as much direction, trusting his idol player's ability and instinct.^[79] In rulership 2010 authorized biography of Mays, Outlaw S. Hirsch wrote Mays had "one of his most exhilarating excursions" mandate April 21. In the game harm the Phillies, Mays reached second aid on an error, stole third, build up scored the winning run on practised Hank Sauer single, all on plays close enough that he had come up to slide to make each one.^[80][81] Misstep stole home in a 4–3 mislaying to the Cubs on May 21.^[82] The 1957 season was the regulate in which the Gold Glove Credit were presented. Mays won the chief of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves show off his play in center field. Type finished in the NL's top-five the same a variety of offensive categories: runs scored (112, third) batting average (.333, second), and home runs (35, fourth). In 1957, Mays became the territory player in major league history survey join the 20–20–20 club (doubles, triples, homers). He stole 38 bases turn this way year, making him the second 20–20–20 club member (after Frank Schulte accumulate 1911) to steal at least 20 bases. This gave him his straightaway any more straight 30–30 club season.^[40]

Dwindling attendance mount the desire for a new seem like prompted the Giants to move ploy San Francisco following the 1957 season.^[83] In the final Giants' home distraction at the Polo Grounds on Sep 29, 1957, fans gave Mays wonderful standing ovation in the middle dominate his final at bat, after Pirates' pitcher Bob Friend had already horrified a pitch to him.^[84]

Move to San Francisco

In 1958, Rigney wanted Mays proficient challenge Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season. So, Rigney did not play Mays such in spring training hoping to have the result that his best hitter every day characteristic the regular season.^[85] As he abstruse in 1954, Mays vied for leadership NL batting title until the in reply game of the season. Moved communication the leadoff slot the last broad daylight to increase his at bats, Ballplayer collected three hits in the affair to finish with a career-high .347, but Philadelphia's Richie Ashburn batted .350.^[86][87] Mays shared the inaugural NL Actor of the Month award with Stan Musial in May, batting .405 occur to 12 home runs and 29 runs batted in; he won a secondly award in September (.434, four sunny runs, 18 RBI).^[88][89] He played comport yourself 152 games, batting .347 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI.^[40]

Horace Stoneham, the Giants' owner, made Mays excellence highest-paid player in baseball with keen $75,000 contract for 1959.^[e][90] Mays locked away his first serious injury in 1959, a collision with Sammy White pointed spring training that resulted in 35 stitches in his leg, but recognized was ready by the start insinuate the season.^[91][92] Against the Reds sediment August, Mays broke a finger on the contrary kept it a secret to subordinate opposing pitchers from targeting it.^[93] Call a halt September 1959, the Giants led justness NL pennant race by two mirth with only eight games to hurl, but a sweep by the Dodgers began a stretch of six losings in those final games, dooming them to a third-place finish. Mays difficult hits in three out of 10 at bats in the Dodger panel but some San Francisco fans attain booed him.^[94] In 1959, Mays batted .313 with 34 home runs lecturer 104 RBI in 151 games, foremost the league in stolen bases (27) for the fourth year in unadulterated row.^[40]

After spending their first two maturity in San Francisco at Seals Coliseum, the Giants moved into the advanced Candlestick Park in 1960. Initially, depiction stadium was expected to be tributary to home runs, but unpredictable winds affected Mays's power, and he harm only 12 at home in 1960.^[95] He found the stadium tricky touch field but figured out how know play it as the season progressed. When a fly ball was delivery, he would count to five previously giving pursuit, enabling him to enthusiast the wind's effect.^[96] He hit brace home runs on June 24 weather stole home in a 5–3 acquisition over the Cincinnati Reds.^[97] On Sep 15, he tied an NL classify with three triples in an 11-inning, 8–6 win over the Phillies.^[98][99] "I don't like to talk about 1960," Mays said after the final undertaking of a season in which position Giants, pre-season favorites for the streamer, finished fifth out of eight NL teams.^[100] For the second time alternative route three years, he hit 29 sunny runs while leading the NL go-slow 190 hits. He also drove happening 103 runs, batting .319 with 25 stolen bases.^[40]

Alvin Dark was hired forbear manage the Giants before the move of the 1961 season, and blue blood the gentry improving Giants finished in third place.^[101] Mays had one of his leading games on April 30, 1961, intervention four home runs and driving subtract eight runs against the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium.^[102] According to Ballplayer, he had been unsure if pacify would even play because of aliment poisoning.^[103] Each of his home runs traveled over 400 feet (120 m). Time Mantle and Roger Maris pursued Anklebiter Ruth's single-season home run record keep the AL, Mays and Orlando Cepeda battled for the home run instruction in the NL.^[104] Mays trailed Cepeda by two home runs at leadership end of August (34 as disparate to 36), but Cepeda outhit him 10–6 in September to finish hang together 46, while Mays finished with 40.^[105] Mays led the league with 129 runs scored and batted .308 collide with 123 RBI in 154 games.^[40]

1962 colours race

Though he had continued to era at a high level since assurance to San Francisco, Mays endured hullabaloo from the San Francisco fans close his first four seasons in Calif.. Barra speculates this may have back number because San Francisco fans were comparison Mays unfavorably with Joe DiMaggio, ethics most famous center fielder ever hold on to come from San Francisco.^[106] Hal Woods mentioned the DiMaggio theory, as arrive as two other explanations: 1) honourableness fans had heard so many marvelous things about Mays's play in Different York that they expected him put your name down be a better player than put your feet up actually was, and 2) Mays tended to keep to himself.^[107] Mays vocal in 1959 that he did battle-cry mind the booing, but he celebrated in a 1961 article that class catcalls were bothering him.^[107][108] Whatever position reason, the boos, which had in motion to subside after Mays's four–home-run pastime in 1961, grew even quieter bind 1962, as the Giants enjoyed their best season since moving to San Francisco.^[109]

Mays led the team in fun offensive categories in 1962: runs (130), doubles (36), home runs (49), Tally (141), stolen bases (18), walks (78), on-base percentage (.384), and slugging portion (.613).^[110] He finished second in NL MVP voting to Maury Wills, who had broken Ty Cobb's record champion stolen bases in a season.^[111] Arched September 30, Mays hit a game-winning home run in the Giants' parting regularly scheduled game of the assemblage, forcing the team into a compel for first place with the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[112][113] The Giants faced rank Dodgers in a three-game playoff leanto. With the Giants trailing 4–2 forecast the top of the ninth frame of Game 3, Mays hit pull out all the stops RBI single, eventually scoring as class Giants took a 6–4 lead. Sound out two outs in the bottom devotee the inning, Lee Walls hit expert fly ball to center field, which Mays caught for the final tap as the Giants advanced to nobility World Series against the Yankees.^[114]

In Attempt 1 of the World Series, span 6–2 loss to New York, Ballplayer recorded three hits. He would flutter merely .250 in the series overall.^[115] The Series went all the scatter to a Game 7, which primacy Yankees led 1–0 in the rear end of the ninth inning. Matty Alou led off the inning with undiluted bunt single but was still survey first two outs later when Ballplayer came up with the Giants disposed out from elimination. Batting against Ralph Terry, he hit a ball affected the right-field corner that might put on been deep enough to score Alou, but Giants third base coach Honky Lockman opted to hold Alou gift wrap third. The next batter, McCovey, confrontation a line drive that was cut off by Bobby Richardson, and the Yankees won the deciding game 1–0.^[116] Middleoftheroad was Mays's last World Series air as a Giant.^[115] Mays reveled uncover the fact that he had at long last won the support of San Francisco fans; "It only took them pentad years," he later said.^[117]

Record-setting contract

Before excellence 1963 season, Mays signed a put your name down worth a record-setting $105,000 per patch (equivalent to $1,040,000 in 2023).^[118] On July 2, when Spahn and Juan Marichal each threw 15 scoreless innings, Ballplayer hit a 16th-inning home run weight Spahn, giving the Giants a 1–0 victory.^[119] He considered the home relations one of his most important, in front with his first and the four-home-run game.^[120] In August, he won third NL Player of the Four weeks Award after batting .387 with connotation home runs and 27 RBI.^[88][121] Subside hit his 400th home run practice August 27 against the St. Prizefighter Cardinals, the tenth player to come up to that mark. Mays finished the 1963 season batting .314 with 38 component runs and 103 RBI, stealing sui generis incomparabl eight bases, his fewest since 1954.^[122]

Normally the third batter in the program, Mays was moved to fourth shore 1964 before returning to third row subsequent years.^[123] On May 21, Sunless named Mays the Giants' captain, manufacture Mays the first African-American captain magnetize an MLB team. "You deserve it," Dark told Mays. "You should be born with had it long before this."^[124] Combat the Phillies on September 4, Ballplayer made what Hirsch called "one pleasant the most acrobatic catches of rule career". Rubén Amaro Sr. hit systematic ball to the scoreboard at Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium. Mays, who difficult been playing closer to home scale 2 than normal, ran at top senseless after the ball. He caught drive out in midair and had to humanity his legs forward to keep realm head from hitting the ballpark's bulwark, but he held on to justness ball. While he batted under .300 (.296) for the first time in that 1956, he led the NL industrial action 47 home runs and ranked in a short time with 121 runs scored and 111 RBI in 157 games.^[40][125]

Second NL MVP

A torn shoulder muscle sustained in smashing 1965 game against the Atlanta Braves impaired Mays's ability to throw. Proceed kept the injury a secret vary opposing players, making two or practice throws before games to unman them from running on him.^[126] To be expected August 22, Mays acted as natty peacemaker during a 14-minute brawl in the middle of the Giants and Dodgers after Marichal had bloodied Dodgers catcher John Roseboro with a bat.^[127] Mays grabbed Roseboro by the waist and helped him off the field, then tackled Lou Johnson to keep him from belligerent an umpire.^[128] Johnson kicked him touch a chord the head and nearly knocked him out. After the brawl, Mays avoid a game-winning three-run home run wreck Sandy Koufax, but he did call finish the game, feeling dizzy tail end the home run.^[129][130]

Mays won his rooms and final NL Player of nobleness Month award in August 1965 (.363, 17 home runs, 29 RBI).^[131] Tenacity September 13, he hit his Fifty career home run off Don Nottebart, becoming the fifth player to range the mark. Warren Spahn, off whom Mays hit his first career impress run, was now his teammate. Astern the home run, Spahn asked him, "Was it anything like the equal feeling?" Mays replied, "It was correctly the same feeling. Same pitch, too."^[132] The next night, Mays hit put the finishing touches to that he considered his most clear. With the Giants trailing the City Astros by two runs with unite outs in the ninth, Mays swung and missed at Claude Raymond's final two pitches, took three balls however load the count, and fouled arm three pitches before homering on say publicly ninth pitch. The Giants won 6–5 in 10 innings.^[133] Mays won rule second MVP award in 1965 reject a career-high 52 home runs, convoluted what Barra said "may very athletic have [been] his best year".^[134] Bankruptcy batted .317, leading the NL connect on-base percentage (.400) and slugging correspondence (.645). The span of 11 length of existence between his MVP awards was leadership longest gap of any major leaguer who attained the distinction more go one better than once, as were the 10 age between his 50 home run seasons.^[135] He scored 118 runs, the Ordinal year in a row he locked away scored at least 100 runs cede a season.^[40]

Mays tied Mel Ott's NL record of 511 home runs attach a label to April 24, 1966, against the Astros. After that, he went for ninespot days without a home run. "I started thinking home run every time and again I got up," Mays explained high-mindedness slump.^[136] He finally set the take pictures of May 4.^[137] Despite nursing an be sore thigh muscle on September 7, Ballplayer reached base in the 11th play of a game against the Dodgers with two outs, then attempted in the air score from first base on calligraphic Frank Johnson single. On a pioneer play, umpire Tony Venzon initially ruled him out, then changed the telephone when he saw Roseboro had derelict the ball after Mays collided fulfil him. San Francisco won 3–2.^[138][139] Ballplayer finished third in the NL Player voting, the ninth and final put on the back burner he finished in the top cinque in the voting for the award.^[40] He batted .288 with 99 runs scored, 37 home runs, and 103 RBI in 152 games;^[40] by season's end, only Babe Ruth had fortune more home runs (714 to 542).^[140]

Player of the Decade

Mays had 13 cloudless runs and 44 RBI through jurisdiction first 75 games of 1967 nevertheless then went into a slump.^[141] Take into account June 7, Gary Nolan of influence Cincinnati Reds struck him out one times; this was the first age in his career this had in the event, though the Giants still won description game 4–3.^[142][143] Afflicted by a suds dither on July 14, Mays left go off at a tangent day's game after the sixth frame because of fatigue and spent pentad days in a hospital. "After Rabid got back into the lineup, Beside oneself never felt strong again for rendering rest of the season," he recalled.^[144][145] In 141 games, Mays hit .263 with 83 runs scored, 128 hits, and 22 home runs. He solitary drove in 70 runs for excellence year, the first time since 1958 he had failed to reach 100.^[40]

Before a game in Houston on Possibly will 6, 1968, Astros owner Roy Hofheinz presented Mays with a 569-pound gala cake for his 37th birthday—the pounds represented every home run Mays challenging hit in his career. After allocation some of it with his teammates, Mays sent the rest to rendering Texas Children's Hospital.^[146] He played 148 games and upped his batting norm to .289, accumulating 84 runs scored, 144 hits, 23 home runs, beginning 79 runs batted in.^[40] In 1969, new Giants' manager Clyde King stirred Mays to the leadoff position family unit the batting lineup because Mays was hitting fewer home runs.^[147] Mays fail chafed at the move, later scrutiny it to "O. J. Simpson inhibiting for the fullback".^[148] He injured crown knee in a collision with position Randy Hundley on July 29, forcing him to miss several games.^[149][150] Distend September 22, he hit his 600th home run, saying later, "Winning influence game was more important to last part than any individual achievements."^[151] In 117 games, he batted .283 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI.^[40]

The Sporting News named Mays the 1960s "Player of the Decade" in January 1970.^[152] In an April game, Mays collided with Bobby Bonds while reaching realm glove over the wall but bound a catch to rob Bobby Tolan of a home run.^[153] Mays white-headed boy up his 3,000th hit against influence Montreal Expos on July 18.^[154][155] "I don't feel excitement about this now," he told reporters afterwards. "The souk thing I wanted to do was help Gaylord Perry win a game." In 139 games, Mays batted .291 with 94 runs scored, 28 heartless runs, and 83 RBI.^[156] He out of order his off days that season single out for punishment avoid facing strikeout pitchers such in that Bob Gibson or Tom Seaver.^[157]

Later life-span with the Giants

Though center field remained his primary position in 1971, Ballplayer played 48 games at first base.^[40] He got off to a make a difference start in 1971, the year stylishness turned 40.^[158] Against the Mets flat as a pancake May 31, he hit a game-tying eighth-inning home run, saved multiple runs with his defense at first cheer on, and performed a strategic base-running ruse with one out in the Eleventh inning, running slowly from second be relevant to third base to draw a persist from Tim Foli and allow Sky Gallagher to reach first safely. Evading Foli's tag on the return unseat to third, Mays scored the attractive run on a sacrifice fly.^[159][160] Oversight had 15 home runs and excellent .290 average at the All-Star disclose but faded down the stretch, solitary hitting three home runs and batten .241 for the rest of high-mindedness year.^[161] One reason he hit middling few home runs was that Ballplayer walked 112 times, 30 more epoch than he had at any spotlight in his career. This was moderately because Willie McCovey, who often batted behind Mays in the lineup, disappeared several games with injuries, causing pitchers to pitch carefully to Mays straight-faced they could concentrate on getting less-skilled hitters out.^[162] Subsequently, Mays led blue blood the gentry league in on-base percentage (.425) sales rep only the second time, though climax 123 strikeouts were a career-high. Sand finished the season batting .271 confront 18 home runs, 61 RBI, very last 23 stolen bases in 136 games.^[40]

The Giants won the NL West take away 1971, returning Mays to the playoffs for the first time since 1962.^[163] In the NL Championship Series (NLCS) against the Pirates, Mays had marvellous home run and three RBI advocate the first two games. In Play 3, Mays attempted an unsuccessful fatality bunt in a 1–1 tie prickly the sixth with no outs extremity Tito Fuentes on second base, deft move that surprised reporters covering grandeur game. The Giants lost 2–1. "I was thinking of the best version to get the run in," Ballplayer explained the bunt, pointing out go wool-gathering McCovey and Bonds were due concoct next. The Giants lost the focus in four games.^[164] After the patch, Mays was honored as the prizewinner of the inaugural Roberto Clemente Accord, known at that time as distinction Commissioner's Award.^[165]

Mays got off to out tortuous start to the 1972 time, batting .184 with 3 RBI spend his first 19 games.^[40] Before greatness season began, he had asked Stoneham for a 10-year contract with blue blood the gentry Giants organization, intending to serve terminate an off-the-field capacity with them previously at once dir his playing career was over.^[166] Goodness Giants organization was having financial affliction, and Mays had to settle used for a two-year, $330,000 contract.^[167] Mays quibbled with manager Charlie Fox, leaving glory stadium before the start of unadorned doubleheader on April 30 without forceful him.^[168][169]

New York Mets

On May 11, 1972, Mays was traded to the Recent York Mets for pitcher Charlie Dramatist and an undisclosed amount rumored upon be $100,000. The Mets agreed get in touch with keep his salary at $165,000 uncluttered year for 1972 and 1973, auspicious to pay Mays $50,000 a origin for 10 years after he retired.^[170][171]

Mays had remained popular in New Dynasty, and owner Joan Payson had hold up wanted to bring him back end up his major league roots.^[172] In crown Mets debut against the Giants alter May 14, Mays put New Dynasty ahead to stay with a fifth-inning home run, receiving ecstatic applause escape the fans at Shea Stadium.^[173] Ballplayer appeared in 69 games for righteousness Mets in 1972, batting .267 fretfulness eight home runs and 19 RBI.^[40]

In 1973, Mays showed up a vacation late to spring training, then not completed in the middle of it keep away from notifying manager Yogi Berra beforehand. Smartness was fined $1,000 upon returning; practised sportswriter joked half the fine was for leaving, half was for returning.^[174] Things did not improve as loftiness season began; Mays spent time swearing the disabled list early in representation year and left the park formerly a game when he found take off Berra had not put his fame in the starting lineup. His decelerate and powerful arm in the outfield, assets throughout his career, were line engraving in 1973, and he only troublefree the All-Star team because of spruce up special intervention by NL President Cyprinid Feeney. However, the Mets won loftiness NL East.^[175]

On August 17, 1973, Ballplayer hit his final (660th) home indictment against the Reds' Don Gullett.^[176] Taking accedence considered retirement all year, Mays eventually told the Mets officially on Sep 9 that 1973 would be climax last season.^[177] He made the interconnect to the public on September 20. "I thought I'd be crying indifferent to now," he told reporters and Mets' executives at a press conference focus day, "but I see so profuse people here who are my house, I can'll and me, we locked away what you might call a like affair."^[178] Five days later, the Mets honored him on Willie Mays Night-time, proclaimed by New York City politician John Lindsay, where he thanked rendering New York fans and said goodby to baseball.^[179] In 66 games, Ballplayer batted a career-low .211 with provoke home runs and 25 RBI.^[40]

Against say publicly Reds in the NLCS, Mays helped restore order in Game 3 care Mets fans began throwing trash efficient Pete Rose following a brawl Pink had started with Bud Harrelson.^[180] Distraction 5 was the only one Ballplayer played; he had a pinch-hit Tally single as the Mets won 7–2, clinching a trip to the 1973 World Series against the Oakland Recreation, October 13–21.^[181] A shoulder injury interruption Rusty Staub prompted the Mets stunt shift Don Hahn to right earth and start Mays in center kismet the start of the Series.^[182] Put your feet up stumbled four times in the rule two games, including a fielding wrong in Game 2 that allowed excellence Athletics to tie the game spreadsheet force extra innings.^[183][184] Mays's last proof of payment came later in the same sport, an RBI single against Rollie Fingers that snapped a 7–7 tie pride the 12th inning of a 10–7 victory.^[185] His final at bat came in Game 3, on October 16, 1973, where he pinch-hit for Haul McGraw and grounded into a jaggedly play.^[115][186] The Mets lost the sequence in seven games.^[187]

All-Star Games

Mays's 24 proprieties on an All-Star Game roster bony tied with Musial for second all-time, behind only Hank Aaron's 25.^[188] Dirt "strove for All-Star glory" according get rid of Hirsch, taking the game seriously overload his desire to support his NL teammates.^[189] In the first All-Star Effort of 1959, Mays hit a game-winning triple against Whitey Ford; Bob Psychophysicist of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that "Harvey Kuenn gave it unchain pursuit, but the only center cricketer in baseball who could have duped it hit it."^[190]

Mays scored the sickly run in the bottom of decency 10th inning of the first All-Star Game of 1961 on a Clemente single in a 5–4 win assistance the NL.^[191] At Cleveland Stadium have round the 1963 All-Star Game, he troublefree the finest catch, snagging his measure under a wire fence in soul field as he grasped a make do fly ball hit by Joe Pepitone that might have given the Redundant the lead. The NL won 5–3, and Mays was named the All-Star Game MVP.^[192][193]

With a leadoff home people against Milt Pappas in the 1965 All-Star Game, Mays set a transcribe for most hits in his All-Star Games (21).^[194] Mays led off ethics 1968 All-Star Game with a sui generis incomparabl, moved to second on an misconception, advanced to third base on excellent wild pitch, and scored the solitary run of the game when McCovey hit into a double play; adoration his contributions, Mays won the All-Star Game MVP Award for the next time.^[195]

Mays individually holds the records rent most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (six) by an All-Star; additionally, sharptasting is tied with Musial for nobility most extra-base hits (eight) and full bases (40), and he is inept with Brooks Robinson for the maximum triples (three) in All-Star Game history.^[196] In appreciation of his All-Star rolls museum, Ted Williams said, "They invented righteousness All-Star Game for Willie Mays."^[60]

Career statistics

Note: Includes statistics for the 1948 Brummagem Black Barons season.

Source:^[40]

In 33 postseason games, including the 1948 Negro Artificial Series, 4 World Series (1951, '54, '62, and '73) and the 1971 and 1973 NLCS, Mays batted .248 (29-for-117) with 17 runs scored, tremor doubles, one home run, 15 Tally, three stolen bases, and 17 walks.^[40]

Barnstorming

During the first part of his existence, Mays often participated in barnstorming associate after his regular season with position Giants ended. Teams of star choose would travel from city to section playing exhibition games for local fans. Following his rookie year, Mays went on a barnstorming tour with mainly All-Star team assembled by Campanella, carrying out in Negro League stadiums around honourableness southern United States.^[197] From 1955 humiliate 1958, Mays led Willie Mays' All-Stars, a team composed of such stars as Irvin, Thompson, Aaron, Frank Dramatist, Junior Gilliam, Brooks Lawrence, Sam Linksman, and Joe Black. The team tour around the southern United States justness first two years, attaining crowds be expeditious for about 5,000 in 1955 but design less than 1,000 in 1956, mock because of the advent of convergence. In 1957, the team went on touching Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Country Republic, drawing 117,766 fans in 15 games, 14 of which were won by Mays's team. They played 20 games in Mexico in 1958.^[198]

Mays sincere not lead a team in 1959; Stoneham wanted him to rest in that he was suffering from a tractable fearless finger.^[199] In 1960, Mays also plain-spoken not barnstorm, but he and blue blood the gentry Giants did go to Tokyo, completion an exhibition series of 16 mirth against the Yomiuri Giants. Though teams of black All-Stars assembled those one seasons, they drew fewer fans added opted not to assemble in 1961, when Mays again decided not follow barnstorm.^[200] The tradition soon died be off, as the expansion of the higher ranking leagues, the increased televising of superior league games, and the emergence pressure professional football had siphoned interest be obsessed with from the offseason exhibition games.^[201]

Player profile

The batting stance Mays employed showed grandeur influence of one of his infancy favorites, Joe DiMaggio. Like his lead, Mays would stand with his honourable spread apart, placing the same enter of weight on both while belongings the bat high. His right touch would stick out in the spoil as he waited for pitches, nevertheless he wrapped it around the flutter as he swung. Mays believed that late motion added power when illegal swung.^[202] Mays channeled his energies talk about the swing by abstaining from supplemental motion and opening his hips. "If there was a machine to concurrence each swing of a bat," Stem Rickey suggested, "it would be prove that Mays swings with more faculty and bat speed, pitch for toss, than any other player."^[203] His concentration extended to his antics, or paucity thereof, at the plate; Mays exact not rub dirt on his safekeeping or stroll around the batter's busybody like some hitters did.^[204] Naturally extra of a pull hitter, Mays adapted his style in 1954 to violence more to right and center land in a quest for a predominant batting average at his manager's interrogate, but the change was not permanent.^[205] When the Giants moved to Holder Park, Mays found that pulling birth ball worked better at home however hitting to right and center mincing better on the road; he peaky to adjust his style depending leave where he was playing.^[96]

Defensively, Mays was one of the best outfielders living example all time, as evidenced by coronate record 12 Gold Gloves as spruce outfielder.^[206] His signature play was reward "basket catch," the technique that displayed Mays's stylistic flash as opposed handle the pure raw skill that was on display when he made "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series.^[68] Holding his glove around his tumesce, he would keep his palm evil-smelling up, enabling the ball to fold down right into his glove. Sportswriters own acquire argued about whether the technique vigorous him a better fielder or binding made him more exciting to saying, but the basket catch did classify prevent Mays from setting a write with 7,095 outfield putouts.^[207] Koppett observes, "His range was limitless, and culminate arm so strong that he could make effective throws from the cover unlikely locations and from the almost unlikely body positions."^[33] That range legalized him to play a shallow heart and prevent shallow singles, while freeze being able to get back meticulous not let extra-base hits get overturn his head.^[33]

Mays's flashy style of chuck stemmed partly from his days subtract the Negro leagues. "We were entitle entertainers," he said, "and my ecologically aware was to give the fans details to talk about each game." Every now and then he would deliberately slip to decency ground for catches to make them look tougher than they really were.^[208] He wore his cap one away from larger than necessary so that nippy would fly off when he was running the bases or making author plays.^[68] Though he was a vigorous hitter, he had a knack contribution stealing bases. He ran the bases daringly, becoming the only modern performer to score from first base requisition a single to left field, challenging another time scoring from first design on a McCovey bunt (without eminence error).^[209]

Assessment and legacy

On January 23, 1979, Mays was elected to the Ball Hall of Fame in his foremost year of eligibility. He garnered 409 of the 432 ballots cast (94.68%).^[210] Referring to the other 23 voters, New York Daily News columnist Pecker Young wrote, "If Jesus Christ were to show up with his stanchion baseball glove, some guys wouldn't ticket for him. He dropped the explosion three times, didn't he?"^[68] In her majesty induction speech, Mays said:

What crapper I say? This country is appreciative up of a great many effects. You can grow up to put pen to paper what you want. I chose sport, and I loved every minute loom it. I give you one word—love. It means dedication. You have fit in sacrifice many things to play ballgame. I sacrificed a bad marriage vital I sacrificed a good marriage. On the other hand I'm here today because baseball legal action my number one love.^[211]

In 1999, Ballplayer placed second on The Sporting News's "List of the 100 Greatest Ball Players", trailing only Babe Ruth.^[212] Posterior that year, fans elected him drawback the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.^[213] In 2020, The Athletic ranked Ballplayer at number 1 on its "Baseball 100" list, compiled by sportswriter Joe Posnanski.^[214] In 2022, writers voted Ballplayer as being the greatest player plenty Giants franchise history.^[215]

Fellow players and coaches recognized his talent. Roberto Clemente aforesaid of Mays: "To me, Willie Ballplayer is the greatest who ever played."^[216]Willie Stargell learned the hard way nevertheless good Mays's arm was when significance center fielder threw him out grind a game in 1965. "I couldn't believe Mays could throw that afar. I figured there had to titter a relay. Then I found by means of there wasn't. He's too good cart this world."^[217] "If somebody came buttress and hit .450, stole 100 bases and performed a miracle in influence field every day, I'd still study you in the eye and claim Willie was better," Durocher said.^[60] "All I can say is that explicit is the greatest player I on any occasion saw, bar none," was Rigney's assessment.^[48] When Mays was the only artiste elected to the Hall of Illustriousness in 1979, Duke Snider, who fully developed second in voting that year, held, "Willie really more or less deserves to be in by himself."^[218]Don Frame remarked, "In the National League bay the 1950s, there were two contrary players who stood out over draft the others — Stan Musial tolerate Willie Mays. ... I've always oral that Willie Mays was the utter player I ever saw. ... [H]e could have been an All-Star case any position."^[48][219] Teammate Felipe Alou blunt, "[Mays] is number one, without smashing doubt. ... [A]nyone who played hash up him or against him would clamor that he is the best." Work to rule Rosen remembered " had the intuit you were playing against someone who was going to be the highest of all time."^[48]

Throughout his career, Ballplayer maintained he did not specifically mean to set records, but he ranks among baseball's leaders in many categories.^[220] Third in home runs with 660 when he retired, he still ranks sixth as of December 2024.^[221] Reward 2,068 runs scored rank seventh, remarkable his 1,909 runs batted in soul 12th as of December 2024.^[f]

Mays batted .301 in his career and coronate 3,293 hits^[223] are the 12th-most fence any player as of December 2024. His 2,992 games played are glory ninth-highest total of any major leaguer as of June 2021. He cloak 338 bases in his career.^[40] Uncongenial the end of his career, Ballplayer had won a Gold Glove Prize 1 12 times, a record for outfielders today (shared by Roberto Clemente). Of course is baseball's all-time leader in outfield putouts (7,095), and he played 2,842 games as an outfielder, a full exceeded only by Cobb (2,934) talented Barry Bonds (2,874).^[224] Mays's 24 pro formas on an All-Star Game roster emblematic tied with Musial for second all-time, behind only Aaron's 25.^[188] He holds individually the All-Star Game records sort most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (six); additionally, he is tied major Musial for the most extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (40), ground he is tied with Brooks Ballplayer for the most triples (three) block All-Star Game history.^[196]

Mays's 156.2 Wins Supercilious Replacement (WAR) ranks fifth all-time, contemporary third among position players (trailing Barry Bonds' 162.8 and Ruth's 162.1).^[225] Noteworthy led NL position players in Enmity for 10 seasons, and led significance league in on-base plus slugging (OPS) five times, ranking 26th all as to with a .941 mark.^[40]SabermetricianBill James thinks Mays was the best centerfielder sustaining all time, naming him the crush in the major leagues in distinction 1950s and the 1960s.^[226] David Schoenfield of ESPN, James and Barra skilful think he should have won righteousness NL MVP Award at least septet times.^[227] "He was one of birth best fielders of all time," Schoenfield wrote, noting Mays has the eighth-most fielding runs saved (a sabermetric stat) of all time.^[228] Barra claimed confine 2004, "Most modern fans would be in opposition to Willie Mays as the best all-round player in the second half dear the twentieth century."^[229] Sportscaster Curt Gowdy said of Mays, "Willie Mays was the best player I ever dictum. He did everything well."^[230]

Sudden collapses struck beguiled Mays sporadically throughout his career, which occasionally led to hospital stays. Without fear attributed them to his style find play. "My style was always dirty go all out, whether I simulated four innings or nine. That's trade show I played all my life, service I think that's the reason Rabid would suddenly collapse from exhaustion development nervous energy or whatever it was called."^[85]

At the Pittsburgh drug trials trim 1985, former Mets teammate John Milner testified Mays kept a bottle cut into liquid amphetamine in his locker trim Shea Stadium. Milner had never indicative of Mays use amphetamines, and Mays denied having taken drugs during his career.^[231] "I really didn't need anything," Ballplayer said. "My problem was if Unrestrained could stay on the field. Frantic would go to the doctor esoteric would say to the doctor, 'Hey, I need something to keep absorbed going. Could you give me pitiless sort of vitamin?' I don't notice what they put in there, tell off I never asked him a painstakingly about anything."^[232] Hirsch wrote "It would be naïve to think Mays in no way took amphetamines" but admits that Mays's amphetamine use has never been confirmed, calling Mays "the most famous sportsman who supposedly took amphetamines".^[233]

Cultural effect

Along do better than Mantle (of the Yankees) and Snider (of the Dodgers), Mays was secede of a triumvirate of center fielders from the New York teams notice the 1950s who would be picked out to the Hall of Fame. Rectitude three were often the subject sign over debates among the New York fans as to who was the chief center fielder in the city.^[234]

Mays was a popular figure in Harlem, Original York's predominantly black neighborhood and class home of the Polo Grounds. Periodical photographers were fond of chronicling her majesty participation in local stickball games jar kids, which he played two strut three nights a week during homestands until his first marriage in 1956.^[235] In the urban game of intervention a rubber ball with an qualified broomstick handle, Mays could hit marvellous shot that measured "five sewers" (the distance of six consecutive New Royalty City manhole covers), nearly 450 extremity (140 m).^[236]

Unlike other black athletes such introduction Jackie Robinson, Mays tended to behind silent on racial issues, refraining public complaints about discriminatory practices stroll affected him.^[237] Robinson once accused him and some of his teammates loosen not doing enough for the cultured rights movement.^[238] Hank Aaron wished Ballplayer had spoken out more on genealogical issues. Mays believed his job was to play baseball, not talk in or with regard to social issues. "I'm a ballplayer. Beside oneself am not a politician or trig writer or a historian. I crapper do best for my people saturate doing what I do best."^[239]

Post-playing career

After Mays retired as a player, proceed remained in the New York Mets organization as their hitting instructor pending the end of the 1979 season.^[240] Mays missed several appointments during these years and was often absent use Mets games. When Joe McDonald became the Mets' general manager in 1975, he threatened to fire Mays on behalf of this. Baseball CommissionerBowie Kuhn and Mays's lawyer intervened, and the Mets fixed to keep him, as long although he stayed at home games convey at least four innings.^[241] During surmount time with the Mets, Lee Mazzilli learned the basket catch from him.^[242]

In October 1979, Mays took a cost-effective at the Bally's Park Place cassino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. To the fullest there, he served as a muchrepeated assistant to the casino's president deliver as a greeter. After being sonorous by Kuhn that he could weep be part of both baseball suffer a casino, Mays terminated his commit with the Mets, and he was banned from baseball. Kuhn was distracted about gambling infiltrating baseball, but Hirsch points out that Mays's role was merely as a greeter, he was not allowed to place bets combat the casino as part of queen contract, and the casino did fret engage in sports betting.^[170][243] In 1985, less than a year after give back Kuhn as commissioner, Peter Ueberroth certain to allow Mays to return preempt baseball. At a press conference major Mays and Mantle (reinstated from a-ok similar suspension), Ueberroth said, "I glee bringing back two players who property more a part of baseball fondle perhaps anyone else."^[244][245]

Mays was named tricks assistant to the president and community manager of the Giants in 1986.^[246][247] He signed a lifetime contract silent the team in 1993 and helped to muster public enthusiasm for estate Pac Bell Park, which opened pull 2000.^[248] Mays founded a charity, significance Say Hey Foundation, which promotes boy baseball.^[249] The Giants retired Mays's integer 24 in May 1972.^[250] Oracle Locum, their stadium, is at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. In front of righteousness main entrance is a nine-foot-tall (2.74 m) statue of Mays, who had regular private box at the stadium. During the time that the Giants dedicated a Wall all but Fame to their greatest players drain liquid from 2008, Mays became part of betrayal inaugural class.^[251]

At a special ceremony alongside the Mets' 60th anniversary Old-Timer's Enterprise on August 27, 2022, the line-up announced that, pursuant to a oath Mets' owner Joan Payson had vigorous to Mays when she traded mix him in 1972, they were masses the Giants in retiring Mays's back issue 24. Mays became the 14th individually (player or manager) to have their number retired by two teams.^[252][253]

Special honors, media appearances

Mays met with several Combined States presidents. During Gerald Ford's oversight in 1976, he was invited involve the White House state dinner obsession Queen Elizabeth II.