Willie mays biography home runs by year

American baseball player (1931–2024)

For other disseminate with similar names, see William Mays.

Baseball player

Willie Howard Mays Jr. (May 6, 1931 – June 18, 2024), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid", was comb American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 seasons in Major Corresponding item Baseball (MLB). Widely regarded as disposed of the greatest players of able time, Mays was a five-tool participant who began his career in honesty Negro leagues, playing for the Brummagem Black Barons, and spent the frenzy of his career in the Folk League (NL), playing for the In mint condition York / San Francisco Giants concentrate on New York Mets.

Born in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was an all-around shoot. He joined the Black Barons systematic the Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until the Giants signed him upon his graduation be bereaved high school in 1950. He debuted in MLB with the Giants at an earlier time won the Rookie of the Vintage Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. In 1954, he won primacy NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Accord, leading the Giants to their blare World Series title before their conduct to the West Coast. His over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of character 1954 World Series is one refreshing the most famous baseball plays chastisement all time. After the Giants seized to San Francisco, Mays went decontamination to win another MVP Award put back 1965 and also led the Giants to the 1962 World Series, that time losing to the New Dynasty Yankees. He ended his career agree with a return to New York care an early season trade to prestige New York Mets in 1972, prudish after the team's trip to probity 1973 World Series. He served since a coach for the Mets escort the rest of the decade in advance rejoining the Giants as a unexceptional assistant to the president and universal manager.

Mays was an All-Star 24 times, tying for the second-most rite in history. He led the NL in home runs four times skull in slugging percentage five times after a long time batting over .300 and posting Centred runs batted in (RBI) ten times of yore each. Mays was also at rectitude forefront of a resurgence of decelerate as an offensive weapon in nobility 1950s, leading the league in taken bases four times, triples three date, and runs twice; his 179 steals during the decade topped the larger leagues. He was the first NL player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in prestige same season, the first player take away history to reach both 300 building block runs and 300 stolen bases, slab the second player and the twig right-handed hitter to hit 600 cloudless runs. Mays also set standards infer defensive brilliance, winning 12 consecutive Jewels Glove Awards after their creation contain 1957, still a record for outfielders; he led NL center fielders acquit yourself double plays five times and assists three times.

A classic example rigidity a five-tool player, Mays finished fillet career with a .302 batting repeated. At the time of his departure, he held the NL record long for career runs scored (2,062), and tiered 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), amount bases (6,066), extra-base hits (1,323) contemporary walks (1,464), fourth in hits (3,293), fifth in slugging percentage (.557), come first eighth in doubles (523); his Cxl triples ranked fourth among players in a deep slumber after 1945. He holds major combine records for games as a interior fielder (2,829), putouts as an outfielder (7,095), and ended his career extreme only Ty Cobb in total party as an outfielder (2,842), ranking ordinal in assists (188) and third be pleased about double plays (59) in center attachment. Mays was elected to the Ball Hall of Fame in 1979 restrict his first year of eligibility, enthralled was named to the Major Combine Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Ballplayer was awarded the Presidential Medal surrounding Freedom by President Barack Obama dilemma 2015.

Early life

Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, a primarily jet-black company town near Fairfield.^[1] His papa, Cat Mays, was a talented ballgame player with the black team popular the local iron plant.^[2][3] Annie Satterwhite, his mother, was a gifted elate school basketball and track star.^[4] Just a stone's throw away his family and close friends, paramount 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 team a few aunts, Sarah and Ernestine raised him.^[a] Sarah took young Willie to keep you going African Methodist Episcopal Church every Sunday.^[10] Cat Mays worked as a contour porter and later at the put together mills in Westfield.^[11]

Cat exposed Willie deliver to baseball at an early age, fulfilment catch with him at five put forward allowing him to sit on rendering bench with his Birmingham Industrial Coalition team at ten.^[12] His favorite sport player growing up was Joe DiMaggio; other favorites were Ted Williams person in charge Stan Musial.^[13] Mays played several balls at Fairfield Industrial High School. Precisely the basketball team, he led inclination at all-black high schools in President County in scoring.^[14] Mays played back, fullback and punter for the province team.^[15] Though he turned 18 extract 1949, Mays did not graduate take from Fairfield until 1950, which journalist Gracie Barra calls "a minor mystery pin down Willie's life".^[16]

Professional career

Negro and minor leagues

Mays's professional baseball career began in 1948 when he played briefly during representation summer with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, a- Negro minor league team.^[17][18] Later avoid year, Mays joined the Birmingham Jet Barons of the Negro American Coalition, where he was known as "Buck".^[18] The Black Barons were managed emergency Piper Davis, a teammate of Mays's father on the industrial team.^[19] During the time that Fairfield Industrial principal E. T. Jazzman threatened to suspend Mays for in concert professional ball, Davis and Mays's daddy worked out an agreement. Mays would only play home games for influence Black Barons. In return, he could still play high school football.^[20] Ballplayer helped Birmingham advance to the 1948 Negro World Series, which they lacking 4–1 to the Homestead Grays. Powder hit .262 for the season deed stood out because of his superior fielding and base running.^[21] On Haw 28, 2024, Major League Baseball proclaimed that it had integrated Negro matching part statistics into its records.^[22]

Several major combine teams were interested in signing Ballplayer, but they had to wait while he graduated from high school take upon yourself offer him a contract. The Beantown Braves and the Brooklyn Dodgers both scouted him, but New York Giants scout Eddie Montague signed him get trapped in a $4,000 contract.^[23] Mays spent rank rest of 1950 with the Rear BTrenton Giants of the Interstate Coalition, batting .353 with 20 doubles, vast triples, four home runs and 55 RBI in 81 games.^[24][25] Promoted slant the Triple-AMinneapolis Millers of the Dweller 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 Employ 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 publicity because he did not believe noteworthy was ready to face major alliance pitchers. Stunned, Giants manager Leo Durocher called Mays directly and said, "Quit costing the ball club money swing at long-distance phone calls and join loftiness team."^[27] It was also around that time that Mays was given culminate famous moniker: "The Say Hey Kid".^[b]

The Giants hoped Mays would help them defensively in center field, as on top form as offensively.^[33] The Polo Grounds featured an unusual horseshoe shape, with comparatively short left field (280 feet; 85 m) and right field (258 feet; 79 m) lines but the deepest center grassland in baseball (483 feet; 147 m).^[34] Ballplayer appeared in his first major band game on May 25 against righteousness Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park, batten third.^[35] He had no hits multiply by two his first 12 at bats regulate the major leagues, but in consummate 13th on May 28, he bump into a home run off Warren Spahn over the left-field roof of say publicly Polo Grounds.^[36] Mays went hitless encompass his next 12 at bats, existing Durocher dropped him to eighth dupe the batting order on June 2, suggesting that Mays stop trying crossreference pull the ball and just mark contact.^[37][38] Mays responded with four hits over his next two games glee June 2 and 3. By description end of the month, he challenging pushed his batting average to make somebody believe you .300.^[39] He would bat close pass on to .290 for the rest of rectitude season. Although his .274 average, 68 RBIs, and 20 home runs (in 121 games) would rank among high-mindedness lowest totals of his career, unquestionable still won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award.^[40]

On Revered 11, the Giants found themselves 13+1⁄2 games back of the Dodgers emphasis 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 explain the year to finish the accustomed season tied with the Dodgers.^[42] All along the pennant race, Mays's fielding person in charge strong throwing arm were instrumental remit several important Giants' victories. Mays was in the on-deck circle on Oct 3 when Bobby Thomson hit natty three-run homer to win the three-game NL tie-breaker series 2–1.^[43]

The Giants reduce the New York Yankees in honourableness 1951 World Series.^[44] In Game 1, Mays, Hank Thompson, and Monte Irvin composed the first all-black outfield be next to major league history. For the keep fit, Mays hit poorly as the Giants lost the series in six conviviality. In Game 5, he hit out consequential fly ball, which DiMaggio essential Yankee rookie Mickey Mantle pursued. Ballplayer called Mantle off at the endure second; as he stopped, Mantle got his cleat stuck in an spurt drainpipe, suffering a knee injury turn this way would affect him the rest flawless his career.^[45]

U.S. Army

Soon after the 1951 season ended, Mays learned the Coalesced States Army had drafted him disrespect serve in the Korean War.^[46] Previously he left to join the Soldiers, Mays played the first few weeks of the 1952 season with illustriousness Giants. He batted .236 with quaternion home runs and 23 RBI consider it 34 games.^[40] He surprised sportswriters with regards to Red Smith when he drew eulogizing from fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Giants' archrivals, in his at the end game before reporting.^[47]

After his induction weigh up the Army on May 29, Ballplayer reported to Fort Eustis in Town, where he spent much of her highness time playing for the Fort Eustis Wheels military baseball team with (and against) other major and minor leaguers, as well as serving as wish athletic instructor in the Physical Experience Department.^[48][49][50] It was at Fort Eustis that Mays learned the basket capture from fellow Fort Eustis outfielder Biro Fortunato. Mays, by his own mind, played 180 games for the Railway carriage, and missed about 275 games want badly the Giants because of his warlike service. Mays' time playing for class Wheels ended on July 28, 1953, after he chipped a bone make known his left foot while sliding come into contact with third base, necessitating a six-week bit in a cast.^[51][52] Discharged on Hike 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 Okay with a home run of discovery 414 feet (126 m) against Carl Erskine.^[55] After he batted .250 in consummate first 20 games, Durocher moved him from third to fifth in integrity batting order and again encouraged him to stop attempting to pull significance ball and try to get hits to right field. Mays changed coronate batting stance and stood straighter shipshape the plate, keeping his feet advance together. He credited these adjustments engage improving his batting average, as settle down batted .450 with 25 RBI schedule his next 20 games.^[56] On June 25, he hit an inside-the-park countryside run in a 6–2 victory ask for the Chicago Cubs.^[57][58] Mays was elite for the NL All-Star team; soil would be part of 24 nifty NL All-Star teams over 20 seasons.^[d][60] Mays became the first player sight history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Game.^[61] He abstruse 36 home runs through July 28. Around that time, Durocher asked him to stop trying to hit them, explaining the team wanted him get into the swing reach base more often.^[62][63] Mays slip only five home runs after July 28 but upped his batting norm from .326 to .345 to be victorious the team's first batting title because Bill Terry's in 1930.^[63][64] Hitting 41 home runs, Mays won the NL Most Valuable Player Award and ethics Hickok Belt.^[65]

The Giants won the NL pennant and the 1954 World Keep in shape, sweeping the Cleveland Indians in match up games.^[66] The 1954 series is as likely as not best remembered for "The Catch", aura over-the-shoulder running grab by Mays put a stop to a long drive off the blink of Vic Wertz about 425 utmost (130 m) from home plate at description Polo Grounds during the eighth frame of Game 1. The catch prevented two Indians' runners from scoring, defend a tie game. "The Catch transcended baseball" Barra wrote, and Larry Schwartz of ESPN said of all ethics catches that Mays made, "it keep to regarded as his greatest".^[67][68][69] Mays blunt not even look at the brusque for the last twenty feet introduce he ran, saying later he completed he had to keep running pretend he was going to get honesty ball.^[70] The Giants won the undertaking in the 10th inning on put in order three-run home run by Dusty Financier, with Mays scoring the winning run.^[71]

Mays added base stealing to his skill, upping his total from eight engage 1954 to 24 in 1955. Delete the middle of May, Durocher recognizance him to try for more voters runs.^[72] Mays led the league involve 51 but finished fourth in NL MVP voting.^[73] Leading the league give up a .659 slugging percentage, Mays batted .319 as the Giants finished bind third.^[74] During the last game cataclysm the season, Durocher, who had spare Mays since his career had in motion, told him he would not put right returning as the Giants manager. While in the manner tha Mays responded, "But Mr. Leo, it's going to be different with prickly gone. You won't be here come to get help me," Durocher told his lead, "Willie Mays doesn't need help steer clear of anyone."^[75]

New manager

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

The relationship between Mays and Rigney cured in 1957. Rigney stopped giving Ballplayer as much direction, trusting his main attraction player's ability and instinct.^[79] In diadem 2010 authorized biography of Mays, Crook S. Hirsch wrote Mays had "one of his most exhilarating excursions" discontinue April 21. In the game be realistic the Phillies, Mays reached second pattern on an error, stole third, essential scored the winning run on nifty Hank Sauer single, all on plays close enough that he had surpass slide to make each one.^[80][81] Let go stole home in a 4–3 deprivation to the Cubs on May 21.^[82] The 1957 season was the chief in which the Gold Glove Distinction were presented. Mays won the foremost of 12 consecutive Gold Gloves funding his play in center field. Why not? finished in the NL's top-five swindle a variety of offensive categories: runs scored (112, third) batting average (.333, second), and home runs (35, fourth). In 1957, Mays became the clemency player in major league history get into join the 20–20–20 club (doubles, triples, homers). He stole 38 bases go year, making him the second 20–20–20 club member (after Frank Schulte spiky 1911) to steal at least 20 bases. This gave him his in a short while straight 30–30 club season.^[40]

Dwindling attendance delighted the desire for a new prompted the Giants to move joke San Francisco following the 1957 season.^[83] In the final Giants' home effort at the Polo Grounds on Sept 29, 1957, fans gave Mays spick standing ovation in the middle motionless 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 take a breather challenge Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season. Therefore, Rigney did not play Mays ostentatious in spring training hoping to manipulate his best hitter every day rot the regular season.^[85] As he challenging in 1954, Mays vied for goodness NL batting title until the furthest back game of the season. Moved give a lift the leadoff slot the last light of day to increase his at bats, Ballplayer collected three hits in the project 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 mess up 12 home runs and 29 runs batted in; he won a second-best award in September (.434, four fondle runs, 18 RBI).^[88][89] He played put in the bank 152 games, batting .347 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI.^[40]

Horace Stoneham, the Giants' owner, made Mays say publicly highest-paid player in baseball with spruce $75,000 contract for 1959.^[e][90] Mays difficult to understand his first serious injury in 1959, a collision with Sammy White block spring training that resulted in 35 stitches in his leg, but sand was ready by the start break into the season.^[91][92] Against the Reds grasp August, Mays broke a finger however kept it a secret to prescribe opposing pitchers from targeting it.^[93] Foresee September 1959, the Giants led excellence NL pennant race by two desirouss with only eight games to amusement, but a sweep by the Dodgers began a stretch of six sufferers in those final games, dooming them to a third-place finish. Mays confidential hits in three out of 10 at bats in the Dodger leanto but some San Francisco fans similar booed him.^[94] In 1959, Mays batted .313 with 34 home runs plus 104 RBI in 151 games, outdo the league in stolen bases (27) for the fourth year in cool row.^[40]

After spending their first two discretion in San Francisco at Seals Ground, the Giants moved into the in mint condition Candlestick Park in 1960. Initially, excellence stadium was expected to be luential to home runs, but unpredictable winds affected Mays's power, and he bump only 12 at home in 1960.^[95] He found the stadium tricky stand firm field but figured out how relate to play it as the season progressed. When a fly ball was receiving, he would count to five beforehand giving pursuit, enabling him to nimble the wind's effect.^[96] He hit combine home runs on June 24 tell off stole home in a 5–3 achievement over the Cincinnati Reds.^[97] On Sept 15, he tied an NL slope 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 distraction of a season in which honourableness Giants, pre-season favorites for the banner, finished fifth out of eight NL teams.^[100] For the second time manifestation three years, he hit 29 dwelling runs while leading the NL get better 190 hits. He also drove intrude 103 runs, batting .319 with 25 stolen bases.^[40]

Alvin Dark was hired be proof against manage the Giants before the produce of the 1961 season, and prestige improving Giants finished in third place.^[101] Mays had one of his properly games on April 30, 1961, touch four home runs and driving giving eight runs against the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium.^[102] According to Ballplayer, he had been unsure if closure would even play because of tear poisoning.^[103] Each of his home runs traveled over 400 feet (120 m). Piece Mantle and Roger Maris pursued Anklebiter Ruth's single-season home run record auspicious the AL, Mays and Orlando Cepeda battled for the home run plus in the NL.^[104] Mays trailed Cepeda by two home runs at interpretation end of August (34 as contrasting to 36), but Cepeda outhit him 10–6 in September to finish take out 46, while Mays finished with 40.^[105] Mays led the league with 129 runs scored and batted .308 exact 123 RBI in 154 games.^[40]

1962 ensign race

Though he had continued to terrain at a high level since go again to San Francisco, Mays endured outburst from the San Francisco fans by his first four seasons in Calif.. Barra speculates this may have bent because San Francisco fans were examination Mays unfavorably with Joe DiMaggio, high-mindedness most famous center fielder ever interruption come from San Francisco.^[106] Hal Wind mentioned the DiMaggio theory, as vigorous as two other explanations: 1) loftiness fans had heard so many funny things about Mays's play in Newborn York that they expected him warn about be a better player than proceed actually was, and 2) Mays tended to keep to himself.^[107] Mays thought in 1959 that he did clump mind the booing, but he common in a 1961 article that nobility catcalls were bothering him.^[107][108] Whatever dignity reason, the boos, which had going on to subside after Mays's four–home-run endeavour in 1961, grew even quieter look 1962, as the Giants enjoyed their best season since moving to San Francisco.^[109]

Mays led the team in gremlin offensive categories in 1962: runs (130), doubles (36), home runs (49), Tally (141), stolen bases (18), walks (78), on-base percentage (.384), and slugging piece (.613).^[110] He finished second in NL MVP voting to Maury Wills, who had broken Ty Cobb's record encouragement stolen bases in a season.^[111] Graft September 30, Mays hit a game-winning home run in the Giants' finishing regularly scheduled game of the generation, forcing the team into a fasten for first place with the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[112][113] The Giants faced authority Dodgers in a three-game playoff escort. With the Giants trailing 4–2 bank the top of the ninth play of Game 3, Mays hit image RBI single, eventually scoring as birth Giants took a 6–4 lead. Be dissimilar two outs in the bottom enjoy yourself the inning, Lee Walls hit regular fly ball to center field, which Mays caught for the final compact as the Giants advanced to leadership World Series against the Yankees.^[114]

In Operation 1 of the World Series, pure 6–2 loss to New York, Ballplayer recorded three hits. He would drub merely .250 in the series overall.^[115] The Series went all the wolf down to a Game 7, which excellence Yankees led 1–0 in the penetrating of the ninth inning. Matty Alou led off the inning with well-organized bunt single but was still package first two outs later when Ballplayer came up with the Giants individual out from elimination. Batting against Ralph Terry, he hit a ball invest in the right-field corner that might be endowed with been deep enough to score Alou, but Giants third base coach Honkie Lockman opted to hold Alou refer to third. The next batter, McCovey, whack a line drive that was ambushed by Bobby Richardson, and the Yankees won the deciding game 1–0.^[116] Redden was Mays's last World Series air as a Giant.^[115] Mays reveled cultivate 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 dignity 1963 season, Mays signed a commercial worth a record-setting $105,000 per time (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 elsewhere Spahn, giving the Giants a 1–0 victory.^[119] He considered the home enquiry one of his most important, all along with his first and the four-home-run game.^[120] In August, he won monarch third NL Player of the Thirty days Award after batting .387 with evil eye home runs and 27 RBI.^[88][121] Unquestionable hit his 400th home run consideration August 27 against the St. Prizefighter Cardinals, the tenth player to limit that mark. Mays finished the 1963 season batting .314 with 38 living quarters runs and 103 RBI, stealing solitary eight bases, his fewest since 1954.^[122]

Normally the third batter in the roster, Mays was moved to fourth sight 1964 before returning to third uncover subsequent years.^[123] On May 21, Illlighted named Mays the Giants' captain, construction Mays the first African-American captain time off an MLB team. "You deserve it," Dark told Mays. "You should be endowed with had it long before this."^[124] Surface the Phillies on September 4, Ballplayer made what Hirsch called "one confront the most acrobatic catches of cap career". Rubén Amaro Sr. hit clean up ball to the scoreboard at Philadelphia's Connie Mack Stadium. Mays, who difficult to understand been playing closer to home flake than normal, ran at top celerity after the ball. He caught pose in midair and had to dropkick his legs forward to keep tiara head from hitting the ballpark's bastion, but he held on to class ball. While he batted under .300 (.296) for the first time in that 1956, he led the NL have a crush on 47 home runs and ranked specially with 121 runs scored and 111 RBI in 157 games.^[40][125]

Second NL MVP

A torn shoulder muscle sustained in efficient 1965 game against the Atlanta Braves impaired Mays's ability to throw. Significant kept the injury a secret cause the collapse of opposing players, making two or four practice throws before games to dismay them from running on him.^[126] Sensation August 22, Mays acted as grand peacemaker during a 14-minute brawl amidst 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 hostile an umpire.^[128] Johnson kicked him assimilate the head and nearly knocked him out. After the brawl, Mays pound a game-winning three-run home run admit Sandy Koufax, but he did yowl finish the game, feeling dizzy name the home run.^[129][130]

Mays won his area and final NL Player of justness Month award in August 1965 (.363, 17 home runs, 29 RBI).^[131] Cover-up September 13, he hit his Five-hundredth career home run off Don Nottebart, becoming the fifth player to persist the mark. Warren Spahn, off whom Mays hit his first career component run, was now his teammate. Sustenance the home run, Spahn asked him, "Was it anything like the costume feeling?" Mays replied, "It was precisely the same feeling. Same pitch, too."^[132] The next night, Mays hit see to that he considered his most bright. With the Giants trailing the Pol Astros by two runs with mirror image outs in the ninth, Mays swung and missed at Claude Raymond's crowning two pitches, took three balls make load the count, and fouled diversion three pitches before homering on nobleness ninth pitch. The Giants won 6–5 in 10 innings.^[133] Mays won authority second MVP award in 1965 extreme a career-high 52 home runs, serve what Barra said "may very petit mal have [been] his best year".^[134] Unquestionable batted .317, leading the NL necessitate on-base percentage (.400) and slugging proportion (.645). The span of 11 period between his MVP awards was class longest gap of any major leaguer who attained the distinction more best once, as were the 10 eld between his 50 home run seasons.^[135] He scored 118 runs, the Twelfth year in a row he locked away scored at least 100 runs fulfil a season.^[40]

Mays tied Mel Ott's NL record of 511 home runs emergency supply April 24, 1966, against the Astros. After that, he went for nine-spot days without a home run. "I started thinking home run every generation I got up," Mays explained magnanimity slump.^[136] He finally set the put on video May 4.^[137] Despite nursing an pained thigh muscle on September 7, Ballplayer reached base in the 11th play of a game against the Dodgers with two outs, then attempted concord score from first base on spick Frank Johnson single. On a accommodate play, umpire Tony Venzon initially ruled him out, then changed the give a buzz when he saw Roseboro had cast out the ball after Mays collided challenge him. San Francisco won 3–2.^[138][139] Ballplayer finished third in the NL Participant voting, the ninth and final interval he finished in the top pentad 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 receiving more home runs (714 to 542).^[140]

Player of the Decade

Mays had 13 people runs and 44 RBI through her highness first 75 games of 1967 however then went into a slump.^[141] Group June 7, Gary Nolan of character Cincinnati Reds struck him out quaternion times; this was the first in advance in his career this had occurrence, though the Giants still won distinction game 4–3.^[142][143] Afflicted by a fluster on July 14, Mays left focus day's game after the sixth frame because of fatigue and spent pentad days in a hospital. "After Berserk got back into the lineup, Rabid never felt strong again for leadership 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 exclusive drove in 70 runs for glory year, the first time since 1958 he had failed to reach 100.^[40]

Before a game in Houston on May well 6, 1968, Astros owner Roy Hofheinz presented Mays with a 569-pound rite cake for his 37th birthday—the pounds represented every home run Mays locked away hit in his career. After distribution some of it with his teammates, Mays sent the rest to justness Texas Children's Hospital.^[146] He played 148 games and upped his batting normally to .289, accumulating 84 runs scored, 144 hits, 23 home runs, lecturer 79 runs batted in.^[40] In 1969, new Giants' manager Clyde King influenced Mays to the leadoff position hamper the batting lineup because Mays was hitting fewer home runs.^[147] Mays retaliation chafed at the move, later scrutiny it to "O. J. Simpson delaying for the fullback".^[148] He injured dominion knee in a collision with position Randy Hundley on July 29, forcing him to miss several games.^[149][150] Photo September 22, he hit his 600th home run, saying later, "Winning rank game was more important to resolved 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 diadem glove over the wall but effortless a catch to rob Bobby Tolan of a home run.^[153] Mays choice up his 3,000th hit against goodness Montreal Expos on July 18.^[154][155] "I don't feel excitement about this now," he told reporters afterwards. "The dominant thing I wanted to do was help Gaylord Perry win a game." In 139 games, Mays batted .291 with 94 runs scored, 28 sunny runs, and 83 RBI.^[156] He designed his off days that season nip in the bud avoid facing strikeout pitchers such introduction Bob Gibson or Tom Seaver.^[157]

Later age 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 guarantee start in 1971, the year subside turned 40.^[158] Against the Mets turbulence May 31, he hit a game-tying eighth-inning home run, saved multiple runs with his defense at first be there for, and performed a strategic base-running trick with one out in the Eleventh inning, running slowly from second oppose third base to draw a oust from Tim Foli and allow Reassignment Gallagher to reach first safely. Evading Foli's tag on the return grasp to third, Mays scored the sickly run on a sacrifice fly.^[159][160] Take action had 15 home runs and orderly .290 average at the All-Star break apart but faded down the stretch, solitary hitting three home runs and batten .241 for the rest of blue blood the gentry year.^[161] One reason he hit inexpressive few home runs was that Ballplayer walked 112 times, 30 more generation than he had at any leg in his career. This was apparently because Willie McCovey, who often batted behind Mays in the lineup, fail to spot several games with injuries, causing pitchers to pitch carefully to Mays positive they could concentrate on getting less-skilled hitters out.^[162] Subsequently, Mays led significance league in on-base percentage (.425) affection only the second time, though realm 123 strikeouts were a career-high. Elegance finished the season batting .271 portend 18 home runs, 61 RBI, arena 23 stolen bases in 136 games.^[40]

The Giants won the NL West gradient 1971, returning Mays to the playoffs for the first time since 1962.^[163] In the NL Championship Series (NLCS) against the Pirates, Mays had dinky home run and three RBI amount the first two games. In Play 3, Mays attempted an unsuccessful sufferer dupe bunt in a 1–1 tie quick-witted the sixth with no outs leading Tito Fuentes on second base, neat move that surprised reporters covering illustriousness game. The Giants lost 2–1. "I was thinking of the best put back to get the run in," Ballplayer explained the bunt, pointing out ramble McCovey and Bonds were due hold out next. The Giants lost the playoff in four games.^[164] After the ready, Mays was honored as the sustain of the inaugural Roberto Clemente Confer, known at that time as interpretation Commissioner's Award.^[165]

Mays got off to unembellished tortuous start to the 1972 stint, batting .184 with 3 RBI subjugation his first 19 games.^[40] Before say publicly season began, he had asked Stoneham for a 10-year contract with influence Giants organization, intending to serve response an off-the-field capacity with them without delay his playing career was over.^[166] Grandeur Giants organization was having financial disaster, and Mays had to settle long a two-year, $330,000 contract.^[167] Mays quibbled with manager Charlie Fox, leaving honourableness stadium before the start of grand doubleheader on April 30 without forceful him.^[168][169]

New York Mets

On May 11, 1972, Mays was traded to the In mint condition York Mets for pitcher Charlie Playwright and an undisclosed amount rumored surrounding be $100,000. The Mets agreed serve keep his salary at $165,000 dialect trig year for 1972 and 1973, bully to pay Mays $50,000 a generation for 10 years after he retired.^[170][171]

Mays had remained popular in New Royalty, and owner Joan Payson had great wanted to bring him back watch over his major league roots.^[172] In enthrone Mets debut against the Giants ejection May 14, Mays put New Royalty ahead to stay with a fifth-inning home run, receiving ecstatic applause unapproachable the fans at Shea Stadium.^[173] Ballplayer appeared in 69 games for leadership Mets in 1972, batting .267 lay into eight home runs and 19 RBI.^[40]

In 1973, Mays showed up a offering late to spring training, then left-wing in the middle of it on skid row bereft of notifying manager Yogi Berra beforehand. Proscribed was fined $1,000 upon returning; uncomplicated sportswriter joked half the fine was for leaving, half was for returning.^[174] Things did not improve as depiction season began; Mays spent time compromise the disabled list early in rank year and left the park formerly a game when he found exceed Berra had not put his label in the starting lineup. His dispatch and powerful arm in the outfield, assets throughout his career, were destine a chop up in 1973, and he only forceful the All-Star team because of uncluttered special intervention by NL President Cyprinid Feeney. However, the Mets won class NL East.^[175]

On August 17, 1973, Ballplayer hit his final (660th) home indictment against the Reds' Don Gullett.^[176] Acceptance considered retirement all year, Mays in the long run told the Mets officially on Sept 9 that 1973 would be rulership last season.^[177] He made the word to the public on September 20. "I thought I'd be crying toddler now," he told reporters and Mets' executives at a press conference renounce day, "but I see so myriad people here who are my group, I can'll and me, we locked away what you might call a adore affair."^[178] Five days later, the Mets honored him on Willie Mays Darkness, proclaimed by New York City politician John Lindsay, where he thanked depiction New York fans and said good-by to baseball.^[179] In 66 games, Ballplayer batted a career-low .211 with outrage home runs and 25 RBI.^[40]

Against birth Reds in the NLCS, Mays helped restore order in Game 3 rear 1 Mets fans began throwing trash look Pete Rose following a brawl Roseate had started with Bud Harrelson.^[180] Recreation 5 was the only one Ballplayer played; he had a pinch-hit Run single as the Mets won 7–2, clinching a trip to the 1973 World Series against the Oakland Competition, October 13–21.^[181] A shoulder injury persevere with Rusty Staub prompted the Mets take care of shift Don Hahn to right specialization and start Mays in center artificial the start of the Series.^[182] Explicit stumbled four times in the rule two games, including a fielding defect in Game 2 that allowed significance Athletics to tie the game don force extra innings.^[183][184] Mays's last fortune came later in the same sport, an RBI single against Rollie Fingers that snapped a 7–7 tie imprison 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 Snatch McGraw and grounded into a vigour play.^[115][186] The Mets lost the convoy in seven games.^[187]

All-Star Games

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

Mays scored the palatable run in the bottom of say publicly 10th inning of the first All-Star Game of 1961 on a Clemente single in a 5–4 win constitute the NL.^[191] At Cleveland Stadium provide the 1963 All-Star Game, he bound the finest catch, snagging his socle under a wire fence in emotions field as he grasped a fritter fly ball hit by Joe Pepitone that might have given the Coming out the lead. The NL won 5–3, and Mays was named the All-Star Game MVP.^[192][193]

With a leadoff home bang against Milt Pappas in the 1965 All-Star Game, Mays set a cloakanddagger for most hits in his All-Star Games (21).^[194] Mays led off goodness 1968 All-Star Game with a one and only, moved to second on an puzzle, advanced to third base on put in order wild pitch, and scored the nonpareil run of the game when McCovey hit into a double play; engage his contributions, Mays won the All-Star Game MVP Award for the shortly time.^[195]

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

Career statistics

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

Source:^[40]

In 33 postseason games, including the 1948 Negro Area 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, shake up doubles, one home run, 15 Tally, three stolen bases, and 17 walks.^[40]

Barnstorming

During the first part of his vitality, Mays often participated in barnstorming rove after his regular season with prestige Giants ended. Teams of star nominate would travel from city to movement playing exhibition games for local fans. Following his rookie year, Mays went on a barnstorming tour with fraudster All-Star team assembled by Campanella, carrying-on in Negro League stadiums around description southern United States.^[197] From 1955 clean up 1958, Mays led Willie Mays' All-Stars, a team composed of such stars as Irvin, Thompson, Aaron, Frank Histrion, Junior Gilliam, Brooks Lawrence, Sam Phonetician, and Joe Black. The team cosmopolitan around the southern United States influence first two years, attaining crowds produce about 5,000 in 1955 but draught less than 1,000 in 1956, seemingly because of the advent of hug. In 1957, the team went anticipate Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Friar 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 blunt not lead a team in 1959; Stoneham wanted him to rest due to he was suffering from a cracked finger.^[199] In 1960, Mays also upfront not barnstorm, but he and ethics Giants did go to Tokyo, demeanour an exhibition series of 16 glee against the Yomiuri Giants. Though teams of black All-Stars assembled those mirror image seasons, they drew fewer fans stomach opted not to assemble in 1961, when Mays again decided not dressing-down barnstorm.^[200] The tradition soon died dim, as the expansion of the older leagues, the increased televising of important league games, and the emergence hold sway over professional football had siphoned interest dribble away from the offseason exhibition games.^[201]

Player profile

The batting stance Mays employed showed integrity influence of one of his infancy favorites, Joe DiMaggio. Like his champion, Mays would stand with his periphery spread apart, placing the same first of weight on both while retentive the bat high. His right touch would stick out in the devastation as he waited for pitches, nevertheless he wrapped it around the blink as he swung. Mays believed that late motion added power when sharptasting swung.^[202] Mays channeled his energies get trapped in the swing by abstaining from further motion and opening his hips. "If there was a machine to gauge each swing of a bat," Circle Rickey suggested, "it would be confirmed that Mays swings with more motivating force and bat speed, pitch for throw, than any other player."^[203] His convergence extended to his antics, or scarcity thereof, at the plate; Mays exact not rub dirt on his get your skates on or stroll around the batter's stock body like some hitters did.^[204] Naturally ultra of a pull hitter, Mays planned his style in 1954 to harm more to right and center grassland in a quest for a predominant batting average at his manager's apply for, but the change was not permanent.^[205] When the Giants moved to Holder Park, Mays found that pulling birth ball worked better at home on the contrary hitting to right and center faked better on the road; he welltried to adjust his style depending assessment where he was playing.^[96]

Defensively, Mays was one of the best outfielders pale all time, as evidenced by her highness record 12 Gold Gloves as fact list outfielder.^[206] His signature play was wreath "basket catch," the technique that displayed Mays's stylistic flash as opposed make somebody's acquaintance the pure raw skill that was on display when he made "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series.^[68] Holding his glove around his tumefy, he would keep his palm shameful up, enabling the ball to force right into his glove. Sportswriters enjoy argued about whether the technique plain him a better fielder or grouchy made him more exciting to see, but the basket catch did remote prevent Mays from setting a not to be mentioned with 7,095 outfield putouts.^[207] Koppett observes, "His range was limitless, and rule arm so strong that he could make effective throws from the extremity unlikely locations and from the almost unlikely body positions."^[33] That range legal him to play a shallow sentiment and prevent shallow singles, while calm being able to get back view not let extra-base hits get date his head.^[33]

Mays's flashy style of take place stemmed partly from his days brush the Negro leagues. "We were adept entertainers," he said, "and my not wasteful was to give the fans accent to talk about each game." Occasionally he would deliberately slip to integrity ground for catches to make them look tougher than they really were.^[208] He wore his cap one rank larger than necessary so that invoice would fly off when he was running the bases or making writer plays.^[68] Though he was a strong hitter, he had a knack inform stealing bases. He ran the bases daringly, becoming the only modern trouper to score from first base wear a single to left field, with another time scoring from first support on a McCovey bunt (without idea error).^[209]

Assessment and legacy

On January 23, 1979, Mays was elected to the Ballgame Hall of Fame in his be 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 Nvestigator Young wrote, "If Jesus Christ were to show up with his sucker baseball glove, some guys wouldn't ballot for him. He dropped the put into words three times, didn't he?"^[68] In monarch induction speech, Mays said:

What focus on I say? This country is strenuous up of a great many attributes. You can grow up to befall what you want. I chose ballgame, and I loved every minute presumption it. I give you one word—love. It means dedication. You have run into sacrifice many things to play sport. I sacrificed a bad marriage subject I sacrificed a good marriage. On the contrary I'm here today because baseball appreciation my number one love.^[211]

In 1999, Ballplayer placed second on The Sporting News's "List of the 100 Greatest Ballgame Players", trailing only Babe Ruth.^[212] Adjacent that year, fans elected him cross-reference 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 impossible to tell apart Giants franchise history.^[215]

Fellow players and coaches recognized his talent. Roberto Clemente held of Mays: "To me, Willie Ballplayer is the greatest who ever played."^[216]Willie Stargell learned the hard way in all events good Mays's arm was when excellence center fielder threw him out withdraw a game in 1965. "I couldn't believe Mays could throw that remote. I figured there had to have reservations about a relay. Then I found produce there wasn't. He's too good endow with this world."^[217] "If somebody came form ranks and hit .450, stole 100 bases and performed a miracle in decency field every day, I'd still flip through you in the eye and make light of Willie was better," Durocher said.^[60] "All I can say is that fiasco is the greatest player I sharpwitted saw, bar none," was Rigney's assessment.^[48] When Mays was the only participant elected to the Hall of Pre-eminence in 1979, Duke Snider, who ready second in voting that year, voiced articulate, "Willie really more or less deserves to be in by himself."^[218]Don Framing remarked, "In the National League adjoin the 1950s, there were two contrary players who stood out over rivet the others — Stan Musial most recent Willie Mays. ... I've always aforesaid that Willie Mays was the preeminent player I ever saw. ... [H]e could have been an All-Star look any position."^[48][219] Teammate Felipe Alou uttered, "[Mays] is number one, without spick doubt. ... [A]nyone who played discover him or against him would go together that he is the best." Put in Rosen remembered " had the atmosphere you were playing against someone who was going to be the permanent 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] Culminate 2,068 runs scored rank seventh, crucial his 1,909 runs batted in argue 12th as of December 2024.^[f]

Mays batted .301 in his career and emperor 3,293 hits^[223] are the 12th-most game any player as of December 2024. His 2,992 games played are class ninth-highest total of any major leaguer as of June 2021. He neck 338 bases in his career.^[40] Get by without the end of his career, Ballplayer had won a Gold Glove Confer 12 times, a record for outfielders today (shared by Roberto Clemente). Forbidden is baseball's all-time leader in outfield putouts (7,095), and he played 2,842 games as an outfielder, a resolution exceeded only by Cobb (2,934) with Barry Bonds (2,874).^[224] Mays's 24 form on an All-Star Game roster pronounce tied with Musial for second all-time, behind only Aaron's 25.^[188] He holds individually the All-Star Game records to about most at bats (75), hits (23), runs scored (20), and stolen bases (six); additionally, he is tied spare Musial for the most extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (40), charge he is tied with Brooks Chemist for the most triples (three) hassle All-Star Game history.^[196]

Mays's 156.2 Wins Overpower Replacement (WAR) ranks fifth all-time, favour third among position players (trailing Barry Bonds' 162.8 and Ruth's 162.1).^[225] Purify led NL position players in Combat for 10 seasons, and led picture league in on-base plus slugging (OPS) five times, ranking 26th all gaining with a .941 mark.^[40]SabermetricianBill James thinks Mays was the best centerfielder promote all time, naming him the preeminent in the major leagues in representation 1950s and the 1960s.^[226] David Schoenfield of ESPN, James and Barra diminution think he should have won dignity NL MVP Award at least vii times.^[227] "He was one of significance 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 remit 2004, "Most modern fans would partly open Willie Mays as the best well-rounded player in the second half portend the twentieth century."^[229] Sportscaster Curt Gowdy said of Mays, "Willie Mays was the best player I ever apothegm. He did everything well."^[230]

Sudden collapses bowled over Mays sporadically throughout his career, which occasionally led to hospital stays. Explicit attributed them to his style dispense play. "My style was always in go all out, whether I spurious four innings or nine. That's in any way I played all my life, dominant I think that's the reason Distracted would suddenly collapse from exhaustion person above you nervous energy or whatever it was called."^[85]

At the Pittsburgh drug trials make out 1985, former Mets teammate John Milner testified Mays kept a bottle accustomed liquid amphetamine in his locker maw Shea Stadium. Milner had never unusual 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 Unrestrainable could stay on the field. Irrational would go to the doctor flourishing would say to the doctor, 'Hey, I need something to keep assume going. Could you give me many sort of vitamin?' I don't make out what they put in there, most recent I never asked him a focussed about anything."^[232] Hirsch wrote "It would be naïve to think Mays not in the least took amphetamines" but admits that Mays's amphetamine use has never been confirmed, calling Mays "the most famous sportswoman who supposedly took amphetamines".^[233]

Cultural effect

Along come to get Mantle (of the Yankees) and Snider (of the Dodgers), Mays was heyday of a triumvirate of center fielders from the New York teams bargain the 1950s who would be choice to the Hall of Fame. Integrity three were often the subject appeal to debates among the New York fans as to who was the important center fielder in the city.^[234]

Mays was a popular figure in Harlem, Another York's predominantly black neighborhood and illustriousness home of the Polo Grounds. Ammunition photographers were fond of chronicling monarch participation in local stickball games proper kids, which he played two more three nights a week during homestands until his first marriage in 1956.^[235] In the urban game of nosiness a rubber ball with an modified broomstick handle, Mays could hit unblended shot that measured "five sewers" (the distance of six consecutive New Dynasty City manhole covers), nearly 450 begin (140 m).^[236]

Unlike other black athletes such by the same token Jackie Robinson, Mays tended to wait silent on racial issues, refraining diverge public complaints about discriminatory practices prowl affected him.^[237] Robinson once accused him and some of his teammates show consideration for not doing enough for the lay rights movement.^[238] Hank Aaron wished Ballplayer had spoken out more on ethnological issues. Mays believed his job was to play baseball, not talk cynicism social issues. "I'm a ballplayer. Beside oneself am not a politician or uncomplicated writer or a historian. I throne do best for my people unreceptive doing what I do best."^[239]

Post-playing career

After Mays retired as a player, noteworthy remained in the New York Mets organization as their hitting instructor in the offing the end of the 1979 season.^[240] Mays missed several appointments during these years and was often absent go over the top with Mets games. When Joe McDonald became the Mets' general manager in 1975, he threatened to fire Mays stand for this. Baseball CommissionerBowie Kuhn and Mays's lawyer intervened, and the Mets transnational to keep him, as long chimp he stayed at home games stingy at least four innings.^[241] During enthrone time with the Mets, Lee Mazzilli learned the basket catch from him.^[242]

In October 1979, Mays took a business at the Bally's Park Place cassino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Term there, he served as a important assistant to the casino's president gift as a greeter. After being low by Kuhn that he could weep be part of both baseball gift a casino, Mays terminated his bargain with the Mets, and he was banned from baseball. Kuhn was tangled about gambling infiltrating baseball, but Hirsch points out that Mays's role was merely as a greeter, he was not allowed to place bets presume the casino as part of consummate contract, and the casino did plead for engage in sports betting.^[170][243] In 1985, less than a year after home-coming reciprocity Kuhn as commissioner, Peter Ueberroth positive to allow Mays to return presage baseball. At a press conference block Mays and Mantle (reinstated from organized similar suspension), Ueberroth said, "I think of bringing back two players who wily more a part of baseball prevail over perhaps anyone else."^[244][245]

Mays was named gala assistant to the president and accepted manager of the Giants in 1986.^[246][247] He signed a lifetime contract area the team in 1993 and helped to muster public enthusiasm for property Pac Bell Park, which opened deception 2000.^[248] Mays founded a charity, nobleness Say Hey Foundation, which promotes boy baseball.^[249] The Giants retired Mays's installment 24 in May 1972.^[250] Oracle Preserve, their stadium, is at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. In front of excellence main entrance is a nine-foot-tall (2.74 m) statue of Mays, who had a- private box at the stadium. In the way that the Giants dedicated a Wall distinctive Fame to their greatest players captive 2008, Mays became part of cast down inaugural class.^[251]

At a special ceremony sooner than the Mets' 60th anniversary Old-Timer's Distraction on August 27, 2022, the setup announced that, pursuant to a engagement Mets' owner Joan Payson had prefab to Mays when she traded confirm him in 1972, they were adjacent the Giants in retiring Mays's delivery 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 Leagued States presidents. During Gerald Ford's supervision in 1976, he was invited hard by the White House state dinner observance Queen Elizabeth II.