Willie Mays dead at 93: San Francisco Giants announce death of one of baseball’s all-time greats

San Francisco Giants have introduced the dying of Willie Mays at age 93. 

In a press release on X on Tuesday, the Giants stated: ‘It’s with nice disappointment that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Corridor of Famer Willie Mays handed away peacefully this afternoon on the age of 93. There’ll by no means be one other Willie Mays.’ 

A explanation for dying was not given. One of many biggest to ever play the sport, Mays hit 660 dwelling runs, scored 2,068 runs and notched 3,293 hits whereas profitable one World Collection with the Giants (1954). He was a 24-time All-Star and earned Nationwide League MVP titles in 1954 and 1965. 

The middle fielder was baseball’s oldest residing Corridor of Famer. His signature basket catch and his dashes across the bases together with his cap flying off personified the enjoyment of the sport. His lightning dash and over-the-shoulder seize of an obvious additional base hit within the 1954 World Collection stays essentially the most celebrated defensive play in baseball historical past.

Mays had stated in a press release simply on Monday that he was not going to attend Thursday’s sport between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals that may honor him and the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Area, Alabama.

Mays shall be remembered for ‘The Catch’ within the 1954 World Collection, which the Giants gained –  

Mays performed 21 seasons with the Giants and rounded out his legendary profession with the New York Mets in 1972 and 1973. He was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1979,  his first 12 months of eligibility.

The previous Giants nice began his profession with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, who he began enjoying for at age 16, earlier than becoming a member of the Giants in 1951 in an iconic Main League profession that lasted greater than twenty years.

‘I am not in a position to get to Birmingham this 12 months however will comply with the sport again right here within the Bay Space,’ Mays stated within the assertion. ‘My coronary heart shall be with all of you who’re honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who ought to all the time be remembered, together with all my teammates on the Black Barons.

‘I wished to thank Main League Baseball, the Giants, the Cardinals and all of the followers who’ll be at Rickwood or watching the sport. It will be a big day, and I hope the children will get pleasure from it and be impressed by it.’ 

The sport will now inevitable tackle an much more vital that means with the information of his dying. 

Michael Mays, Willie’s son, stated: ‘My father handed away peacefully and amongst family members. I wish to thanks all from the underside of my damaged coronary heart for the unwavering love you’ve got proven him through the years. You’ve got been his life’s blood.’

The announcement of his dying got here whereas his Giants crew have been enjoying the Cubs in Chicago. The Cubs introduced the information to the followers in attendance at Wrigley Area and hosted a second of silence. 

Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2015

Mays performed 21 seasons with the Giants and rounded out his legendary profession with the Mets

To many, Mays is taken into account the perfect participant to ever play baseball. In 2020, he was ranked the best by The Athletic, whereas The Sporting Information ranked him second to Babe Ruth.

‘I can not consider that Babe Ruth was a greater participant than Willie Mays,’ all-time pitching nice Sandy Koufax as soon as stated. ‘Ruth is to baseball what Arnold Palmer is to golf. 

‘He bought the sport shifting. However I can not consider he might run in addition to Mays, and I can not consider he was any higher an outfielder.’ 

In 2015, Mays was honored by President Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

‘Once I performed ball, I attempted to ensure everyone loved what I used to be doing,’ Mays informed NPR in 2010. ‘I made the clubhouse man match me a cap that once I ran, the wind will get up within the backside and it flies proper off. Folks love that form of stuff.’ 

Sports activities author Barney Kremenko has usually been credited with nicknaming him ‘The Say Hey Child,’ referring to Mays´ spirited approach of greeting his teammate.

Mays missed many of the 1952 season and all of 1953 whereas serving within the U.S. Military through the Korean Struggle, spending a lot of his service time enjoying for the Military baseball crew.

He returned to the Giants in 1954 and gained the primary of his two Most Useful Participant awards as he paced the Giants to a four-game World Collection sweep of the Cleveland Indians. Within the first sport of that collection, Mays pulled off The Catch, which stays probably the most memorable performs in baseball historical past.

Mays was nicknamed ‘The Say Hey Child’ because of his upbeat method and constructive spirit 

After 23 years with the San Francisco Giants, Mays ended his profession on the New York Mets 

At New York’s Polo Grounds, the Indians’ Vic Wertz hit a shot to deep centerfield. Mays turned, sprinted towards the wall, made a sleek over-the-shoulder catch after which instantly whirled round and made an ideal throw that stored two Cleveland baserunners from advancing.

‘I used to be a man, once I first got here up, I believed I might catch any ball that stayed within the ballpark,’ Mays informed an interviewer years later. ‘I assume I used to be form of a cocky child, understanding that if the ball went up, I might catch it.’

Mays’ godson was Barry Bonds, who wrote on Instagram Tuesday night time: ‘I’m past devastated and overcome with emotion. I’ve no phrases to explain what you imply to me – you helped form me to be who I’m as we speak.

‘Thanks for being my Godfather and all the time being there. Give my dad a hug for me. Relaxation in peace Willie, I really like you endlessly.’