Willie Mays, widely known as one of greatest center fielders to ever play the game of baseball, died Tuesday afternoon in the Bay Area. He was 93.
"My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones," Michael Mays said in a statement released in conjunction with the San Francisco Giants. "I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life's blood."
Mays, commonly referred to by his nickname the "Say Hey Kid", leaves behind a storied legacy and his name can be found throughout baseball's record book.
He was well-known for his defensive prowess — which was forever etched into history by "The Catch" in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.
Mays' career spanned more than two decades from 1951 to 1973 — most of them being with his beloved Giants. He made 24 All-Star teams, won two National League MVP awards and had 12 Gold Gloves. He ranks sixth all time in home runs (660), seventh in runs scored (2,068), 10th in RBIs (1,909) and 12th in hits (3,293).
"He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America. He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed," Giants chairman Greg Johnson said in a statement.
Mays' death was announced during the 6th inning of the Giants game against the Cubs in Chicago on Tuesday night. The crowed of 36,292 at Wrigley Field stood in a salute to Mays during a moment of silence as it was announced on the left-field video board.
While Mays excelled in high school at baseball, football and basketball, his love of baseball trumped those other sports. He was member of the Birmingham Black Barons while still in school, only playing on the weekends. Mays only traveled with team when school was out.
When the New York Giants caught wind of Mays, they purchased his contract from Birmingham in 1950. Mays acclimated quickly, batting .353 in 81 games with Trenton that season. In 1951, Mays had a breakout season with the Triple-A Minneapolis Millers, batting .477 in 35 games before the Giants recalled him in May.
At age 20, Mays became just the 10th Black player to in major league history. Mays' went hitless in his first three games before recording his first career hit — a home run off Hall of Famer Warren Spahn in the first inning of the Giants' 4-1 loss to the Braves on May 28, 1951.
Mays was also on deck when Bobby Thomson famously hit his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run against the Dodgers on Oct. 3, 1951 to win the National League pennant.
Mays' career was put on hold in 1952 after just 34 games that season. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to Fort Eustis in Virginia. Mays managed to keep his skills sharp by playing games regularly. He would also miss the entire 1953 season because of military service and did not return to the Giants until the spring of 1954.
The layoff from the game did not have any affect on Mays, as he won the first of his two career NL MVP awards that season. He led the league in batting at .345 and hitting 41 home runs to go along with 110 RBIs. Mays won his second NL MVP in 1965.
Mays made one of the most famous plays in baseball history during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against Cleveland at the Polo Grounds. With the score tied at 2 in the eighth inning, the Indians had two runners on base. Cleveland's Vic Wertz drilled a 2-1 pitch to deep centerfield, that sent Mays sprinting toward the wall with his back away from Wertz. He made a basket catch while on the run, turned and fired the ball into the infield. Because of Mays' catch and quick relay throw, it prevented both runners from scoring. Ultimately, the Giants went on to win the game 5-2 in 10 innings.
Today, the play is simply known as "The Catch."
"It wasn't no lucky catch," Mays noted years later.
Mays was traded on May 11, 1972 to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000. Mays retired after the 1973 season after helping the Mets win the NL pennant. In 1979, he was elected on his first ballot appearance into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In his 22-year career, Mays led the NL in home runs four different times, and his 660 home runs ranked third in big league history when he retired. Mays now ranks sixth in home runs behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols.
He also finished his career with 3,283 hits (12th all time) and 1,903 RBIs (10th all time).
Mays' death comes just two days before the Giants were set to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, in a game that would honor Mays and celebrate the legacy of Negro Leagues.
It was announced on Monday that Mays would be unable to attend the game.
Mays grew up in Alabama and began his professional career at age 17 in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays helped Birmingham to the Negro League World Series that season.
Major League Baseball has been working alongside the city of Birmingham and Friends of Rickwood nonprofit group to help renovate the 10,800-seat ballpark. Rickwood Field is now 114 years old and is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States.
"Thursday's game at historic Rickwood Field was designed to be a celebration of Willie Mays and his peers," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "With sadness in our hearts, it will now also serve as a national remembrance of an American who will forever remain on the short list of the most impactful individuals our great game has ever known."
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