Willie Mays, the legendary baseball player who played for 22 seasons, passed away at the age of 93, as announced by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The Giants stated that Mays died peacefully.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred expressed condolences, highlighting Mays’ journey from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the Giants, where he inspired players and fans across the country.
Mays had previously announced he couldn’t attend a special tribute game due to health reasons. The game, honoring Mays and the Birmingham Black Barons, will now include a ceremony celebrating his life.
Known as the “Say Hey Kid,” Mays spent most of his career with the Giants, making memorable plays like “The Catch” during the 1954 World Series. He began playing baseball with his father in Alabama and later joined the Birmingham Black Barons before signing with the New York Giants.
Despite an interruption for military service during the Korean War, Mays quickly excelled in baseball, winning Rookie of the Year in his first season. He went on to have a remarkable career, becoming a 24-time All-Star, winning two MVP awards, and finishing with 660 home runs.
Mays’ impact extended beyond his playing days, with a statue erected in his honor at Oracle Park in San Francisco. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.