On June 18, 2024, Willie Mays, a San Francisco Giants legend and baseball Hall of Famer, passed away at the age of 93. Mays had an illustrious career that spanned over four decades.
Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama on May 6, 1931. In 1948, he joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro leagues before signing with the New York Giants in 1950 for $4,000. He made his major league debut on May 25, 1951 and got his first major league hit, a home run off Warren Spahn, on May 28, 1951.
Mays was known for his incredible talent and athleticism on the field. He made history in numerous ways throughout his career. In addition to hitting a home run off Spahn in his first major league game, he also hit four home runs in a single game against Milwaukee in 1961 and hit his 500th home run off Don Nottebart in Game One of the World Series in 1965.
Despite these achievements, Mays faced challenges throughout his career. In 1965, he was banned from baseball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn after being accused of holding a casino job while still involved with the sport. However, he was eventually reinstated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth in 1985 and went on to have an even more successful career.
Mays’ legacy will live on long after he is gone. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and has earned numerous accolades for his accomplishments both on and off the field. His impact on baseball cannot be overstated and he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever grace the diamond.
