Connect with us
Dice+

Las Vegas A's

Willie Mays dies at 93

© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Willie Mays, whose was arguably the best 5 tool player in MLB and arguably the greatest player who ever lived, died Tuesday afternoon at the age of 93, the San Francisco Giants announced.

“Today we have lost a true legend”, Giants Chairman Greg Johnson said in a statement. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant.

“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.”

In a career that amazed for over 20 years, here’s some of Willie Mays’ accomplishments during his pro career.

  • 660 Home Runs
  • 3,293 Hits
  • 1,909 RBI’s
  • 2,068 Runs
  • 2 NL MVP’s
  • 12 Golden Gloves
  • 24 All Star teams
  • Korean War Vet

Barry Bonds the godson of Mays left a statement on Instagram about the passing of his godfather.

“I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion. I have no words to describe what you mean to me- you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me.”

Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever. #SayHey

Duty Calls

Mays began his professional career at age 17 in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons, helping the team to the Negro League World Series that season. At age 20, Mays was the 10th Black player in major league history. Mays’ first career hit with the Giants was 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.
The Korean War interrupted Mays’ career in 1952. He played in 34 games for the Giants before he was drafted by the U.S. Army. Mays was assigned to Fort Eustis in Virginia, and he kept his skills sharp by playing games regularly. Mays also missed the entire 1953 season because of military service; he did not return to the Giants until the spring of 1954.
Despite the layoff from professional baseball he came back better than ever. Mays won the first of his two career NL MVP awards that season, leading the league in batting at .345 and hitting 41 home runs to go along with 110 RBIs. Mays won his other NL MVP in 1965.
“His incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable,” Manfred said in his statement. “We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Willie’s family, his friends across our game, Giants fans everywhere, and his countless admirers across the world.”

Reactions throughout the sports world

Jerry West Legacy

Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!

Robert LaMar is a writer  for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26

Related Topics

More in Las Vegas A's