Baseball legend Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93.
Known as the “Say Hey Kid,” Mays starred for the New York and San Francisco Giants and is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
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Driving the news: The San Francisco Giants and the Mays family announced on Tuesday night that he passed away, which comes just days before the Giants are set to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, to honor the Negro Leagues, where Mays made his professional debut.
- Mays was the oldest living Hall of Famer, having starred for the Giants from 1951 to 1972 – with a hiatus in 1952 and 1953 to serve in the Korean War – before finishing his career with the New York Mets in 1973.
- Mays is fifth on the all-time home run leaderboard with 660 and batted .302 over his career, tallying 3,283 hits.
- He won Rookie of the year in 1951 and was named the Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1965.
What they’re saying: “My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” said son Michael Mays said in a statement. “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.”
- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the entire league is in mourning as the Giants and Cardinals prepare to play at the ballpark where Mays started his career.
- “Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise,” Manfred said. “From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime. … 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. We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.”
