Willie Mays - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Willie Mays was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. He grew up in a segregated community and faced discrimination throughout his childhood.
- 2. Mays began his professional baseball career in the Negro Leagues, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons at the age of 16. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional talent and was signed by the New York Giants in 1951.
- 3. Mays made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Giants on May 25, 1951, and quickly became one of the most dominant players in the league. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1951.
- 4. Mays was known for his incredible athleticism and all-around skills on the baseball field. He was a five-tool player, meaning he excelled in hitting for average, hitting for power, base running, throwing, and fielding.
- 5. Mays won two National League MVP awards in his career, in 1954 and 1965. He was selected to 24 All-Star Games and won 12 Gold Glove Awards for his exceptional fielding.
- 6. Mays was a key player for the San Francisco Giants after the team moved from New York in 1958. He helped lead the Giants to the World Series in 1962 and won his only championship in 1954.
- 7. Mays is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, receiving 94.7% of the vote, one of the highest percentages in Hall of Fame history.
- 8. Mays finished his career with 660 home runs, which was the third-highest total in MLB history at the time of his retirement. He also had a career batting average of .302 and 3,283 hits.
- 9. After retiring as a player, Mays worked as a coach and special assistant for the San Francisco Giants. He also served as a goodwill ambassador for Major League Baseball, traveling around the world to promote the sport.
- 10. Mays' impact on the game of baseball and his influence on future generations of players is immeasurable. He is considered a pioneer for African American athletes in baseball and is remembered as a true legend of the sport.