Willie Mays From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Willie Mays Center fielder Born: May 6, 1931 (1931-05-06) (age 77) Westfield, Alabama Batted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut May 25, 1951 for the New York Giants Final game September 9, 1973 for the New York Mets Career statistics Batting average .302 Home runs 660 Hits 3,283 Teams New York / San Francisco Giants (1951-1952, 1954-1972) New York Mets (1972-1973) Career highlights and awards 21x All-Star selection (1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973) World Series champion (1954) 12x Gold Glove Award winner (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968) 2x NL MVP (1954, 1965) 1951 NL Rookie of the Year 2x MLB All-Star Game MVP (1963, 1968) 1971 Roberto Clemente Award San Francisco Giants #24 retired Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Elected 1979 Vote 94.7% (first ballot) Willie Howard Mays, Jr. (born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama) is a retired American baseball player who played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Many consider him to be the greatest all-around player of all time. Mays won two MVP awards and tied a record with twenty-four appearances in the All-Star Game. He ended his career with 660 career home runs, third at the time of his retirement, and currently fourth all-time. Other career milestones include: in 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking living player. Later that year, he was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Mays is the only Major League player to have hit a home run in every inning from the 1st through the 16th. He finished his career with a record 22 extra-inning home runs. Mays is one of four NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, along with Mel Ott, Sammy Sosa and Albert Pujols. Mays' first Major League manager, Leo Durocher, said of Mays: "He could do the five things you have to do to be a superstar: hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field. And he had that other ingredient that turns a superstar into a super superstar. He lit up the room when he came in. He was a joy to be around."[1] Upon his Hall of Fame induction, Mays was asked to name the best player that he had seen during his career. Mays replied, "I don't mean to be bashful, but I was."[2] Ted Williams once said "They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays."[3] Contents [hide] 1 Professional career 1.1 Early years 1.2 Major leagues 1.2.1 New York Giants (1951–57) 1.2.2 San Francisco Giants (1958–72) 1.2.3 New York Mets (1972–73) 1.2.4 Statistics 2 Post-playing days 3 Special honors and tributes 4 Personal life 5 Origin of "Say Hey Kid" nickname 6 See also 7 References and notes 8 References 9 External links [edit] Professional career [edit] Early years Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama, outside of Birmingham. His professional baseball career began in 1947, when he played briefly with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in Tennessee. Shortly thereafter, Mays returned to his home state and joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. Over the next several years, a number of Major League baseball franchises sent scouts to watch him play. The first was the Boston Braves. The scout that found him, Bud Maughn, referred him to the Braves but they declined. He then tipped a scout for the New York Giants. Finally, in 1950 Mays signed with the Giants and went to their Class-B affiliate in Trenton, New Jersey.[4] After Mays hit .353 in Trenton, he began the 1951 season at AAA Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. With the Millers, Mays displayed his offensive skills and defensive ability. After he hit .477 in 35 games, Mays was called up to the Majors on May 25, 1951. During his brief tenure in Minneapolis, he played with two other eventual Hall of Famers Hoyt Wilhelm and Ray Dandridge. [edit] Major leagues [edit] New York Giants (1951–57) Mays began his career with zero hits in his first twelve at bats. On his 13th at bat, he hit a homer over the left field fence of the Polo Grounds off Warren Spahn.[5] Mays' average improved steadily throughout the rest of the season. Although his .274 average, 68 RBI and 20 homers (in 121 games) were among the lowest of his career, he still won the 1951

Rookie of the Year Award. During the Giants' amazing comeback in August and September 1951 to overtake the Dodgers in the 1951 pennant race, Mays' fielding, and great arm were often instrumental to several important Giant victories.[6] Mays ended the regular season in the on-deck circle when Bobby Thomson hit the Shot Heard 'Round the World against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Catch: Willie Mays hauls in Vic Wertz's drive at the warning track in the 1954 World Series.The Giants went on to meet the New York Yankees in the 1951 World Series. This, his first World Series Game, October 4, 1951, was Mickey Mantle's as well. The first inning was unique as it was the only time that these two men batted back-to-back in the major leagues. Willie Mays flied out to right field (Mickey Mantle) for the third out in the top of the first; Mickey Mantle then took his at-bat for the Yankees in the bottom of the first, flying out to right field as well. Mays hit poorly and the Giants lost the series four games to two games. The six-game set was the only time that Mays and the aging Joe DiMaggio would play on the same field.[7]Mays was part of the first all-black outfield in major league history, along with Hall of Famer Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson, in Game One of the 1951 World Series.[8] The United States Army drafted Mays in 1952 and he subsequently missed part of the 1952 season and all of the 1953 season. Despite the conflict in Korea, Mays spent most of his time in the army playing baseball at Fort Eustis.[9] Mays missed about 266 games due to military service. It is possible that had Mays played in those games, he rather than Hank Aaron would have broken Babe Ruth's career home run record of 714. Mays returned to the Giants in 1954, hitting for a league-leading .345 batting average and also slugging 41 home runs. Mays won the National League Most Valuable Player Award and the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year. In addition, the Giants won the National League pennant and the 1954 World Series, sweeping the Cleveland Indians in four games. The 1954 series is perhaps best remembered for "The Catch," an astonishing, over-the-shoulder running grab by Mays in deep center field of the Polo Grounds of a long drive off the bat of Vic Wertz during the 8th inning of Game 1. The catch prevented two Indians runners from scoring, and preserved a tied score that the Giants went on to break in the 10th inning for the victory. Mays went on to perform at a high level each of the last three years the Giants were in New York City. In 1957, he won the first of twelve consecutive Gold Glove Awards. At the same time, Mays continued to finish in the NL's top 5 in a variety of offensive categories. Mays, Roberto Clemente, also with 12, and Ken Griffey, Jr. are the only outfielders to have more than 10 career Gold Gloves. 1957 also saw Mays become the fourth player in Major League history to join the 20–20–20 club (2B,3B,HR). No player had joined the "club" since 1941, and another would not join until 1979 when George Brett did it; and in 2007 both Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins also joined the club. [edit] San Francisco Giants (1958–72) The Giants were not one of the top teams in the National League between 1955 and 1960; they never finished higher than 3rd place or won more than 83 games in a season. After the 1957 season, the Giants franchise and Mays relocated to San Francisco, California. Mays bought two homes in San Francisco, then [10] lived in nearby Atherton.[11] 1958 found Mays vying for the NL batting title, down to the final game of season, just as in 1954. Mays collected three hits in the game, but Philadelphia Phillies' Richie Ashburn won the title. Alvin Dark was hired to manage the Giants before the start of the 1961 season, and named Mays team captain. The improving Giants finished '61 in third place and won 85 games, more than any of the previous six campaigns. Mays had one of his best games on April 30, 1961, hitting 4 home runs against the Milwaukee Braves.[12] Mays is also the only Major Leaguer to have both a 3 triple game and a 4 home run game.[13][14] The Giants won the National League pennant in 1962, with Mays leading the team in eight offensive categories. The team finished the regular season in a tie for first place with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and went on to win a three-game playoff series versus the Dodgers, advancing to play in the World Series. The Giants lost to the Yankees in seven games, and Mays hit just .250 with only two extra-base hits. It was his last World Series appearance as a member of the Giants. In both the 1963 and 1964 seasons Mays batted in over 100 runs each year, and hit 85 total home runs. On July 2, 1963, Mays played in a game when future Hall of Fame members Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal each threw 15 scoreless innings. In the bottom of the 16th inning, Mays hit a home run off Spahn and the Giants won the game 1-0.[15] Mays won his second MVP award in 1965 behind a career-high 52 home runs. He also hit career home run number 500 on September 13, 1965 off Don Nottebart. Warren Spahn, off whom Mays hit his first career home run, was his teammate at the time. After the home run, Spahn greeted Mays in the dugout, asking "Was it anything like the same feeling?" Mays replied "It was exactly the same feeling [and the] same pitch, too."[16] On August 22, 1965 Mays and Sandy Koufax acted as peacemakers during a 14-minute brawl between the Giants and Dodgers after an incident between San Francisco pitcher Juan Marichal and Dodgers catcher John Roseboro.[17] Mays played in over 150 games for

13 consecutive years (a major-league record) from 1954 to 1966. In 1966, his last with 100 RBIs, Mays finished 3rd in the NL MVP voting. It was the ninth and final time he finished in the top 5 in the voting for the award.[18] In 1970, the Sporting News named Mays as the "Player of the Decade" for the 1960s. Willie hit career home run number 600 off San Diego's Mike Corkins in September 1969. Plagued by injuries that season, he managed only 13 home runs. Mays enjoyed a resurgence in 1970, hitting 28 homers and got off to a fast start in 1971, the year he turned 40. He had 15 home runs at the All Star break, but faded down the stretch and finished with 18. During his time on the Giants, Mays was friends with fellow player Bobby Bonds. When Bobby's son, Barry Bonds, was born, Bobby asked Willie Mays to be Barry's godfather. Mays and the younger Bonds have maintained a close relationship ever since. [edit] New York Mets (1972–73) In May 1972, the 41-year-old Mays was traded to the New York Mets for Charlie Williams and $50,000.[19] At the time, the Giants franchise was losing money. Owner Horace Stoneham could not guarantee Mays an income after retirement and the Mets offered Mays a position as a coach upon his retirement.[20] Mays remained popular in New York long after the Giants had left for San Francisco, and the trade was seen as a public relations coup for the Mets. In his Mets debut, Mays hit a game-winning home run in the 5th inning against his former team, the Giants. Mays' played part of the 1972 season and all of the 1973 season before he retired. He only played in 133 games with the Mets, but was on the roster for the Mets in the 1973 World Series. Mays got the first hit of the series, which the Mets lost to the Oakland Athletics in 7 games. Mays registered only seven at-bats (with two hits), and fell down in the outfield during a play where he was hindered by the glare of the sun; he later said "growing old is just a helpless hurt." In 1972 and 1973 Mays was the oldest regular position player in baseball. Mays retired after the 1973 season with a lifetime batting average of .302 and 660 home runs. [edit] Statistics Year Ag Tm Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB K BA OBP SLG TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP 1951 20 NYG NL 121 464 59 127 22 5 20 68 7 4 57 60 .274 .356 .472 219 1 2 11 1952 21 NYG NL 34 127 17 30 2 4 4 23 4 1 16 17 .236 .326 .409 52 0 1 2 1954 23 NYG NL 151 565 119 195 33 13 41 110 8 5 66 57 .345 .411 .667 377 0 7 2 12 1955 24 NYG NL 152 580 123 185 18 13 51 127 24 4 79 60 .319 .400 .659 382 0 7 13 4 12 1956 25 NYG NL 152 578 101 171 27 8 36 84 40 10 68 65 .296 .369 .557 322 0 3 20 1 16 1957 26 NYG NL 152 585 112 195 26 20 35 97 38 19 76 62 .333 .407 .626 366 0 6 15 1 14 1958 27 SF NL 152 600 121 208 33 11 29 96 31 6 78 56 .347 .419 .583 350 0 6 12 1 11 1959 28 SF NL 151 575 125 180 43 5 34 104 27 4 65 58 .313 .381 .583 335 0 6 9 2 11 1960 29 SF NL 153 595 107 190 29 12 29 103 25 10 61 70 .319 .381 .555 330 0 9 11 4 15 1961 30 SF NL 154 572 129 176 32 3 40 123 18 9 81 77 .308 .393 .584 334 0 4 15 2 14 1962 31 SF NL 162 621 130 189 36 5 49 141 18 2 78 85 .304 .384 .615 382 0 3 11 4 11 1963 32 SF NL 157 596 115 187 32 7 38 103 8 3 66 83 .314 .380 .582 347 0 7 5 2 15 1964 33 SF NL 157 578 121 171 21 9 47 111 19 5 82 72 .296 .383 .607 351 1 3 13 1 11 1965 34 SF NL 157 558 118 177 21 3 52 112 9 4 76 71 .317 .398 .645 360 2 2 16 0 11 1966 35 SF NL 152 552 99 159 29 4 37 103 5 1 70 81 .288 .368 .556 307 1 4 11 2 13 1967 36 SF NL 141 486 83 128 22 2 22 70 6 0 51 92 .263 .334 .453 220 2 3 7 2 12 1968 37 SF NL 148 498 84 144 20 5 23 79 12 6 67 81 .289 .372 .488 243 0 6 7 2 13 1969 38 SF NL 117 403 64 114 17 3 13 58 6 2 49 71 .283 .362 .437 176 0 4 7 3 8 1970 39 SF NL 139 478 94 139 15 2 28 83 5 0 79 90 .291 .390 .506 242 0 6 3 3 7 1971 40 SF NL 136 417 82 113 24 5 18 61 23 3 112 123 .271 .425 .482 201 1 4 11 3 8 1972 41 SF NL 19 49 8 9 2 0 0 3 3 0 17 5 .184 .394 .224 11 1 0 1 0 4 NYM NL 69 195 27 52 9 1 8 19 1 5 43 43 .267 .402 .446 87 3 0 5 1 5 1973 42 NYM NL 66 209 24 44 10 0 6 25 1 0 27 47 .211 .303 .344 72 1 1 0 1 7 Totals: 2,992 10,881 2,062 3,283 523 140 660 1,903 338 103 1,464 1,526 .302 .384 .557 6,066 13 91 192 44 251 Led NL Led MLB Won NL MVP [21] [edit] Post-playing days After Mays stopped playing baseball, he remained an active person. Just as he had during his playing days, Mays continued to appear on various TV shows, in films, and in other forms of non-sports related media. Willie remained in the New York Mets organization as their hitting instructor until the end of the 1979 season.[22] On January 23, 1979, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was his first year of eligibility and he had appeared on 409 of the 432 ballots cast (roughly 95 percent).[23] Shortly after, he took a job at the Park Place (now Bally's Atlantic City) casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While there, he served as a Special Assistant to the President and as a greeter. Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was also a greeter during that time. When he heard of this, Bowie Kuhn, Baseball Commissioner, suspended both men from involvement in organized baseball. Peter Ueberroth, Kuhn's successor, lifted the suspension in 1985. Since 1986, Willie Mays has served as Special Assistant to the President of the San Francisco Giants. Mays' number 24 is retired by the San Francisco Giants. AT&T Park, the Giants stadium, is located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. In front of the main entrance to the stadium is a larger-than-life statue of Mays, (see image). [edit] Special honors and tributes

When Mays' godson Barry Bonds tied him for third on the all-time home run list, Mays greeted and presented him with a diamond-studded Olympic torch (given to Mays for his role in carrying the Olympic Torch during its tour through the U.S.). In 1992, when Bonds signed a free agent contract with the Giants, Mays personally offered Bonds his retired #24 (the number Bonds wore in Pittsburgh) but Bonds declined, electing to wear #25 instead, honoring his father Bobby Bonds who wore #25 with the Giants.[24] Willie Mays Day was proclaimed by former mayor Willie Brown and reaffirmed by mayor Gavin Newsom to be every May 24 in San Francisco, paying tribute to both his birth in the month (May 6), and his number (24). On 24 May 2004, during the fifty-year anniversary of The Catch, Willie Mays received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yale University [5]. On 6 December 2005 he was recognized for his accomplishments on and off the field when he received the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. Willie Mays received an honorary doctorate from Dartmouth College on 10 June 2007. At the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco, Mays received a special tribute for his legendary contributions to the game, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. On December 5, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver inducted Mays into the California Hall of Fame, located at The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.[25] On 4 June 2008, Community Board 10 in Harlem NYC, voted unanimously to name an 8 block service Road that connects to the Harlem River Drive from 155th Street to 163rd Street running adjacent to his beloved Polo Grounds - Willie Mays Drive.[6] [edit] Personal life Mays was married to the former Margherite Wendell Chapman in 1956. They adopted a son before divorcing in 1961. [edit] Origin of "Say Hey Kid" nickname It is not clear how Mays became known as the "Say Hey Kid". One story is that in 1951, Barney Kremenko, a New York Journal writer, having overheard Mays blurt "'Say who,' 'Say what,' 'Say where,' 'Say hey,'" proceeded to refer to Mays as the 'Say Hey Kid'.[26] The other story is that Jimmy Cannon created the nickname because, when Mays arrived in the majors, he did not know everyone's name. "You see a guy, you say, 'Hey, man. Say hey, man,' " Mays said. "Ted was the 'Splinter'. Joe was 'Joltin' Joe'. Stan was 'The Man'. I guess I hit a few home runs, and they said there goes the 'Say Hey Kid.'"[27] While known as "The Say Hey Kid" to the public, Mays's nickname to friends, close acquaintances and teammates is "Buck."[28] [edit] See also Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame 500 home run club List of Major League Baseball Home Run Records Top 500 home run hitters of all time MLB players who have hit 30 or more home runs before the All-Star break List of major league players with 2,000 hits List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI 3000 hit club 300-300 club 30-30 club 20–20–20 club 3000-300 club 3000-500 club 50 home run club List of Major League Baseball batting champions List of Major League Baseball home run champions List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions List of Major League Baseball triples champions Batters with four home runs in one game Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game Major League Baseball titles leaders [edit] References and notes ^ [1] [2] ^ Albuquerque Journal Online ^ National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: The Hall of Famers ^ Salon Brilliant Careers | Willie Mays ^ ESPN.com: Mays brought joy to baseball ^ Willie Mays, by Arnold Hano, Tempo Books, Grosset & Dunlop, Inc. NY. copyright 1966, pp. 60-75 first printing, August 1966, Library of Congress Number 66-17205 ^ The Series, an illustrated history of Baseball's postseason showcase, 1903-1993, The Sporting News, copyright 1993, The Sporting News Publishing Co. pp. 144-145 ISBN 0-89204-476-4 ^ Willie Mays, by Matt von Albade, Tempo Books, Grosset & Dunlop, Inc. NY. copyright 1966, p.80 first printing, August 1966, Library of Congress Number 66-17205 ^ BIOPROJ.SABR.ORG :: The Baseball Biography Project ^ Streetwise: Willie Mays - Western Neighborhoods Project - San Francisco History ^ Mary Kay Linge, Willie Mays: A Biography (Greenwood Press, 2005), p.151. ^ The Baseball Page ^ September 15, 1960 San Francisco Giants at Philadelphia Phillies Play by Play and Box Score - Baseball-Reference.com ^ April 30, 1961 San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Braves Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com ^ July 2, 1963 Milwaukee Braves at San Francisco Giants Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com ^ The majesty of Mays ^ Letting Off Steam - confrontations between players, fans and umpires | Baseball Digest | Find Articles at BNET.com ^ He also finished 6th in the balloting three times. ^ "Mays Trade (at bottom)". Retrieved on 2006-10-22. ^ Shaun McCormack, Willie Mays (Rosen Publishing Group, 2003). ^ "Willie Mays Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. ^ "Mays on the IMDBb". Retrieved on 2006-10-22. ^ [3] ^ [4]. ^ Mays inducted into California Hall of Fame, California Museum, Accessed 2007 ^ "Mays earns his nickname". Retrieved on 2006-10-21. ^ "Article on Mays". Retrieved on 2006-10-21. ^ "eMuseum: Willie Mays". Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Retrieved on 9 March, 2007. [edit] References David Pietrusza, Matthew Silverman & Michael Gershman, ed. (2000). Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia. Total/Sports Illustrated. "Willie's Time: A Memoir Of Another America", by Charles Einstein Willie Mays, by Arnold Hano, Tempo Books, Grosset & Dunlop, Inc. NY. copyright 1966, first printing, August 1966, Library of Congress Number 66-17205 The Series, an illustrated history of Baseball's postseason showcase, 1903-1993, The Sporting News, copyright 1993, The Sporting News publishing co. ISBN 0-89204-476-4 [edit] External links Baseball Hall of Fame – Member biography Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube Willie Mays article, Encyclopedia of Alabama [show]Accomplishments Preceded by Sam Jethroe National League Rookie of the Year 1951 Succeeded by Joe Black Preceded by Roy Campanella Ken Boyer National League Most Valuable Player 1954 1965 Succeeded by Roy Campanella

Roberto Clemente Preceded by Carl Furillo National League Batting Champion 1954 Succeeded by Richie Ashburn Preceded by Ben Hogan Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year 1954 Succeeded by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady Preceded by Ben Hogan Hickok Belt Winner 1954 Succeeded by Otto Graham Preceded by Ted Kluszewski Orlando Cepeda Hank Aaron & Willie McCovey National League Home Run Champion 1955 1962 1964-1965 Succeeded by Duke Snider Hank Aaron & Willie McCovey Hank Aaron Preceded by Bill Bruton National League Stolen Base Champion 1956-1959 Succeeded by Maury Wills Preceded by none Lew Burdette Willie McCovey Pete Rose Major League Player of the Month May 1958 (with Stan Musial) September 1958 August 1963 August, 1965 Succeeded by Frank Thomas Hank Aaron & Harvey Haddix Billy Williams Juan Marichal Preceded by Maury Wills & Leon Wagner Tony Perez Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player 1963 1968 Succeeded by Johnny Callison Willie McCovey Preceded by Rocky Colavito Batters with 4 home runs in one game April 30, 1961 Succeeded by Mike Schmidt [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball All-Century Team Pitchers Nolan Ryan · Sandy Koufax · Cy Young · Roger Clemens · Bob Gibson · Walter Johnson · Warren Spahn · Christy Mathewson · Lefty Grove Infielders Johnny Bench · Yogi Berra · Lou Gehrig · Mark McGwire · Jackie Robinson · Rogers Hornsby · Mike Schmidt · Brooks Robinson · Cal Ripken, Jr. · Ernie Banks · Honus Wagner Outfielders Babe Ruth · Hank Aaron · Ted Williams · Willie Mays · Joe DiMaggio · Mickey Mantle · Ty Cobb · Ken Griffey, Jr. · Pete Rose · Stan Musial [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball | MLB All-Time Team Lou Gehrig • Rogers Hornsby • Honus Wagner • Mike Schmidt (Infielders) • Johnny Bench (Catcher) • Paul Molitor (Designated hitter) Ted Williams • Willie Mays • Babe Ruth (Outfielders) • Walter Johnson • Sandy Koufax • Dennis Eckersley (Pitchers) • Casey Stengel (Manager) [show]v • d • eNational League MVP Award 1931: Frisch | 1932: Klein | 1933: Hubbell | 1934: Dean | 1935: Hartnett | 1936: Hubbell | 1937: Medwick | 1938: Lombardi | 1939: Walters | 1940: McCormick | 1941: Camilli | 1942: Cooper | 1943: Musial | 1944: Marion | 1945: Cavarretta | 1946: Musial | 1947: Elliott | 1948: Musial | 1949: J. Robinson | 1950: Konstanty | 1951: Campanella | 1952: Sauer | 1953: Campanella | 1954: Mays | 1955: Campanella | 1956: Newcombe | 1957: Aaron | 1958: Banks | 1959: Banks | 1960: Groat | 1961: F. Robinson | 1962: Wills | 1963: Koufax | 1964: Boyer | 1965: Mays | 1966: Clemente | 1967: Cepeda | 1968: B. Gibson | 1969: McCovey | 1970: Bench | 1971: Torre | 1972: Bench | 1973: Rose | 1974: Garvey | 1975: Morgan | 1976: Morgan | 1977: Foster | 1978: Parker | 1979: Hernandez & Stargell | 1980: Schmidt | 1981: Schmidt | 1982: Murphy | 1983: Murphy | 1984: Sandberg | 1985: McGee | 1986: Schmidt | 1987: Dawson | 1988: K. Gibson | 1989: Mitchell | 1990: Bonds | 1991: Pendleton | 1992: Bonds | 1993: Bonds | 1994: Bagwell | 1995: Larkin | 1996: Caminiti | 1997: Walker | 1998: Sosa | 1999: Jones | 2000: Kent | 2001: Bonds | 2002: Bonds | 2003: Bonds | 2004: Bonds | 2005: Pujols | 2006: Howard | 2007: Rollins| 2008: Pujols [show]v • d • eMajor League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award 1962: Wills | 1962: Wagner | 1963: Mays | 1964: Callison | 1965: Marichal | 1966: B. Robinson | 1967: Pérez | 1968: Mays | 1969: McCovey | 1970: Yastrzemski | 1971: F. Robinson | 1972: Morgan | 1973: Bonds | 1974: Garvey | 1975: Madlock & Matlack | 1976: Foster | 1977: Sutton | 1978: Garvey | 1979: Parker | 1980: Griffey, Sr. | 1981: Carter | 1982: Concepción | 1983: Lynn | 1984: Carter | 1985: Hoyt | 1986: Clemens | 1987: Raines | 1988: Steinbach | 1989: Jackson | 1990: Franco | 1991: Ripken Jr. | 1992: Griffey, Jr. | 1993: Puckett | 1994: McGriff | 1995: Conine | 1996: Piazza | 1997: Alomar, Jr. | 1998: Alomar | 1999: Martinez | 2000: Jeter | 2001: Ripken, Jr. | 2003: Anderson | 2004: Soriano | 2005: Tejada | 2006: Young | 2007: Ichiro | 2008: Drew [show]v • d • eRoberto Clemente Award 1971: Mays | 1972: Robinson | 1973: Kaline | 1974: Stargell | 1975: Brock | 1976: Rose | 1977: Carew | 1978: Luzinski | 1979: Thornton | 1980: Niekro | 1981: Garvey | 1982: Singleton | 1983: Cooper | 1984: Guidry | 1985: Baylor | 1986: Maddox | 1987: Sutcliffe | 1988: Murphy | 1989: Carter | 1990: Stewart | 1991: Reynolds | 1992: Ripken Jr. | 1993: Larkin | 1994: Winfield | 1995: Smith | 1996: Puckett | 1997: Davis | 1998: Sosa | 1999: Gwynn | 2000: Leiter | 2001: Schilling | 2002: Thome | 2003: Moyer | 2004: Martinez | 2005: Smoltz | 2006: Delgado | 2007: Biggio | 2008: Pujols [show]v • d • eNational League Outfielder Gold Glove Award 1958: Aaron, Mays, Robinson | 1959: Aaron, Brandt, Mays | 1960: Aaron, Mays, Moon | 1961: Clemente, Mays, Pinson | 1962: Clemente, Mays, Virdon | 1963: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1964: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1965: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1966: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1967: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1968: Clemente, Flood, Mays | 1969: Clemente, Flood, Rose | 1970: Agee, Clemente, Rose | 1971: Bo. Bonds, Clemente, W. Davis | 1972: Cedeño, Clemente, W. Davis | 1973: Bo. Bonds, Cedeño, W. Davis | 1974: Bo. Bonds, Cedeño, Gerónimo | 1975: Cedeño, Gerónimo, Maddox | 1976: Cedeño, Gerónimo, Maddox | 1977: Gerónimo, Maddox, Parker | 1978: Maddox, Parker, Valentine | 1979: Maddox, Parker, Winfield | 1980: Dawson, Maddox, Winfield | 1981: Baker, Dawson, Maddox | 1982: Dawson, Maddox, Murphy | 1983: Dawson, McGee, Murphy | 1984: Dawson, Dernier, Murphy | 1985: Dawson, McGee, Murphy | 1986: Gwynn, McGee, Murphy | 1987: E. Davis, Dawson, Gwynn | 1988: E. Davis, Dawson, Van Slyke | 1989: E. Davis, Gwynn, Van Slyke | 1990: Ba. Bonds, Gwynn, Van Slyke | 1991: Ba. Bonds, Gwynn, Van Slyke | 1992: Ba. Bonds, Van Slyke, Walker | 1993: Ba. Bonds, Grissom, Walker | 1994: Ba. Bonds, Grissom, Lewis | 1995: Finley, Grissom, Mondesí | 1996: Ba. Bonds, Finley, Grissom | 1997: Ba. Bonds, Mondesí, Walker | 1998: Ba. Bonds, Jones, Walker | 1999: Finley, Jones, Walker | 2000: Edmonds, Finley, Jones | 2001: Edmonds, Jones, Walker | 2002: Edmonds, Jones, Walker | 2003: Cruz, Edmonds, Jones | 2004: Edmonds, Finley, Jones | 2005: Abreu, Edmonds, Jones | 2006: Beltrán, Cameron, Jones | 2007: Beltrán, Jones, Francoeur/Rowand | 2008: Beltrán, McLouth, Victorino [show]v • d • e500 home run club Barry Bonds · Hank Aaron · Babe Ruth · Willie Mays · Ken Griffey, Jr. · Sammy Sosa · Frank Robinson · Mark McGwire · Harmon Killebrew · Rafael Palmeiro · Reggie Jackson · Alex Rodriguez · Mike Schmidt · Jim Thome · Mickey Mantle · Jimmie Foxx · Manny Ramirez · Willie McCovey · Frank Thomas · Ted Williams · Ernie Banks · Eddie Mathews · Mel Ott · Eddie Murray Italics denotes active player [show]v • d • e3000 hit club Pete Rose · Ty Cobb · Hank Aaron · Stan Musial · Tris Speaker · Carl Yastrzemski · Cap Anson · Honus Wagner · Paul Molitor · Eddie Collins · Willie Mays · Eddie Murray · Nap Lajoie · Cal Ripken, Jr. · George Brett · Paul Waner · Robin Yount · Tony Gwynn · Dave Winfield · Rickey Henderson · Rod Carew · Craig Biggio · Lou Brock · Rafael Palmeiro · Wade Boggs · Al Kaline · Roberto Clemente [show]v • d • eNew York Giants 1954 World Series Champions 9 Wes Westrum | 10 Davey Williams | 16 Hank Thompson | 19 Alvin Dark | 20 Monte Irvin | 22 Don Mueller | 24 Willie Mays | 25 Whitey Lockman | 26 Dusty Rhodes | 28 Rubén Gómez (baseball) | 35 Sal Maglie | 37 Don Liddle | 42 Marv Grissom | 43 Johnny Antonelli | 49 Hoyt Wilhelm Manager 2 Leo Durocher [show]v • d • eSan Francisco Giants Retired Numbers Christy Mathewson • John McGraw • #3 Bill Terry • #4 Mel Ott • #11 Carl Hubbell • #24 Willie Mays • #27 Juan Marichal • #30 Orlando Cepeda • #36 Gaylord Perry • #44 Willie McCovey [show]v • d • eSan Francisco Giants Formerly the New York Giants • Based in San Francisco, California (Bay Area) The Franchise History • Seasons • Records • Players • Managers • Broadcasters Ballparks Polo Grounds • Oakland Park • St. George Grounds • Hilltop Park • Seals Stadium • Candlestick Park • AT&T Park Culture Curse of Fred Merkle • Shot Heard 'Round the World • The Catch • 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake • White Flag Trade Rivalries Dodgers-Giants rivalry • Bay Bridge Series Important Figures John McGraw • Christy Mathewson • Joe McGinnity • Roger Bresnahan • Rube Marquard • Tim Keefe • Juan Marichal • Willie Mays • Willie McCovey • Carl Hubbell • Bill Terry • Frankie Frisch • George Kelly • Travis Jackson • Ross Youngs • Mel Ott • Mickey Welch • Freddie Lindstrom • Amos Rusie • Alvin Dark • Bobby Thomson • Monte Irvin • Orlando Cepeda • Gaylord Perry • Barry Bonds • Jeff Kent • Will Clark • Kevin Mitchell • Matt Williams • Jeffrey

Leonard • Dusty Baker • Roger Craig Retired Numbers 3 • 4 • 11 • 24 • 27 • 30 • 36 • 42 • 44 World Series Champions (5) 1905 • 1921 • 1922 • 1933 • 1954 National League Championships (20) 1888 • 1889 • 1904 • 1905 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1917 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1933 • 1936 • 1937 • 1951 • 1954 • 1962 • 1989 • 2002 Other titles Western: 1971 • 1987 • 1989 • 1997 • 2000 • 2003 • Wild Card: 2002 Minors AAA: Fresno Grizzlies • AA: Connecticut Defenders • A: San Jose Giants • Augusta GreenJackets • Salem-Keizer Volcanoes • Rookie: AZL Giants • DSL Giants [show] Seasons (127) 1880s 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888 • 1889 1890s 1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899 1900s 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 1910s 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 1920s 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 1930s 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 1940s 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 1950s 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 1960s 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 1970s 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 1980s 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 1990s 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 2000s 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 [show]v • d • eBaseball Hall of Fame Class of 1979 BBWAA Vote Willie Mays (94.68%) Veterans Committee Warren Giles • Hack Wilson J. G. Taylor Spink Award Tim Murnane • Dick Young Ford C. Frick Award Bob Elson [show]v • d • eOutfielders in the National Baseball Hall of Fame Hank Aaron • Richie Ashburn • Earl Averill • Cool Papa Bell • Lou Brock • Willard Brown • Jesse Burkett • Max Carey • Oscar Charleston • Fred Clarke • Roberto Clemente • Ty Cobb • Earle Combs • Sam Crawford • Kiki Cuyler • Ed Delahanty • Joe DiMaggio • Larry Doby • Hugh Duffy • Elmer Flick • Goose Goslin • Tony Gwynn • Chick Hafey • Billy Hamilton • Harry Heilmann • Pete Hill • Harry Hooper • Monte Irvin • Reggie Jackson • Al Kaline • Willie Keeler • Joe Kelley • King Kelly • Ralph Kiner • Chuck Klein • Mickey Mantle • Heinie Manush • Willie Mays • Tommy McCarthy • Joe Medwick • Stan Musial • Jim O'Rourke • Mel Ott • Kirby Puckett • Sam Rice • Frank Robinson • Edd Roush • Babe Ruth • Al Simmons • Enos Slaughter • Duke Snider • Tris Speaker • Willie Stargell • Turkey Stearnes • Sam Thompson • Cristóbal Torriente • Lloyd Waner • Paul Waner • Zack Wheat • Billy Williams • Ted Williams • Hack Wilson • Dave Winfield • Carl Yastrzemski • Ross Youngs Big Purple Soda Can Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays" Categories: 1931 births | Living people | National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees | Major League Baseball center fielders | New York Giants baseball players | San Francisco Giants players | New York Mets players | African American baseball players | Negro league baseball players | Birmingham Black Barons players | National League All-Stars | Major League Baseball players from Alabama | National League batting champions | National League home run champions | National League stolen base champions | Gold Glove Award winners | Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award winners | Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVPs | United States Army soldiers | People from Jefferson County, Alabama | People from New Rochelle, New York | Major League Baseball players with retired numbers