Willie Mays

May 9, 2020 cosmath21 Uncategorized 0

Willie Mays
baseballhall.org

(This is the second of nine players who are not included in Strat-O-Matic’s Negro Leagues legends set, posted in honor of his birthday this week and because he played in the Negro Leagues before joining MLB.)

If you were to ask me, right now, who is the greatest living ballplayer, I would instantly say Willie Mays. If I were to start an all-time team, he would be my number one draft pick. Power, speed, defense, intelligence, enthusiasm – he had it all. I only remember Willie Mays playing with the New York Mets at the end of his career, and it is a great regret that I never saw him in his prime. But I’ve seen the film, I’ve read the stats, and I’ve heard the stories.

“If he could cook, I’d marry him.”

Leo Durocher

In the Negro Leagues …

From left to right:
nlbemuseum.com, Dallas Morning News, Minor League Baseball

Willie Mays played 3 seasons in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons (1948-1950). In his first year, he hit .262 with 1 home run and 1 stolen base. But it was easy to see the talent. In 1949 he hit .311, and then hit .330 in 1950 with a .547 slugging percentage. He was signed by the New York Giants during that 1950 season.

“That’s all for you today, young ‘un.”

Satchel Paige, after Willie Mays doubled off him in his first at-bat against him.
(Paige struck him out the next three times.)

The Catch

From left to right: wikipedia.org, abcny7.com

Willie Mays most famous moment is probably his catch of Vic Wertz’s bomb in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. He was playing shallow so he could throw out Larry Doby (on second base) at home, and the blast went deep over his head. But he was running to that spot before the ball was even hit. That’s the thing about Willie Mays, he knew what was going to happen. He got to that ball while slowing down, so that he was able to make that throw and keep Doby from scoring. Thanks to that catch, the Giants upset the mighty Cleveland Indians to win that game, and then went on to win the Series.

“There were men faster than Willie Mays, but I never saw one faster with a fly ball in the air.”

Buck O’Neil

Mays and the Red Sox?

As a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, it pains me to hear that the Red Sox could have signed him before the Giants did. Can you imagine Mays in centerfield, with Ted Williams in left field? (And Dom DiMaggio in right field?) Williams probably could have played on the left field foul line, and let Mays/DiMaggio cover the rest. Why didn’t the Sox sign him? A GM’s lapse in judgement? A racist owner? What could have been?

Seeing the Legend in Person

One last story about Willie Mays. Our local Triple A team, the Fresno Grizzlies, were affiliated with the San Francisco Giants. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I brought my kids to the park with me. We were not lucky enough to be selected to get to meet with Willie, but between innings he came out of the luxury box to wave to the fans. I said to my kids “Soak it in. You are in the presence of greatness.” I’ll never forget it.

Links to Learn More About Willie Mays