Willie Mays passed away at the age of 93. Mays was one of the greatest players in the history of Major League Baseball, making his mark with the New York and San Francisco Giants. A career that spanned 23 seasons, Mays hit .301 with 660 home runs and 156.2 bWAR that ranks third in MLB history behind Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here’s the Giants announcement of Mays’ passing.
He leaves us with a lasting reminder: to work hard and find joy in this great game, and this extraordinary life. Say Hey, Willie Mays. The best there ever was. ???? pic.twitter.com/9QnpsDZM9B
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 19, 2024
Major League Baseball also released a statement on Mays’ passing.
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport.
Mays was a two-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In… pic.twitter.com/kOqxNnetg7
— MLB (@MLB) June 19, 2024
Jon Miller, the legendary play-by-play voice for the Giants and 2010 Ford C. Frick Award winner, shared the news on the Giants television broadcast.
Jon Miller took a moment during the broadcast to acknowledge the passing of Willie Mays pic.twitter.com/4ZcXDouOfZ
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 19, 2024
Dave Flemming, the radio voice of the Giants also announced it on the air.
Dave Flemming was in the visitors' radio booth at Wrigley Field the moment the report of Willie Mays' passing was made public.
Here's what it sounded like on our airwaves as he passed on the news to Giants fans everywhere. pic.twitter.com/pf5lK921z9
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 19, 2024
The news was announced at Rickwood Field, where Mays played as a member of the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 as a 17-year-old. Rickwood Field hosted a minor league game between the Rays’ and White Sox’s Double-A affiliates. Mays released a statement the day before that he would not attend the game.
Willie Mays’ passing is announced to the Rickwood Field crowd, and rising as one, it salutes the Alabama native and former Birmingham Black Baron. pic.twitter.com/e2EHJT1udb
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) June 19, 2024
Former President of the United States Barack Obama chimed in. Obama was the first black president elected in the country’s history and served from 2009 to 2017.
Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill and power. He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person – and an inspiration to an entire generation. I’m lucky to have spent time with him over the years, and Michelle and I… pic.twitter.com/tpO3O9B9yc
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 19, 2024
Keith Hernandez, the color commentator for the New York Mets’ television broadcast, recalled his interactions with the former Giant and Met.
"I got to tell him he was the greatest player I ever saw"
Keith Hernandez recalls his meetings with Willie Mays pic.twitter.com/j6BEI063fk
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 19, 2024
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who started his professional career with the Giants, chimed in after the Mets defeated the Texas Rangers.
Carlos Mendoza started his postgame media availability honoring Willie Mays and tells stories of his interactions with the legend when he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants pic.twitter.com/zkUJ1UxwU3
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 19, 2024
Do-Hyoung Park, a reporter covering the Minnesota Twins, published a picture of an ad of then New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham in which he apologized to Minneapolis Millers fans for calling up Mays in 1951. Minneapolis was the Triple-A affilliate for the Giants.
When Willie Mays got called up from Triple-A in 1951, the Giants' affiliate was the Minneapolis Millers.
Found the old ad taken out by Giants owner Horace Stoneham in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune to essentially apologize to Minnesota baseball fans for taking Mays from them: pic.twitter.com/NNS81KinNj
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) June 19, 2024
Another legendary center fielder, Ken Griffey Jr., spoke about Mays on the Giants’ television broadcast.
"He's the godfather of center fielders"
Ken Griffey Jr. reflects on Willie Mays pic.twitter.com/XmpLp7tFk5
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 19, 2024
Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski talked about the impact Mays had on him.
Yaz's favorite Willie Mays memory is as special as it gets ???? pic.twitter.com/Mt5dg9rCGr
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 19, 2024
The Giants will play the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field on Thursday, June 20. Giants ace Logan Webb said they will play the game in Mays’ honor.
"We're going to play in his honor."
Logan Webb is heartbroken that Willie Mays passed before Thursday's game at Rickwood Field pic.twitter.com/ARaLd0E2y5
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 19, 2024
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
