Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid"[a] and "Buck", is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Mays ranks second behind only Babe Ruth on most all-time lists, including those of The Sporting News and ESPN. Mays played in the National League (NL) between 1951 and 1973 for the New York / San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Mays is the oldest living member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948, playing with them until the Giants signed him once he graduated from high school in 1950, then won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 after hitting 20 home runs to help the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. After spending most of the next two years in the United States Army during the Korean War, he was named the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1954 after winning the batting title with a .345 average and hitting 41 home runs. His over-the-shoulder catch of a Vic Wertz fly ball in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series is one of the most famous baseball plays of all time.
READ MORE: Willie Mays
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays
Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Saturday, May 6th 2023 at 1:56PM
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