How much do you know about Willie Mays?
Willie Mays is one of the signature players in baseball history. However, not much is known about him beyond the typical stuff like the 1954 World Series catch, the 660 career home runs, the Hall of Fame election, and the "Say Hey Kid" nickname. Beyond these obvious items, he is kind of an enigma.
When did Willie Mays get called up to the majors?
Promoted to the Class AAA Minneapolis Millers of the American Association in 1951, he batted .477 in 35 games. Playing excellent defense, Mays was called up by the Giants on May 24, 1951. Initially, Mays was reluctant to accept the promotion because he did not believe he was ready to face major league pitchers.
Was Willie Mays the Best Defensive Player of all time?
"The Catch" is considered by many to be the greatest defensive play ever. Mays played 21 seasons with the Giants, and finished up with the Mets in 1972 and 1973. He hit over .300 10 times, en route to a career .302 mark. He was a two-time NL MVP (1954 and 1965), and a 20-time All-Star.
What years did Willie Mays play for the Giants?
What years did Willie Mays play for the Giants?
Willie Mays played for the Giants organization from 1951-1972, taking most of 1952 and all of 1953 off to serve in the military. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) Ernie Banks (left), Don Newcombe (center) and Willie Mays pose following an exhibition game in Asheville, N.C. during their 1955 barnstorming tour.
Where was Willie Mays born and raised?
Where was Willie Mays born and raised?
Willie Mays was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, USA as Willie Howard Mays.
Did Willie Mays hit in Game 5 of the World Series?
In Game 1, Mays, Hank Thompson, and Monte Irvin comprised the first all- African-American outfield in major league history. Mays hit poorly while the Giants lost the series 4–2. In Game 5 he hit a consequential fly ball, which DiMaggio and Yankee rookie Mickey Mantle pursued.
