Willie Mays

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Lore & Background

Mays's career was anchored by his exceptional defensive play at center field, highlighted by his over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. This moment, occurring while playing for the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds, is considered one of the most famous baseball plays of all time and helped lead the team to their last World Series title before the franchise moved to San Francisco. (The Giants would later win World Series titles in 2010, 2012, and 2014 as the San Francisco Giants.) Beyond that singular play, Mays set standards for defensive brilliance by winning 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards after their creation in 1957, a record for outfielders. He led National League center fielders in double plays five times and assists three times. Offensively, he brought a resurgence of speed to the game in the 1950s, leading the league in stolen bases four times, triples three times, and runs twice during that decade, tallying 179 steals. He became the first National League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season.

In Their Own Story

In 1951, Giants manager Leo Durocher called Mays directly to urge him to join the team, telling him to 'Quit costing the ball club money with long-distance phone calls.' Mays made his debut on May 25 against the Philadelphia Phillies but went hitless in his first 12 at-bats. He finally connected for a home run off Warren Spahn on May 28, hitting it over the left-field roof of the Polo Grounds. After Durocher dropped him to eighth in the order to focus on making contact, Mays responded with four hits in two games and pushed his average over .300 by month's end. That year, despite a .274 average, he won the Rookie of the Year Award while helping the Giants win their first pennant in 14 years. Later, in 1954, he secured the National League MVP Award, leading the Giants to victory over the Cleveland Indians. His journey included an early trade to the New York Mets in 1972, where he ended his career after the team's trip to the 1973 World Series.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace Mays's path from his time with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 to his signing with the Giants for a $4,000 contract upon graduating high school in 1950. He spent part of that year with the Class B Trenton Giants, batting .353, before moving to Triple-A Minneapolis Millers where he hit .477 in 35 games. His career statistics are staggering: a .301 lifetime batting average, 660 home runs (ranking third at retirement), and 2,992 games played. He was the first player in history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, and the second player overall to hit 600 home runs. Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 on his first year of eligibility. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also served as a coach for the Mets for the rest of the 1970s before rejoining the Giants organization.

Did You Know?

• Mays was the first player in history to reach both 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases.
• He won 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards after their creation in 1957, a record for outfielders.
• In his first 12 Major League at-bats, Mays went hitless before hitting a home run off Warren Spahn on May 28, 1951.
• Mays was the first National League player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season.
• He led the league in stolen bases four times during the 1950s, with a total of 179 steals that decade.

Rise from Humble Beginnings to Hall of Fame

Born May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, Mays was raised by his father and two aunts after his parents separated when he was three. He played for the Birmingham Black Barons starting in 1948 while still in high school, making an agreement to only play home games so he could finish football season. After graduating in 1950, he signed with the New York Giants. He debuted on May 24, 1951, and after a slow start, won the Rookie of the Year Award with 20 home runs.

Dominant Power and Fearsome Reputation

Mays was a five-tool player who led the National League in home runs four times and slugging percentage five times. He finished with 660 home runs, 1,903 RBIs, and a .301 average. In 1954, he won MVP and led the Giants to their last World Series title before moving west. He later won another MVP in 1965. During the 1950s, he led the league in stolen bases four times, triples three times, and runs twice.

The Defining Heartbreak of 1962

In 1962, Mays led the Giants to the World Series against the New York Yankees. The team lost the series. This was one of two World Series appearances for Mays with the Giants; he also played in the 1954 and 1973 World Series.

Legacy and Impact Beyond the Field

Mays served as a coach for the Mets after his playing career ended following the 1973 season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and named to the All-Century Team in 1999. In 2015, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. At retirement, he held records for games as a center fielder (2,829) and putouts as an outfielder (7,095), and was the first right-handed hitter to reach 600 home runs.