Pro-Baseball Legend Willie Mays Has Died At 93 Years Old [CONDOLENCES]

Pro-Baseball Legend Willie Mays Has Died At 93 Years Old [CONDOLENCES]

Willie Mays has passed away. The professional baseball icon died “peacefully” in his home on yesterday morning (Tuesday, June 18). The San Francisco Giants announced via X (formerly Twitter).

Willie Mays, known as “The Say Hey Kid,” began his decorated career as a teenage baseball player for the Negro Leagues’ Birmingham Black Barons. He entered Major League Baseball when  the New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants) scouted him in 1950. He had also caught the attention of other pro teams like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, but they were too hesitant to sign him due to his race. After making his pro-baseball debut in 1951, he served in the Army during the Korean War for two years, returning to the Giants in 1954. And he didn’t waste time making his mark.

Willie Mays won a single World Series during his career, which was against the Cleveland Indians, now the Guardians, where he coined his infamous over-the-shoulder catch, a play now widely known as “The Catch.”

He ultimately relocated to San Francisco with the team, and played for the Giants for a total of 21 years. He was traded to the New York Mets in 1972 and ended his pro-baseball career with the Mets in 1973.

His decades-long career included 660 home runs, 338 stolen bases, and 525 doubles. Ten hits were added to his total after the Negro League stats were finally included in the MLB this past May.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, which was the first year he was eligible.

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” Michael Mays said in a statement to the Giants. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

Though his on-field career ended in the 70s, Willie Mays was very much a part of the game until his death, serving as the special assistant to the president of the Giants in 1986 and staying connected to the team for the remainder of his life.

Condolences to Willie Mays’ family and all impacted by his death.

[VIA: 1, 2]