Truly one of the greats. An icon of sport, not just baseball.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3070070/2024/06/18/willie-mays-obituary-giants/
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3070070/2024/06/18/willie-mays-obituary-giants/
Non hoops but huge. Willie Mays passes at 93
- Thread starter BonzoFury
- Start date
And don't forget that Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks and the rest of the Black players from the 50s, 60s, and 70s -- maybe into the 80s -- were treated like dirt in the South, and that includes places like St. Louis where Black players were not allowed to stay in the team hotel with White players. Mays, Aaron, Banks, et al. had to stay in separate, Black hotels. And then there were the restrictions on restaurants and on travel and all the rest of that racist BS, which is still rampant today, although usually less overt.
So when you remember Mays and the other great Black players from those days, remember that Jackie Robinson wasn't the only one who faced blatant racism.
So when you remember Mays and the other great Black players from those days, remember that Jackie Robinson wasn't the only one who faced blatant racism.
The Say Hey Kid made some of the greatest defensive plays in addition to his offense. He was famous for his basket catches at his waist. He was also a patriotic American who gave up I believe two seasons to serve in the military. He was a great person as well as a great baseball player. Rest in Peace Willie.
I remember watching some games in probably the late 60s/early 70s, when baseball games were just starting to be available on TV (other than the Yankees), and thinking Mays is pretty good. That was Mays at the end of his 22-year career, beyond his prime.
Mays had 13 STRAIGHT seasons with an on base percentage of around .400, an OPS around 1.000, and won the gold glove for outfielders. He even lost a prime year to military service. Any player who has even one year with those stats is considered great. If he isn't the greatest baseball player ever, he is on a very small list.
Mays had 13 STRAIGHT seasons with an on base percentage of around .400, an OPS around 1.000, and won the gold glove for outfielders. He even lost a prime year to military service. Any player who has even one year with those stats is considered great. If he isn't the greatest baseball player ever, he is on a very small list.
Willie was THE greatest five tool player before five tool was cool.
Sporting News got it wrong, Mays was THE greatest player ever; not #2 IMO.
Much respect for Mays disrupting his brilliant career for 1 3/4 seasons for military service. Similar to Iowa’s own Bob Feller and many others.
Sporting News got it wrong, Mays was THE greatest player ever; not #2 IMO.
Much respect for Mays disrupting his brilliant career for 1 3/4 seasons for military service. Similar to Iowa’s own Bob Feller and many others.
