Major League Baseball and San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays died Tuesday at age 93.
The “Say Hey Kid” performed with a showman’s flair, making basket catches in center field, taking daring chances on the base paths, winning four home run crowns, 12 Gold Glove Awards and laughing with a gleeful high-pitched voice.
Mays spent 21 of his 23 major-league seasons with the Giants organization in New York and San Francisco. He batted .301 with 660 home runs, 339 stolen bases, and 3,293 hits and won two National League MVP awards.
Mays left an indelible mark on baseball, sparking many members of the MLB community to pay tribute to him at Tuesday night’s games and on social media.
He leaves us with a lasting reminder: to work hard and find joy in this great game, and this extraordinary life. Say Hey, Willie Mays. The best there ever was. 💐 pic.twitter.com/9QnpsDZM9B
— SFGiants (@SFGiants)
June 19, 2024
I’ll never forget this day when I walked in and heard, “that’s that boy who wears his hat like this.”
RIP Willie Mays. You changed the game forever and inspired kids like me to chase our dream. Thank you for everything that you did on and off the field. Always in our hearts… pic.com/Xv2ZHbKFvt
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) June 19, 2024
“I got to tell him he was the greatest player I ever saw”
Keith Hernandez recalls his meetings with Willie Mays pic.com/j6BEI063fk
— SNY (@SNYtv) June 19, 2024
An in-game tribute to Willie Mays at the MiLB at Rickwood game. 🧡🖤 pic.com/roKgNF3gQd
— MLB (@MLB) June 19, 2024
One of the best to ever play the game and even a better person. Thoughts and prayers are with Willie’s family and loved ones. pic.com/kiyCbfBqOi
— Derek Jeter (@derekjeter) June 19, 2024
Willie Mays #24 was a legend amongst legends. I am blessed to have spent a few weeks around Willie and I can tell you this, baseball lived deep inside of his heart and he could trash talk with the best of them! Thank you Willie 🙏🏾🕊️ #restinparadise
— JIMMY ROLLINS (@JimmyRollins11) June 19, 2024
Say Hey, you were truly my idol, Willie.
You will be missed— Paul O’Neill (@PaulONeillYES) June 19, 2024
The @Cubs held a moment of silence at Wrigley Field for the passing of Willie Mays. pic.com/tlYm6sAARl
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 19, 2024
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport.
Mays was a two-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
— MLB (@MLB) June 19, 2024
We deeply mourn the loss of the great Willie Mays. Not only was he a phenomenal player, but he was also a tremendous human being. Here’s to you, Willie. Say Hey to Yogi for us. pic.com/H79GgpYMb8
— Yogi Berra Museum (@YogiBerraMuseum) June 19, 2024
Statement from Executive Director Tony Clark on the passing of Willie Mays pic.com/71vJaWhAPq
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) June 19, 2024
I’m devastated to hear about the passing of the legendary Hall of Famer Willie Mays, one of the main reasons I fell in love with baseball. Cookie and I are praying for his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time. 🙏🏾
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 19, 2024
He was a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a 2-time MVP, World Series champion, and a Hall of Famer.
The great Willie Mays has passed away. It was a privilege to know him. We were both honored by @MLB in 2010 with the Beacon Award, given to civil rights pioneers.
He was… pic.com/wdTTNUiEmt
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) June 19, 2024
Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill, and power. He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person – and an inspiration to an entire generation. I’m lucky to have spent time with him over the years, and Michelle and I… pic.com/tpO3O9B9yc
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 19, 2024
Quotes and anecdotes around MLB:
Ken Griffey Jr.: “My heart is on the floor,” the Hall of Famer told MLB Network. “I’m just grateful and thankful that I was able to spend the time I had with (Mays) because he is a true giant, on and off the field.”
Aaron Judge: The New York Yankees star outfielder and a California native reflected on meeting Mays.
“I have a family friend that is pretty close with his family,” Judge said. “I got a chance to meet him. He showed me a couple of things about throwing the baseball from the outfield, which I still remember. I have a couple…
GO DEEPER
Giants react to the death of Willie Mays: ‘The things he did we’ll never see again’
Sergio Romo: “Every day he was very willing to give his time, to give his expertise, to give his advice,” Romo, a three-time World Series champion with the Giants, told NBC Sports Bay Area about Mays visiting the club. “He made you feel visible.”
Bruce Bochy: This game allows you to meet…
Billy Owens: The Oakland A’s assistant general manager and a Bay Area native paid tribute to Mays in a text message to them.
“Say Hey was EVERYTHING…….Right there with Muhammad Ali as the Greatest,” Owens said. “The Excellence was Documented. The Style can never be duplicated. His power, speed, and grace forever unique. The catch still captured the…
Steven Kwan: The Cleveland Guardians outfielder and a Bay Area native said, “(Mays) was the face of the Giants. It was him and Barry Bonds and they would always be together. You’d see them talking. You wished you could be a fly on the…
Stephen Vogt: Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt’s grandfather lived in Oklahoma, and there were no MLB teams nearby. He chose the New York Giants…
Harold Reynolds: “Willie was like a father to all of us,” the former Seattle Mariners second baseman told MLB Network. “He was from that generation that was passing it on. … He had advice for…
Craig Counsell: “I’m saddened by the news about Willie Mays,” the Chicago Cubs manager said. “This is one of the Mt. Rushmore of baseball players in my opinion. A legend in our game. I got to meet him a…
Cody Bellinger: “I saw the news (of Mays’ death) in the seventh inning and was pretty saddened by it. Wearing the number 24 is special. He’s one of the best players in…
Bellinger wears No. 24 with the Cubs, the same jersey number Mays wore with the Giants and the New York Mets.
The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, Melissa Lockard, Zack Meisel, and Sahadev Sharma contributed to this story.
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(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)