By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays has passed away. He was 93.
An official cause of death was not announced at the time of his passing. The San Francisco Giants announced his passing late Tuesday evening.
“All of Major League Baseball is in mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and a legacy like no other began,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise. From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime.
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“Just as his career was ascending, Willie served his country in the U.S. Army in 1952 and 1953. As the 1954 NL MVP, he led the Giants to victory in the World Series, in which he made one of the most memorable plays ever with ‘The Catch’ in the deep center field of the Polo Grounds. All told, Willie was a two-time MVP, a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a selection as one of the game’s Greatest Living Players in 2015, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom later that year.”
In his MLB career, Mays appeared in 3,005 games. He had a .301 batting average with 660 home runs and 1,909 RBIs.
“And yet his incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable,” Manfred continued. “We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Willie’s family, his friends across our game, Giants fans everywhere, and his countless admirers across the world.”
He played 21 seasons with the New York and San Francisco Giants organization. He also played two seasons for the New York Mets. Mays played one season with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro Leagues.
On Thursday, there will be an MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues on FOX. This will honor the life of Mays and his peers and feature an MLB contest.
Mays played on the field during the 1948 season. The Black Barons called Rickwood Field home from 1924 until 1960.
The San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals will play a one-game special contest at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game will be televised at 7 pm EST.
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“Thursday’s game at historic Rickwood Field was designed to be a celebration of Willie Mays and his peers,” Manfred added. “With sadness in our hearts, it will now also serve as a national remembrance of an American who will forever remain on the short list of the most impactful individuals our great game has ever known.”
The Giants (36-38) are projected to have Keaton Winn (3-7) start in Alabama. The Cardinals (36-36) are projected to have Andre Pallante (2-3) on the mound.
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