Legendary baseball player Willie Mays passes away at 93-years-old | US News

Willie Mays, known as the ‘Say Hey Kid’ and considered one of the greatest players in baseball history, has passed away at the age of 93.

His son Michael Mays confirmed the news of the legendary centre fielder’s passing on Tuesday evening through a statement released by the San Francisco Giants.

“My father has peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones,” he said.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering love and support you all have shown him throughout the years. You have been his lifeblood.”

Giants Chairman Greg Johnson also expressed his condolences: “He had a significant impact not only on the sport of baseball, but on the essence of America.

“He was an inspiration and a hero who will always be remembered and deeply missed.”

Major League Baseball (MLB) also paid tribute and expressed their sorrow at the loss of “one of the most dynamic all-around players in the history of our sport”.

Born in 1931 and making his professional debut in 1948, Mays was a 24-time All-Star who played for parts of 21 seasons with the Giants, both in New York and San Francisco.

Throughout his career, he maintained a batting average of .301, hit 660 home runs, accumulated 3,293 hits, scored 2,068 runs, and earned 12 Gold Gloves.

Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, receiving nearly 95% of all ballots cast in his favor.

‘The Catch’

His most iconic moment came during game one of the 1954 World Series, when he made an incredible over-the-shoulder basket catch while sprinting towards the centre field wall at the Polo Grounds.

This moment, famously known as “The Catch”, proved pivotal in the Giants’ 5-2 victory in ten innings. It was the only time Mays won the World Series.

In 2010, Mays reflected on the catch, saying to biographer James S Hirsch: “Soon as it got hit, I knew I’d catch the ball.

“All the time I’m running back, I’m thinking, ‘Willie, you’ve got to get this ball back to the infield’.”

In 2017, the World Series Most Valuable Player award was named after Mays, despite his singular post-season win.

Prior to his MLB career, Mays spent a season with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro American League.

Segregated from other baseball leagues, the Negro leagues excluded African American players due to the color line policy, which banned black players from the MLB and its affiliated Minor Leagues.

Although Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1945 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, full integration of African American players did not occur until the 1960s.

The MLB recently acknowledged the importance of the segregated leagues in baseball history, and a game honoring Mays and the Negro leagues will be held soon.

Mays, unable to attend the game, expressed his sentiments to the San Francisco Chronicle, saying: “My heart will be with all of you who are honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons.”

Read more on Sky News:
‘Bloodshot’ Timberlake mugshot released
Mystery monolith found near Las Vegas

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, speaking from the stadium, expressed his condolences: “The entirety of Major League Baseball mourns today as we gather at the very ballpark where a career and legacy like no other began.

“Willie Mays brought his exceptional talent from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise.

“From coast to coast… Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime.

“We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.”