Willie Mays

Willie Howard Mays Jr., known as "the Say Hey Kid," was an American professional Baseball center fielder. He was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, USA, to Willie “Cat” Howard Mays Sr. (1911-1999) and Annie Elizabeth Sattlewhite (1916-1953). His father worked in the steel mills and played baseball for a local semi-pro team, while his mother worked as a maid and strongly supported her husband and son's baseball career. Willie attended Fairfield Industrial High School, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football. His baseball journey began with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948 at the age of 17. In 1950, he was signed by the New York Giants and made his major league debut on May 25, 1951, proudly wearing the number 24 and playing as a center fielder. During the Korean Conflict, Mays was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and served until 1954, temporarily interrupting his baseball career. He returned to baseball in 1954 with the Giants without missing a beat. When the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco in 1958, Mays became a beloved figure and the face of the franchise. In 1972, after many successful years with the Giants, Mays was traded to the New York Mets, where he played until his retirement in 1973. He helped the Mets reach the 1973 World Series. Willie Mays passed away on June 18, 2024, at the age of 93 in Palo Alto, CA, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of baseball and beyond.