Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid. I cannot remember when Willie Mays was not my favorite. Not just a baseball player but any celebrity. Not so much a “Hero” those are more Historic figures like Jefferson, Lincoln and all Veterans (especially World War ll Vets) and Willie Mays was of course a veteran. But Willie Mayswas my favorite celebrity or player.
I came by it through my father who grew up in Bakersfield California in the late 20’s until he joined the navy in 1943 for WWll. Since there were no major-league teams in California then he chose the Giants. Growing up in Los Angeles I was still a great Giant fan. I was against all my Dodger fan friends (I have long since become a Dodger fan) I grew up here went to Dodger games with friends.
I am not the type who wants to go against everyone. I even had my favorite uncle, Uncle Etch, a Dodger fan, always teasing me, “Willie Mays is a bum”. Even on a post card he sent me from the Hall of Fame, lol!
The Say Hey Kid
The name Say Hey Kid was given to Willie because he would say Say Hey to people instead of hello.
To me the Say Hey Kid is the best baseball player of all time. But he obviously belongs in ANY discussion on the best. I believe you make the comparison from what they did in their era. With todays players so big and strong and fast it is hard to compare eras. But hitting is still hitting
I just go by accomplishments. Also, if there is anything in sports that is not just size and athletic ability it is hitting a baseball. Ty Cobb might be small in today’s game, but if you hit like that, there is a spot for you.
The Say Hey Kid was a great 5 tool player, which of course is Hitting, Running, Throwing, Fielding, and Hitting with power. Willie could do it all. A lot of people do not realize that his famous over-the-shoulder catch was in the old Polo Grounds. This means he was some 450 feet from home plate. That’s in the parking lot at Fenway Park. The other part of that catch was how fast he got the ball back to the infield. This created a double play.
3 outfielders were close to being as good with their feet before a catch. Mookie Betz, Roberto Clemente, and Dwight Evans. Willie and they always have their feet positioned before every catch with runners on base. Sometimes, even catching the ball on the side for a quicker release.
I think defense is the one factor the Say Hey Kid had over Henry Aaron. Henry was a very good but maybe not a “great” fielder. Oh, you know who else was that good with their feet, Ichiro. I realize there may be others, but these are the ones I think of. Mookie Betts always has his feet in the right position, just like the Say Hey Kid.
Willies Favorite Catch
I remember Willie or a teammate saying that the best catch was not the Wertz catch. But was Willie running into right center to catch a fly after a long run with a runner on third? This was an easy sacrifice fly. As the quote said, “any other outfielder would have conceded the run, but Willie Mays is not just any outfielder”. While running to his left, Willie planted his foot, spun, and threw a strike to home to get the runner. Since filming was not at all games back then, I do not believe there is film of this catch.
A Scout in Centerfield
I have two other stories on what made Willie Mays a special player. These are not special accomplishments, but great insight into the player he was. First. I believe this was Don McMahon, but it could have been another pitcher.
He said I looked up late in a game once, and Willie had moved over to left center. “I thought, why is he playing there? This hitter has never pulled me”. The hitter hit a fly right to Willie for the out. After the inning, I asked Willie why he was playing there. He said, “I noticed you had lost a little off your fastball by then From center field!
The Willie McCovey 1962 Line Drive
The other great Willie Mays story involved the end of the 1962 World Series. The last out with the score 1-0 Yankees was recorded by a line drive. The line drive was said to seem to be headed for right field and two runs to win the game. But Bobby put his glove up and just reached and caught the ball, ending the series.
Where Willie Mays comes into the play and shows his baserunner’s mentality is here. With two outs and Matty Alou on first. Willie hit a double to right field. Willie said when he looked up, he couldn’t believe Matty had not tried to score.
Remember, in baseball, even with the best hitters, it is still 7 out of 10 times he does not get a hit. Now, the accounts of the game say Roger Maris got to the ball and got in quickly. This held Alou at third, and I have to respect that.
But willie with his base runner’s mentality said I would have ran right through that stop sign. That’s how base runners think. I have two examples here. When I was coaching a 14 Tournament team the facility used two fields. One was a regular 14 year old field. The other one was for 16-17 year olds, so it had a deeper back stop.
Well, twice I had two runners score from second on passed balls. And I have to admit I did not send them. I just kind of dropped my head and let them go……safe. They were already thinking of scoring from second before the pitch. And they came to third full speed, if not, I have to stop them, lol.
I would have taken the blame; I was the coach. Well, Willie was one of those type Base runner’s at the Major League level. You have to STOP me, or I’m gonna keep running. Would Willie have scored? We do not know, but I believe he would have tried; that is the mentality of great base runners
My Story Of Willie’s Baseball Life.
Willie Mays was raised by his Aunt Sarah, Ernestine and his father. His father would stop by after work and throw a ball in his crib. Willie was always playing ball with older boys when he was young. He started in the Negro Leagues when he was 17.
In 1950, he was in the Minor Leagues playing at Trenton where he hit 353. The next year, he was in AAA Minor League ball in Minneapolis, where, after 35 games, he was hitting 477!
Of course, the story I know was when he was called up to the Giants. He told his coach he did not want to go. He was happy there and did not think he could hit Major League pitching. His coach told him not to tell Mr Durocher that you call him. And as I heard it, Leo asked what are you hitting now. Willie Mays said 477. “Can you hit 250 here?”
“Yes”
Leo said, “Then get up here,” his voice rising. Famously, Willie Mays at first was hitless and told Durocher, “I said to Durocher, ‘Mr. Leo, I cannot hit this pitching.”
“You’re my Centerfielder period’ said Leo
Willie hit his first Home Run off Warren Spahn and won the Rookie of the Year award. The Giants have a historic comeback to catch and beat Brooklyn in a playoff with Bobby Thompson’s home run. Willie then missed almost 2 whole seasons in the military. When he came back, Leo and the team acted like he was a rookie they did not know.
Well, he won the MVP and batting Title, and the Giants won the World Series where Willie made his famous Vic Wertz catch. Willie Mays played in New York until 1958, when the Giants moved to San Francisco
It is funny, but when some pass the stories tend to be the good ones as they should be. But I did not see anyone talk about how, when he first came to San Francisco, he was not that well liked by the fans. He was New York’s player and was not Joe DiMaggio (Willie’s favorite player, ironically), who had played Minor League ball there. Willie McCovey was their darling, being a San Francisco Player. Well, he obviously won them over, and there is a statue of him outside the stadium.
By The Numbers
Starting with 660 Homeruns, 1909 Rbis and a .305 batting average. He also had 339 Stolen Bases and went 30-30 (SB-HR) Twice and was 1 HR short of three years in a row. Rookie of the year. 2 time MVP, 24 All-Star Games 2 All-Star MVPs. 2933 Hit club led league in Triples 3 times 20 in 1 year and 141 career triples.
He led the League in Hits, Runs, Stolen Bases, Walks, On-Base Slugging (5 Times) Total Bases and 12 Golden Gloves. There are more but that is enough for here. One last Thing in the 1973 World Series in the 12th Inning of game 2 with the score 6-6 Willie’s last hit and last RBI broke the tie and the Mets scored 4 Runs in the Inning to win the game. Not a bad final tribute.
TWillie the best ever? In my eyes yes but one of the best in any eyes od any baseball fan, RIP and say hey Buck.
Go See Willie Mays In The Hall
Great Travel Prices with a fantastic membership program. Travel to the hall and find great clothes for everything in the area. Water outfits and fishing gear for the lake. Picnic clothes and supplies for an afternoon in the awesome forest.
Casual clothes for the day or two in the hall and to say hello to Willie and all the greats. Or find formal wear for all the great restaurants in the awesome and quaint little city. Just a fabulous area with many great attractions and a friendly town. Just a great trip and find everything you need here. Choose your membership level and your reward level for so many items that I cannot count.