Barry Bonds releases emotional message after Willie Mays’ death

Barry Bonds was one of the first to share his thoughts on the death of baseball icon Willie Mays, who died Tuesday at the age of 93.

Bonds shared his reaction on social media.

“I am devastated and overwhelmed with emotion. I have no words to describe what you mean to me – you made me who I am today,” Bonds wrote. “Thank you for being my godfather and always being there for me. Give my dad a big hug from me. Rest in peace Willie. I love you forever.”

Bonds has a unique relationship with Mays, who was the godfather of the all-time home run record holder. Mays and Bonds’ father, Bobby Bonds, were teammates for several seasons with the San Francisco Giants in the late 1960s and early ’70s. Barry Bonds wore No. 24 – Mays’ famous jersey number – during his first seven major league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After Mays signed with the Giants in 1993, he gave Bonds his blessing to continue wearing No. 24 in San Francisco, even though that number was no longer used by the franchise. Instead, Bonds wore his father’s number – No. 25 – with the Giants. Bobby Bonds died in 2003 at the age of 57.

When Mays retired, his 660 home runs were good enough for the third-best player of all time, with only Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth better. Eventually, Mays was passed by his godson – who hit 762 home runs in his career – as well as Albert Pujols (703) and Alex Rodriguez (696). Mays was present at AT&T Park (now Oracle Park) when Bonds hit his 756th home run, overtaking Aaron on the all-time list.

Mays was to be honored Thursday when Major League Baseball hosted a game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Mays’ hometown, where Mays made his major league debut with the Birmingham Black Barons, a year after Jackie Robinson broke racial segregation in Major League Baseball and three years before he debuted for the New York Giants in 1951.

Bonds, meanwhile, will also be involved in the festivities. Bonds and Derek Jeter are honorary captains of a celebrity softball game that will be held at the legendary Rickwood Field.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Barry Bonds reacts to the death of his godfather Willie Mays