Dusty Baker is grateful for Willie Mays’ visit before the Giants icon’s death – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

As the sports world mourns the loss of Willie Mays, Dusty Baker reflected on his final visit with the Giants legend just one day earlier.

In an exclusive interview with USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Baker explained why he decided to visit his close friend Mays at his Bay Area home on Monday, the day before the Baseball Hall of Famer’s death.

“There was just something that told me to go see him,” Baker told Nightengale. “My dad always told me when you’re thinking about someone, don’t put it off. You never know if you’ll see the person again. Well, I went to see him and thank God I did.”

Baker, now a front office executive with San Francisco, managed the Giants for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002 and developed a close relationship with Mays. The longtime baseball star spoke at the time about the premonitions that prompted him to visit his friend.

“I’m thinking about Tupac,” Baker told Nightengale. “Death is coming. I could feel it a little bit (on Monday).”

Mays’ loss came shortly before the Giants’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where he began his professional baseball career with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues.

The game comes shortly after the MLB officially recognized the statistics of Negro League players and included them in the baseball record books.

While the game was considered a worthy tribute to Mays before his death, the event has even greater significance today.

The “Say Hey Kid” is widely considered one of the best – if not the best – players in baseball history due to his skills as a hitter and fielder. His legendary catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series was one of the most legendary moments in American sports history.

The 24-time MLB All-Star played 22 seasons with the Giants and moved to San Francisco in 1958 when the franchise relocated from New York.

While May’s death is sad, Baker can at least find comfort in knowing he was able to see his old friend one last time.

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