Honors for the “true giant” of baseball, Willie Mays

The baseball world has honored the achievements of Willie Mays, widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, following his death at the age of 93.

Mays was twice named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and won the 1954 World Series with the New York Giants.

His famous catch during the championship remains one of the most legendary plays ever seen in America’s so-called “national sport.”

In addition to his success on the field, Mays embodied the attitude of “just keep playing and have fun,” a former player told the BBC.

The center fielder nicknamed “Say Hey Kid” was the oldest living Hall of Famer in baseball.

His death was announced on Tuesday “with great sadness” by his former team, now the San Francisco Giants.

May’s son Michael told the Associated Press that his father died surrounded by his family and wanted to thank his fans for their years of support.

“My father died peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the unwavering love you showed him over the years,” he said. “You were his lifeblood.”

Major League Baseball (MLB) said it was “heartbroken” by the death of “one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport.”

Mays was “a true giant on and off the field,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

“His incredible accomplishments and statistics cannot begin to describe the awe one feels when watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable,” Manfred added.

President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday that Mays was the reason he wanted to play center field in Little League as a child.

“It was a rite of passage for me to practice catching baskets, making daring possessions and controlling the batting crease – only to be told by the coaches to stop because nobody could do what Willie Mays could,” the president said.

Mays was “more than just a baseball icon,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.

“He broke barriers and inspired millions of Americans – setting records, bringing joy to countless fans and becoming a role model for a generation of future athletes.”

Barry Bonds, Mays’ godson and another former Giants player – who is also considered one of the sport’s greatest – paid tribute to the baseball star, saying: “You helped make me who I am today.”

“I have no words to describe what you mean to me,” Bonds said in a social media post.

MLB sportswriter Sarah Langs said Mays was her mother’s hero.

“I owe the fact that I am where I am today to the fascination he showed her at a young age,” she said.

“His joy in the game inspired her and she passed that love on to me.”

Another former baseball player, CC Sabathia, wrote that Mays “changed the game forever and inspired kids like me to pursue our dream.”

Although he hasn’t played professional sports in over 50 years, MLB added 10 more hits to Mays’ career record earlier this month after deciding to include statistics from the Negro Leagues.

His record now stands at 3,293 hits, including the 10 he scored for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948.

Only on Monday, Mays announced that he would not be able to attend a game scheduled for Thursday in Birmingham in his honor.

“My heart goes out to everyone who honors the Negro League baseball players who should always be remembered, including all of my teammates on the Black Barons,” he said. “It will be a special day and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”

Mays was born and raised in Westfield, Alabama, and began his professional baseball career in 1948 while still in high school.

In 1950, he moved to the New York Giants – later the San Francisco Giants – and in 1951, as a 20-year-old, he hit 20 home runs for the team.

After the 1951 season, Mays was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War.

After missing the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to military service, Mays returned in 1954 and won his first MVP award.

That same year, he helped the team defeat Cleveland in the World Series.

His famous over-the-shoulder catch helped the team win the game, giving them a 5-2 score after 10 innings.

At the age of 41, he was traded to the New York Mets in 1972, where he played two more seasons before ending his career.

Even after his playing career, he continued to be a familiar face on the Giants’ bench, offering advice to young players on and off the field.

“He always had time for you. He had a way of talking to you about baseball and he always gave you his honest opinion,” former Giants player JT Snow told the BBC.

“Baseball is a tough game and we have ups and downs. I remember him saying, ‘Just keep playing and have fun.'”

Snow said Mays put the noise of analytics and statistics out of his head and stuck to a simple philosophy that changed the game: “I see the ball and I hit the ball, and I run the bases and catch it.”