MLB legend Barry Bonds “devastated” by Willie Mays’ death: “I love you forever”

Barry Bonds and Willie Mays are two of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport, but their connection goes beyond their greatness on the field and their significance in San Francisco Giants history.

Mays was Bonds’ godfather, and he responded to the legend Death at the age of 93 on Tuesday.

“I am devastated and overwhelmed with emotions,” Bonds wrote on his Instagram page. “I have no words to describe what you mean to me – you made me who I am today. 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.”

Known as the “Say Hey Kid,” Mays became a baseball icon thanks to a career that spanned more than 20 years in the major leagues (1951-1973), his starts as a teenager with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues, and some of the sport’s most memorable moments, including “The Catch” in the 1954 World Series.

Overall, he finished his career with one World Series title, two MVP awards, a National League Rookie of the Year, a batting title, 12 Gold Gloves and an incredible 24 All-Star Game nominations.

He ranks sixth all-time in home runs (660), seventh in runs scored (2,068), twelfth in RBIs (1,909), and thirteenth in hits (3,293).

Bonds leads the all-time home run list with 762 home runs and also holds the record for most home runs in a single season with 73, which he achieved in 2001.

It’s notable that two of the sport’s most famous and successful legends shared a godfather-like relationship and played most of their careers for the same franchise, the Giants.

Mays was an important figure for Bonds, which was clear both during the legend’s lifetime and through his statement on Tuesday.

Bonds’ father, Bobby Bonds, also played for the Giants. He died in 2003 and was unable to attend the ceremony when the Giants retired Barry Bonds’ No. 25 in 2018. In addition to talking about his father, Bonds also referred to Mays as a second father figure to him in his speech that day.

Mays also gave a speech at the event and even pushed for Bonds to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Bonds also said Mays was part of his motivation to return to baseball in 2015 as the Miami Marlins’ hitting coach.

“I have to try this,” he said, according to Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. “If I don’t try it, I’ll never know if I like it. Baseball is my thing, that’s who I am. With everything I’ve accomplished as a hitter, I’m the best at it. I couldn’t have done it if the opportunity hadn’t come along. So I figured if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it the way my dad would have done it. I have to be in the trenches with them.

“I could come in for a day or two and give them tips and stuff like that, but what happens if a guy really goes crazy and you’re not there? You know what I mean? I want to honor my dad for what he did. I want to honor my godfather (Mays) for what he did.”

With his statement on Tuesday, he honored Mays again.