Willie Mays catch: Legendary World Series play stands out among Say Hey Kids’ many career highlights

Willie Mays was many things. He was a World Series champion, a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Golden Glove winner and a two-time NL MVP.

He was also a human highlight.

Whether it was with his bat at the plate, his glove patrolling the outfield, or his legs on the basepaths, the legendary outfielder always brought excitement to the field. He was one of the most electrifying players in his prime and is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest highlights in Mays’ long MLB career.

MORE: Behind the numbers of Willie Mays’ extraordinary MLB career

The best highlights from Willie Mays’ legendary career

Willie Mays makes “The Catch” at the 1954 World Series

In the baseball world, it’s simply known as “The Catch.”

During the 1954 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians, Mays saved the day in the opening game of the series. The score was 2-2 in the eighth inning, but Cleveland was dangerous with runners on first and second base and no outs.

Vic Wertz sent a ball from Don Liddle that seemed doomed to fall and brought at least one runner with it. However, Mays made a spectacular play to run the ball and caught the basket incredibly well, which commentator Jack Brickhouse called an “optical illusion.” As if that wasn’t enough, he immediately jumped up, spun around and hurled the ball back toward the infield, doing his best to keep the runners on base at bay.

That left the game tied, and San Francisco eventually won 5-2 in overtime. It was the first of four consecutive wins for the Giants, who beat the Indians for May’s first and only championship.

Willie Mays hit four home runs in a single game

One home run in a game is a good night at the office. Two home runs are impressive and three are sensational.

How about four home runs in a single game? That would be one for Mays’ resume.

The Giants outfielder hit four home runs in a 1961 game against Milwaukee. He hit a home run against Brewers starter Lew Burdette in the first and third innings, then another home run against Seth Morehead in the sixth inning, and finally his fourth home run of the night against Don McMahon in the eighth inning.

And the best part? Mays played with what he described as “70 percent” health. The night before, he suffered from an upset stomach after chowing down on a plate of ribs. As Giants infielder Joe Amalfitano said, “Well, your 70 percent is still better than someone who’s trying to be 100 percent.”

Willie Mays breaks NL HR record

Mays will be remembered as a beloved player and one of the Giants’ legends, but San Francisco didn’t really support him until he broke the NL record for most career home runs.

In 1966, Mays hit his 512th home run against Claude Osteen in a game against the Dodgers, breaking Mel Ott’s National League record and cementing his status as one of the greats of his era.

Willie Mays hits his 600th home run

There are only nine players in MLB history who have hit 600 home runs in their career. Mays is one of them.

The legendary outfielder became a member of this exclusive club in 1969 when he took a long ball from Padres pitcher Mike Corkins.

Mays hit 60 more and finished his career with 660 home runs.

Willie Mays reaches 3,000 hits

Similar to the record for most career home runs, Mays is in an exclusive club when it comes to the most hits of all time. In 1970, the Giants superstar hit a single against Expos pitcher Mike Wegener, his 3,000th of his career.

At the time, Mays was the tenth player ever to reach the milestone. That number has since risen to 33, but it’s still a rare feat.

Willie Mays plays stickball with children in Harlem

While this highlight didn’t take place on a major league field, it’s perhaps as memorable as anything Mays did in his legendary life. The Hall-of-Famer was a true ambassador for the game, and there’s no better example than when he played stickball with kids on the streets of Harlem.

This was clearly a different time in America, as it’s hard to imagine Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge freely walking around a busy city block and playing with kids without attracting a crowd of onlookers, media and autograph hunters. But Mays loved giving back to his community, so he often took the kids out for ice cream before games.

That’s why he is not only one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but also a true icon and American legend.