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HomeNews UpdateMLB world reacts to Willie Mays’ death: “He is a true giant, on and off the field”

MLB world reacts to Willie Mays’ death: “He is a true giant, on and off the field”

June 19, 2024
MLB world reacts to Willie Mays’ death: “He is a true giant, on and off the field”

Major League Baseball and San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays died on Tuesday at the age of 93.

The “Say Hey Kid” performed with the flair of a showman, catching baskets in center field, taking daring risks on the running routes, winning four home run crowns, 12 Gold Glove Awards and laughing in a cheerful, high-pitched voice.

Mays spent 21 of his 23 major league seasons with the Giants in New York and San Francisco. He batted .301 with 660 home runs, 339 stolen bases and 3,293 hits and won two National League MVP awards.

Mays left an indelible mark on baseball, prompting many members of the MLB community to pay tribute to him at Tuesday night games and on social media.

Quotes and anecdotes about the MLB:

Ken Griffey Jr.: “My heart is on the floor,” the Hall of Famer told MLB Network. “I’m just grateful and happy that I was able to spend the time with (Mays) because he’s a true giant, on and off the field.”

Aaron Richter: The New York Yankees star outfielder and California native reflected on his meeting with Mays.

“I have a family friend who is pretty close to his family,” Judge said. “I had the opportunity to meet him. He showed me a few things about throwing the baseball from the outfield that I still remember. I still have a few cool things signed in my childhood bedroom.”

Judge added: “Terrible, terrible news (of his death). I was a huge Willie Mays fan. What he meant to the game, California, all the Giants fans out there, especially me as a kid, wanted to play like Willie and make the catches he made.

“The numbers he put up on the field and what he did are impressive, but he as a person and a human being was even bigger. It was bigger than baseball. He was special. The baseball world will definitely miss a great.”

Mike Yastrzemski: “The things he did, we’ll never see again,” the Giants outfielder said of Mays’ career. “He was such a talented player and he played the game as purely as anyone could. To be able to see that on film – I’m glad there was film of it – because that’s something we’ll be watching and studying for the rest of time.”

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Giants react to the death of Willie Mays: “The things he did, we will never see again”

Sergio Romó: “He was very willing to give his time, his expertise and his advice every day,” Romo, a three-time World Series winner with the Giants, told NBC Sports Bay Area about May’s visit to the club. “He made you feel visible.”

Bruce Bochy: “You get to know some great players and people at this game. I spent a lot of time with Willie during my tenure (in San Francisco) and today is a sad day,” said the former Giants manager and current Texas Rangers manager. “He’s a legend.”

Billy Owens: The Oakland A’s assistant general manager and Bay Area native paid tribute to Mays in a text message The athleteBy Melissa Lockard.

“Say Hey was EVERYTHING…right up there with Muhammad Ali as the greatest,” Owens said. “Say Hey was documented. The style can never be duplicated. His power, speed and grace are forever unique. The catch still captured the imagination nearly a century later. Willie was New York (Polo Grounds) and San Francisco (Candlestick Park). I’ll be watching Rickwood Field (Birmingham) this week and imagining Willie catching baskets in center field and hitting home runs into the stratosphere. RIP Say Hey Willie Mays.”

Steven Kwan: The Cleveland Guardians outfielder and Bay Area native said, “(Mays) was the face of the Giants. He and Barry Bonds were always together. You could see them talking. You wish you could eavesdrop on those conversations.”

Stephen Vogt: Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt’s grandfather lived in Oklahoma and there were no MLB teams nearby. He chose the New York Giants as his team, mainly because he hated the Yankees and Dodgers. He loved watching Mays and would chat about the center fielder with his son Randy.

The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 when Randy was three years old. The Giants became his team and Mays was Randy’s hero. The family visited Candlestick Park every year.

Stephen was also a Giants fan as a child. The Vogts had season tickets for the upper deck along the left field line. Stephen signed with San Francisco for the 2019 season. That spring, he met Mays. The two talked in the clubhouse and took a photo together. Randy framed the photo, which now sits on a shelf in his office.

“One of those people who was a god to you,” Vogt said of Mays. “He was just this incredible character. You never really saw him on TV, (just) highlights. It was really cool to meet him and then have the opportunity to chat with him.”

Harold Reynolds: “Willie was like a father to all of us,” the former Seattle Mariners second baseman told MLB Network. “He was part of the generation that passed it on. … He had advice for every aspect of life.”

Craig Counsell: “I’m saddened by the news about Willie Mays,” said the Chicago Cubs manager. “He’s one of the Mount Rushmore baseball players in my opinion. A legend in our game. I met him a few times. He was, like Hank Aaron, the kind of person that made you nervous because they were so great. It was sad to hear that news during the game today.”

Cody Bellinger: “I heard the news (of Mays’ death) in the seventh inning and was pretty sad about it. Wearing No. 24 is special. He’s one of the best players in our game. Just seeing him on the field a couple of times was a real blessing. Incredible guy and best wishes to his family right now.”

Bellinger wears number 24 for the Cubs, the same jersey number that Mays wore for the Giants and New York Mets.

Chris Kirschner, Melissa Lockard, Zack Meisel and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic contributed to this story.

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(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)

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