All-Time Allstars - Willie Mays

By Andy Baker
February 7 2003

There are certain names that everyone thinks when sorting through the all time baseball players. There's sluggers, pitchers, catchers and fielders but Willie Mays was the most amazing all round player in baseball history.

Willie "Say Hey" Mays played at the same time as other All-Time All-Stars such as Sandy Koufax and Jackie Robinson, whilst still made more records and won more awards than many others from his era.

Willie's career statistics include 3,283 hits with 660 homers and a batting average of .302. In 1951 he was awarded Rookie of the Year, was two-time MVP (1954 and 1965) and totalled up a staggering 12 Gold Glove awards. Whilst having played in four world series and participated in 24 All-Star games (a record he shares with Stan Musial and Hank Aaron), Willie Mays still doesn't like being around the media.

Born in 1931, Willie grew up playing stickball on the streets of his home town of Westfield (Alabama). After a short time of playing semi-pro ball, at the age of 16 he progressed into the Negro Leagues with his father, playing for the Birmingham Black Barons. The day Willie graduated from High school he was signed to the New York Giants Class B team where he advanced to Triple A. Then at 20 years old, Mays joined the Majors for the Giants at the Polo Ground, New York City.

Having a not too good start to his Rookie season, Mays was placed further down in the batting order and everything changed. Willie's fielding skills have always been a headliner with the media and non more-so that his bare handed catch off a 475 foot drive. This secured him the love of the fans but managing to clock up 20 homers, 68 RBI's, an average of .274 along with Rookie of the Year Award, he was the talk of the town.

In 1952, Mays was draft to the US Army but the Giants didn't do too well in his absence. With his return in 1954, Mays brought back the wins and took them to the World Series. After a superb over the shoulder catch, the Giants won the series in 4 straight games.

When the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, Mays did not get such a warm welcome from the fans. After providing a .347 average over the inaugural season, the fans soon calmed down.

With the baseball strike in 1972 Mays transferred back to New York this time to play for the Mets. Willie was patient for the strike to finish and after gaining the respect of the players and the fans, he retired in 1973.

Willie Mays was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. In 2000 Mays was placed 2nd just behind Babe Ruth in the vote of Player of the Century by an Associated Press panel.

Photo courtesy National Baseball Hall Of Fame