On June 18th, 2024, the world of baseball stood still. An athlete and advocate whose legacy has touched the lives of countless fans, the tragic loss of Willie Mays will forever be regarded as one of baseball’s darkest days. A legendary player with close ties to the Capital City, it is safe to say that baseball would not be the beloved sport it is today without the impact of Mr. Mays. Today, let’s pay a tribute to “the Say Hey kid” as we explore the life, legacy, and local impact of baseball legend, Willie Mays.
Willie Mays was born on May 6th, 1931 in the small town of Westfield, Alabama. Born with baseball in his blood, Willie’s father, Cat Mays, was also a prolific player with a local team. Willie took an interest in baseball at a young age and would often be found sitting on the bench at his father’s games with the Birmingham Industrial League. Mays also went on to be a prolific multi-sport athlete in high school, including basketball and football. Throughout his youth, Mays was inspired by players like Joe DiMaggio, whom he looked to on his journey to a legendary career of his own.
Mays got his started in the world of professional baseball in the Negro Leagues. His debut in the world of professional baseball was as a member of the Chattanooga Choo-Choos, a minor league team of the Negro Leagues. As his career grew in prominence, his next stop was with the Birmingham Black Barons. The only problem with Mays’ debut in pro baseball? He was still a high school student! Although the principal of Fairfield Industrial High School threatened to suspend Mays for his participation in the sport, he was luckily able to strike a deal between the school and the team to accommodate a part-time schedule. And thank goodness he did, because just a few short years later, Willie would be known on the national level.
Willie Mays played for a number of teams and franchises as he made his way up the professional baseball ladder. And of course, as residents of the Capital City, we can’t help but celebrate Willie’s time with our hometown team, the Trenton Giants. In 1950, Mr. Mays joined the Trenton Giants as a member of the Interstate League. While on the Giants, Willie batted an impressive .353 batting average. A profound highlight for the world of Trenton sports, it is a true honor that one of the greatest of all time kick-started his career in the very city we call home.
In his professional career, Willie Mays was a member of the New York/San Francisco Giants from 1951 to 1972. In his debut at the Major League Baseball level, Mays was awarded the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. In his time with the Giants, Willie was also the recipient of a number of honors, including the National Leagues’ Most Valuable Player award. While a star on and off the field, one of Willie’s most famous moments came in game 1 of the 1954 World Series, where his now-iconic over-the-shoulder catch played an integral part in bringing the Giants to their eventual victory. For his prolific career and profound contribution to the sport of baseball, Willie was eventually inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
While Mays eventually retired from the sport of baseball at the age of 42, his legacy did not stop there. After being inducted into the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility, Mays continued to impact the world of baseball and beyond through a number of engaging endeavors. Mays was the mind behind the “Say Hey Foundation”, which uplifts and supports underprivileged youth through educational opportunities and community assistance. From the ballpark to the classroom and everywhere in between, one cannot help but admire the immensity of Mr. Mays’ impact on generations of Americans.
As the world continues to mourn the loss of Willie Mays, remembering and honoring his legacy is a critical way in which we can keep his name alive for generations to come. From the baseball diamond to his day to day life, Willie Mays was a man from whom we all have much to learn. Here in Trenton and all across the nation, we raise a toast and say hey to the man who forever changed the game of baseball.
