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To understand Willie Mays, the oldest residing Corridor of Famer at age 90, is to keep in mind him at 20. When he joined the New York Giants in 1951, the sport had by no means observed an athlete like him — breathtakingly swish, the best aggregate of energy, velocity and protection ever to put on a big league uniform. And 70 years later, to many, he stays exactly that.
“You would sit down at the bench and watch Willie Mays,” Corridor of Famer Reggie Jackson mentioned. “It used to be so thrilling simply to observe him. Folks did that with Jim Brown. They did that with the acrobatics and greatness of [Michael] Jordan. It is like gamers as of late going to observe the pregame warm-u.s.of Steph Curry. To look at Willie heat up, to throw the ball underhand, to make a basket catch. The sweetness and the grace. For the youngsters as of late, it used to be like gazing Simone Biles. It used to be like gazing [Mikhail] Baryshnikov. It used to be poetry in movement. It used to be so stunning, so lovely, to observe this athlete simply run at the box, catch a ball. I beloved to play in opposition to Willie Mays as it supposed that I were given to watch Willie Mays.”
Mays used to be probably the most 3 nice middle fielders in New York, becoming a member of the Yankees’ sensational Mickey Mantle and Dodgers Corridor of Famer Duke Snider. However as Mantle as soon as mentioned, “Smartly, there have been the 2 folks … after which there used to be Willie.”
Ken Griffey Jr. made it even more practical.
“I name him ‘The Godfather of Heart Fielders,'” Junior mentioned.
And what of the ones comparisons, that Griffey will be the subsequent Mays?
“In baseball, comparisons are at all times made, however I did not examine myself to him,” Griffey mentioned. “However I additionally did not now not need to be in comparison to him, if that is sensible. You at all times need to be in comparison to the most productive.”
Lon Simmons, a Corridor of Reputation broadcaster who known as Giants video games all 14 years that Mays performed in San Francisco as soon as the workforce moved west in 1958, mentioned, “Willie used to be so excellent, the fanatics anticipated a miracle from him each day. So he gave them a miracle each and every different day.”
Mays is in most cases thought to be now not simplest the best middle fielder of all time, however after Babe Ruth, the best participant of all time. I as soon as requested Doug Rader, a five-time Gold Glove 1/3 baseman for the Astros from 1967 to 1977 and a later a large league supervisor, who used to be the most productive participant he had ever observed. Rader laughed.
“Invoice Mays, who else?” he mentioned.
Corridor of Famer Juan Marichal agreed.
“Willie used to be the most productive, No. 1 all time … and I do know,” Marichal mentioned. “I used to be there for a large number of Willie.”
Who else? Willie Mays used to be that excellent.
“He used to be magical,” Corridor of Reputation catcher Johnny Bench mentioned. “He used to be highest.”
“Very best participant I have ever observed,” mentioned Tim McCarver, a former catcher who performed in 4 many years and later was a Corridor of Reputation broadcaster. “He may just do all of the issues that different guys could not.”
“He used to be the primary participant to have authentic swag,” Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned.
There have been five-tool gamers sooner than Mays, however all of Mays’ equipment have been the most effective within the recreation, like a lead singer who wrote the songs and may just additionally play all of the tools higher than somebody within the band. Mays’ 12 Gold Gloves are probably the most ever via a participant within the 500-home run membership. When he retired in 1973, he used to be 1/3 all time in homers after averaging 33 a yr.
Certainly, he may just play the piano and transfer it, too.
“He has all of the identical characteristics as Mike Trout,” Pete Rose mentioned. “However [Trout] does not have Willie’s aptitude.”
It virtually wasn’t truthful.
“Willie Mays used to be too excellent,” former teammate Felipe Alou mentioned.
Soar to a piece:
THE BAT | THE GLOVE | THE ARM | THE LEGS |
THE SAY HEY KID
The Bat
Mays hit 660 domestic runs, now 6th maximum of all time. He had three,283 hits, 11th maximum ever. He received two MVPs, 11 years aside. He had a .302 reasonable, an OPS over .900 for 13 instantly years, an OPS over 1.000 in 5 seasons. He received a Nationwide League batting identify and 4 domestic run titles. He performed 14 years in Candlestick Park, a large ballpark with swirling winds; in any other domestic ballpark, he would possibly have hit 700 homers. If he hadn’t neglected just about two high seasons to army provider, he would possibly have hit nearer to 800. His swing used to be brief and compact. He regularly stepped within the bucket, however may just nonetheless duvet the outdoor a part of the plate.
Former supervisor Bobby Valentine
“It used to be a unique pontificate his bat. In the future I were given to the ballpark very early simply to try his bats. I went to the opposite dugout to look in the event that they have been other. They have been heavy; they were not other. He used to be other.”
Pete Rose
“I felt sorry for Willie in some way having to play at that s—hole Candlestick. That used to be the worst position on this planet to play baseball. It used to be at all times windy and chilly. The solar used to be at all times on your eyes. There have been 10,000, 12,000 folks at each and every recreation. If he performed as of late within the bandboxes in Cincinnati and Philadelphia and a few different puts, he’d hit 70 homers a yr. He wasn’t only a energy hitter. He used to be a excellent hitter. He beloved to speak hitting. If he had hit in the back of me and [Joe] Morgan, he’d have pushed in 500 or 600 extra runs.”
Former supervisor and catcher Joe Torre
“Willie used to be a left-center, right-center hitter. The ballparks he performed did not support him. He hit 660 domestic runs, however he needed to earn each and every one in all them at domestic. The Polo Grounds used to be brief down the strains, however within the hole, they have been very deep. And he performed at Candlestick. After midday, the ball would fly to appropriate box, however it’s essential shoot a bazooka off in left box a few of the ones nights and the ball would not cross any place.”
One evening in Milwaukee in 1961, Mays hit 4 domestic runs in a single recreation.
Simmons
“The wind knocked any other one down. Differently, he would have had 5.”
Torre
“Willie did not like to attend within the field. He desires you to throw the ball at this time. There have been occasions the place I might put an indication down, however I would not put anything else down. And Willie would communicate to you. He’d say, ‘I do know what you are doing. I do know what you are doing.’ It used to be unimaginable to not love him even if he scared you to loss of life as a result of he used to be so excellent. One time, I attempted to distract him via chatting with him. I requested him a query on the plate, I do not have in mind what it used to be about, possibly a few eating place, and whilst answering the query, he hit the ball out of the ballpark. Then he type of made a part flip to me as he began to first base and informed me, ‘I will end the tale later.'”
Bench
“Willie would come to the plate and he used to be swinging his bat backward and forward as simplest Willie may just. And each and every time he swung this fashion, he’d return this fashion [toward the catcher], he could be in search of the signal. There used to be no person doing the drums or banging trash cans again then. However Peanuts Lowrey [the Giants first-base coach] used to be telling him what pitch used to be coming. So I am squatting again there, and Willie steps out of the field, appears at me and says, ‘Are you going to name a sign or what?’ And I mentioned, ‘Once you forestall having a look again right here.’ And he laughed and mentioned, ‘Oh, you were given me! Oh, you were given me!'”
Maximum of that energy got here from Mays’ legendarily robust palms.
Baker
“I as soon as went as much as him in the back of the batting cage as a rookie. I requested him, ‘Why do you play me appropriate in the back of 2d base? I will hit that ball over your head.’ Willie mentioned, ‘Boy, since you choke up at the bat. You ain’t robust sufficient to hit that ball over my head. That is why I play you appropriate in the back of 2d base.’ Then he confirmed me his palms. The muscle between his thumb and his forefinger gave the look of a golfing ball in there. He mentioned, ‘Boy, let me see your palms.’ I had not anything. He mentioned, ‘That is why I play you in the back of 2d base.’ So I instantly went to squeezing hand grips to get that muscle in there.”
Valentine
“Whilst you shook Willie’s hand, you have been shaking a hand — a person’s hand. It is him, Rico Carty and Hank [Aaron]. Willie’s hand would engulf your hand. It gulped it up.”
Duane Kuiper, former main league and Giants broadcaster
“In reality that the ones guys who performed within the ’60s all had large, robust palms — Mays, Aaron, [Willie] McCovey, [Frank] Robinson, [Orlando] Cepeda. They have been all like dairy farmers who milked cows via hand. With the ones guys, you needed to get your hand in there first or they would overwhelm it. My dad at all times informed me, ‘You need to win the handshake.’ However with Willie, you could not.”
Bench (who has his personal monumental palms)
“Willie’s palms are so thick. After we performed golfing, we each had the outsized grips. He’d come over, clutch my golf equipment and say, ‘Those really feel excellent.'”
Rose
“Willie additionally had massive forearms. Glance, I am as giant as Willie Mays [both around 5-11 and 170-190 pounds]. And he hit 660 homers and I had 160.”
The Glove
Mays received 12 Gold Gloves. Imagine this, despite the fact that: They did not start being awarded till 1957; he can have received 16. He had super velocity, fantastic vary and were given as excellent a leap at the ball as somebody ever.
Former Giants pitcher Steve Stone
“He used to be the most productive middle fielder within the recreation when he used to be 39 years outdated. It is really wonderful how lengthy he used to be ready to handle his talents.”
Mays’ signature used to be the well-known basket catch: As a substitute of catching the ball in entrance of his face as did and does each and every different outfielder, Mays would regularly nonchalantly catch it at his hip.
Bench
“And he by no means neglected one. He used to be so easy. Again then, you sought after to position mustard on him. However that used to be simply his herbal skill and the grace he had in appearing. Nearly each and every recreation it sort of feels like he made a fantastic play. It’s essential to have two had outfielders, put the opposite within the infield, as a result of Willie coated all of it.”
McCarver
“[Cardinals teammate] Curt Flood used to be the most productive I have ever observed in opposition to the wall. He used to be higher than Willie in opposition to the wall. However Curt performed deep. Willie did not play deep; he performed shallow. Willie by no means went to the wall. Willie used to be the wall.”
Alou (who performed left or appropriate box subsequent to Mays for 6 years)
“I discovered myself now and then gazing the sport like a fan would watch a recreation. A ball could be hit and I’d say, like a fan or a broadcaster, ‘Is he in point of fact going to catch this one?’ He had a fantastic first step. He used to be masking part of the sphere via himself.”
Baker
“Chris Speier [who was a rookie with the Giants in 1971] informed me tales that Willie used to be calling pitches from middle box for the pitcher to throw a undeniable hitter. He and Hank Aaron, in the ones days, they did not have scouting reviews. They might inform the place a man used to be going to hit the ball via his hand place: If his palms have been outdoor the zone, he used to be going to drag the ball. If his palms have been in tight, he used to be going to check out to inside-out the ball to the other box. The ones guys studied all of the hitters again then. They did not want a scout.”
Corridor of Famer Tony Perez
“The most efficient play I ever noticed him make used to be the ball that Vada Pinson hit to right-center box at Candlestick. Willie ran the ball down, collided with [right fielder Bobby] Bonds and stuck the ball. I do not understand how Willie stuck it.”
Mays
“Leon [Wagner] may just hit, however you by no means knew the place he would possibly catch the ball. So at some point, there is a excessive fly ball. I’m going after it. I feel Leon goes to catch it, however he is simply status there like this [hands at his side]. So I jumped, I put my foot appropriate in his belt buckle. I stuck the ball and got here down on him. I believed, ‘Oh no, I reduce him.’ I went to him and mentioned, ‘Leon, pull up your blouse. Let me see the place I reduce you.’ There have been no marks. I do not understand how. I hit him with my spikes in his belt buckle. No person goes to imagine that catch.”
Mays made in all probability the best defensive play — and probably the most well-known — in Global Sequence historical past when he robbed the Indians’ Vic Wertz with a operating catch in deep middle box in 1954.
Corridor of Famer Bob Feller
“That in point of fact wasn’t that groovy of a catch. As quickly because it used to be hit, everybody on our bench knew that he used to be going to catch it … as a result of he’s Willie Mays.”
Jackson
“I’ve the ultimate glove that Willie Mays wore. It says 1954 Global Champions on it. I purchased it.” For a way a lot? “Let’s simply say, if I bought it, it will take between $200,000-$250,000. I purchased it as a result of no person used a glove higher than Willie Mays.”
The Arm
Mays had a significantly robust and correct arm, which is important for a middle fielder. A throw to the plate has to have sufficient lift to get it over the mound.
Bench
“You already knew there have been guys that you just by no means, ever ran on. You had appreciate for the ones guys. Willie charged the ball in addition to somebody who ever performed baseball. He used to be ready to pass judgement on the rate of the ball so neatly so he may just scoop and throw.”
McCarver
“Johnny Keane [the Cardinals manager from 1961 to 1964] informed us in conferences, ‘Do not run on Willie, he’s going to throw you out. He is baiting you. He desires you to suppose he can not, after which he does.’ Willie figured it out. Willie at all times figured the whole lot out.”
Mays
“They [people in baseball] informed me, ‘You’ll be able to’t do round-robin.’ That is throwing out a runner to start with base, 2d base, 1/3 base and residential in the similar recreation. I mentioned, ‘I will do this. What are you speaking about?’ So, we are at Dodger Stadium, [Don] Drysdale hits the ball over the center for a base hit. I watched him, he put his head down and began strolling to first. I believed, ‘I were given him.’ So I threw him out to start with. He stubborn me one thing fierce. The following inning, Maury Wills went to 3rd, he attempted to attain on a fly ball, and I threw Maury out at domestic. The following inning, Willie Davis attempted to move from first to 3rd. I threw him out at 1/3. Jim Lefebvre hits a ball within the hole. I had him out via 5 toes at 2d base, [Giants second baseman] Tito [Fuentes] had him, however he did not squeeze the ball. Tito used to be crying at 2d base. He knew what I used to be looking to do. So I needed to name time. I’m going in and informed Tito, ‘Do not fret, it isn’t the top of the sector.’ He mentioned, ‘Sure, it’s. I do know round-robin used to be appropriate there on your grab.’ I informed him, ‘Do not fret, I will get it the following time.’ However, I by no means got here shut … however I’d have had it that day.”
Corridor of Famer and previous Mays teammate Orlando Cepeda
“Ave Maria! I by no means noticed somebody cross from first to 3rd on Willie’s arm. Felipe Alou used to be an excellent appropriate fielder, however Willie as soon as informed Felipe on a fly ball hit via Willie Kirkland to appropriate middle, ‘Let me take it, let me take it.’ So Willie stuck the ball on the 390-foot check in right-center box, and he threw a low throw, at the line, within the air, all of the approach to 1/3 base. Willie had the best throwing arm I have ever observed, even higher than [Roberto] Clemente’s arm.”
Marichal
“Prior to each and every recreation that me [or] Gaylord [Perry] pitched, we might have a gathering about how we have been going to pitch the opposite workforce that evening. It used to be at all times a three-man assembly. Me, the catcher and Willie Mays. He used to assist us on the right way to pitch all of the hitters at the different workforce. Willie knew precisely what to do with every hitter.”
The Legs
It wasn’t simply the stolen bases that separated Mays from different gamers, particularly different energy hitters. It used to be his innate really feel for baserunning, going first to 3rd, scoring from 2d on a unmarried, legging out probably the most 140 triples he hit, together with a league-best 20 in 1957.
Perez
“He used to be probably the most largest. He would cross from first base to 3rd on a ball to appropriate middle. He did not also have to have a look at the third-base trainer. He used to be his personal trainer.”
McCarver
“He used to be a fear at the bases.”
Alou
“I used to be at all times informed that Jackie Robinson used to be the one baserunner higher than Willie, however I used to marvel, ‘How are you able to be a greater runner than Willie Mays?’ I noticed him ranking status up no less than 10 occasions on a wild pitch that wasn’t 10 toes from domestic plate.”
Corridor of Famer Willie McCovey (who in most cases hit in the back of Mays within the lineup)
“Willie would begin to run to 2d at the wild pitch or a handed ball, then return to first as a result of he knew they would stroll me with first base open. Oh, Willie noticed all of it.”
Rose
“Willie had nice instincts at the bases and he used to be at all times competitive. I used to be an competitive baserunner additionally. I advanced my baserunning talents gazing Willie Mays play.”
Bench
“Willie used to be hitting 50 homers so you’ll’t have enough money to have him operating and getting harm always. You’ll be able to say 29th [all time in steals when he retired], however he can have simply moved into the highest 10. And on a unmarried, it will had been extraordinary if he did not cross first to 3rd. He had probably the most preferrred turns rounding 2d or 1/3 you may be able to have. Along with his agility, he made probably the most highest turns.”
Jackson
“Once I retired, I took Willie to the attention physician a number of occasions. He had early glaucoma. In the future, we are riding and I requested him about [Jose] Canseco going 40-40 [homers and stolen bases in one season]. I mentioned to Willie, ‘What do you recall to mind the ones guys going 40-40? You probably did 30-30 a few occasions.’ Willie mentioned, ‘Oh, hell, 40-40, that is not anything. I can have achieved 50-50 any time. I sought after to scouse borrow my bases when it mattered, for the workforce.'”
Cepeda
“The best baserunner I have ever observed. He made triples glance simple. I used to hit in the back of Willie within the order. When he used to be on base, I’d watch him run. I attempted to imitate him, to do what he did at the bases. However I could not. No person may just.”
Baker
“I believed I had a lovely excellent arm. I believed I used to be going to throw Willie out at 1/3 base at some point. I had him out. He ran appropriate in the way in which of the ball, it hit him within the shoulder. I were given an error, and he scored. I swear to God, he seemed again, he noticed the place the throw used to be, he simply ran appropriate into the trail of the ball. I informed the umpire, ‘He can not do this!'”
The Say Hiya Child
Willie Mays is a personality. He’s supremely assured, even boastful now and then, but additionally self-deprecating and playful, at all times up for fun. And his snort, that superb snort, that high-pitched voice that did not have compatibility his body or mystique. He used to be so respected via teammates, but additionally via fighters. Such a lot in order that Dodgers supervisor Walter Alston, greater than as soon as, whilst managing the NL All-Megastar workforce, had Mays make out the beginning lineup.
Mays
“Walter informed me, ‘Willie, those guys higher than I do, you are making the batting order.’ So I hit myself leadoff, Roberto [Clemente] hit 2d and Hank [Aaron] 1/3. I figured I might get on, Roberto would get me over and Hank would get me in.”
Griffey Jr.
“The primary time I met him I used to be 17, enjoying within the Educational League. I could not imagine it used to be going down. I used to be informed, ‘Willie Mays desires to satisfy you.’ I used to be like, ‘Oh, s—.’ So I began chatting with him. I neglected the primary two innings of the Educational League recreation as a result of I used to be chatting with Willie Mays. However my supervisor did not care. He mentioned, ‘He is going to be told extra chatting with Willie Mays than he is going to be told enjoying in his rattling recreation as of late. Let him communicate so long as he likes.” And what did Mays inform Griffey that day that Griffey won’t ever omit? “He mentioned, ‘You are going to be excellent. You are going to be actual excellent.’ … He’s this kind of being concerned particular person. He informed me, at age 17, to name him if I wished anything else. He did not have to do this. However I’d have my dad name him first. I could not simply name Willie Mays.”
Torre
“[First baseman] Invoice White used to be enjoying for the Cardinals. He and Gibby [Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson] went to San Francisco within the offseason. Invoice used to be invited to Willie’s space for dinner, and he requested Gibby if he sought after to move. Bob mentioned, ‘I might love to move, I have by no means met Willie Mays.’ They ring the doorbell. Willie involves the door. Within the offseason, Gibby at all times wore glasses, however he did not put on them when he pitched. So Willie opens the door, he says hi to Invoice, then he says, ‘Who is that this?’ Invoice mentioned, ‘Willie, that is Bob Gibson.’ Willie did not say hi to him, all he mentioned used to be, ‘You put on glasses!? And you do not put on them while you pitch? Are you loopy? You are going to harm anyone!'”
Mays wasn’t excellent to just the celebs.
Marichal
“The primary time I met Willie used to be the day I used to be known as as much as the massive leagues for the primary time, July 10, 1960. Willie used to be so excellent to me, however he used to be so excellent to everybody. He took me out to dinner, however he took everybody out to dinner. He used to take teammates to a clothes shop. And we might all come domestic with a swimsuit, shirts, a coat, slacks, sneakers. Willie used to be an excellent teammate.”
Baker
“He used to be nice to all us younger guys, guys of all colours. Willie gave me my first McGregor glove, again when gloves have been made from kangaroos. That is outlawed now.”
Bench
“Probably the most particular second of interested in me used to be the 1968 All-Megastar Sport on the Astrodome. I’m sitting at my locker, instantly throughout from Willie. And I’m really not transferring. I’m 20 years outdated. I do not need to [accidentally spike] somebody; I do not need to act like I belonged there. Willie walked throughout from his locker to mine and says, ‘You’ll have been the beginning catcher.’ That used to be it. That used to be all I wished. The validation. The validation I were given from Willie. It used to be an honor to be round him. The enjoyment he introduced. He used to be the fellow you emulated in each and every method. He used to be the whole lot that baseball will have to be … the Say Hiya Child, guy.”
Griffey Jr.
“I as soon as went previous [the visiting clubhouse manager’s office at AT&T Park] and Willie used to be sitting in there with Willie McCovey. I simply attempted to slip via, and Willie [Mays] got here out and mentioned, ‘Cling up, grasp up. Are available in right here. You were given sufficient domestic runs to be on this room.’ That made me really feel necessary.”
Rose
“My first All-Megastar Sport used to be in 1965, and my locker used to be in between Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. And I believed, ‘What the hell am I doing right here sitting between those guys?’ Willie went out of his approach to make me really feel part of the workforce. I by no means forgot that.”
Mays is a brilliant storyteller.
Mays (on going through Satchel Paige for the primary time in 1949)
“Satch would pitch to somebody that might pay him. I hit a double off the wall in opposition to him. The fellow in the back of me, Jimmy Zapp, hit a house run. So later within the recreation, Satch informed his 1/3 baseman, ‘Let me know when that little boy come again up.’ I believed he used to be speaking about anyone else. So, within the 1/3, I heard the 1/3 baseman say, ‘There he’s.’ I did not know who they have been speaking about. The catcher mentioned, ‘They are speaking about you.’ I mentioned, ‘No method.’ So Satch walked midway to domestic plate and mentioned, ‘Little boy,’ and I mentioned, ‘Sure sir.’ Satch used to be a lot older than I used to be. Satch mentioned, ‘Little boy, I am not going to trick you, I am going 3 fastballs, then you’ll cross sit down down.’ I mentioned, No person method may just he throw the similar pitch 3 times and I do not hit it. He threw me the 3 damnedest fastballs. I did not come just about hitting it. He mentioned, ‘Little boy, now you’ll cross sit down down.'”
McCarver
“I wrote in my ebook that Willie had the thickest arms I’ve ever observed, and that he buffed his fingernails each day. On a daily basis. He got here as much as me and mentioned, in that high-pitched voice, ‘I heard that you just mentioned that I buffed my nails each day. You are appropriate, I do!'”
Griffey Jr.
“I feel it used to be throughout spring coaching [with the Reds], I used to be invited to dinner on the governor’s space [in Florida]. Jeb Bush used to be the governor. I used to be going to fly down there, however my supervisor [Bob Boone] informed me, ‘Ah, I don’t believe I will help you cross.’ I informed him, ‘However Willie Mays invited me.’ [Boone] instantly mentioned, ‘Oh OK, cross forward.’ That is how necessary Willie Mays is.”
Jackson
“The primary time I heard of Willie Mays used to be the Vic Wertz catch, 1954, I used to be eight. We had a black-and-white TV. You needed to put 1 / 4 within the TV to observe it for an hour. That is the way you paid for it. As I grew up, I used to be a Willie Mays fan, however you needed to be a Dodger fan in the event you have been Black on account of Jackie [Robinson] and Roy [Campanella] and Newk [Don Newcomb] and Junior Gilliam. But if Willie got here to the town, I begged my dad to take me to the sport. After the sport, my dad took me right down to the place the gamers’ bus used to be. I crawled at the flooring, I crawled via folks’s legs, and I watched Willie get at the bus. That used to be this kind of superb revel in for me.”
Corridor of Reputation pitcher Jim Palmer
“The primary time I ever met him used to be in January 1969 at a golfing match. His spouse within the event used to be Joe Namath, who slept in at the day of the event and did not display up at the first tee. So Willie did not play. Willie and I have been within the Lengthy Force Contest in combination. Right here I’m, this thin pitcher, and here is Willie Mays, so robust. So I received the Lengthy Force Contest. Willie, in that high-pitched voice, informed me, ‘There is no method you’ll outdrive me. Your ball hit the sprinkler head.’ I mentioned, ‘Smartly, all I do know is that my pressure went 310 and yours went simplest 290.’ Willie simply laughed.”
Perez
“In the future at Candlestick, Jim Maloney used to be pitching for us [the Reds]. He threw in point of fact exhausting. Truly exhausting. He additionally preferred to clutter round, to have a laugh, with gamers at the box. So Willie were given within the field and Maloney went to his mouth like he used to be going to throw a spitball. As a substitute he threw a fastball appropriate down the center. Willie took it. He ended up strolling. When he were given to first, I informed him, ‘You recognize, Maloney is loopy.’ And Willie laughed mentioned, ‘I do know. He is loopy. He is pretending to throw a spitball. He does not want it. He will kill somebody with that. However it isn’t going to be me as a result of I may not be in there!'”
Torre
“A chum of mine, Dave, he lives in Hawaii. He is from the Bay House, he is a large Giants fan, a large Willie fan. And his birthday is identical day as Willie — Might 6. So two or 3 years in the past, I mentioned, ‘I will help you know when I will be in San Francisco and we’re going to watch a recreation in combination.’ Unbeknownst to Dave, I organized for Willie to be on the ballpark. I pulled Willie out of the stands. He talked to Dave for an hour. Willie could not do sufficient for him. He signed anything else. He took footage with him. The capper for me used to be Willie says, ‘What else do you wish to have?’ So Willie known as Mike Murphy, the clubhouse man for the Giants, and says, ‘Murph, get me a blouse.’ Willie took the blouse off his again, signed it and gave it to Dave. He actually gave him the blouse off his again. Dave hasn’t ever stopped speaking about it clearly. He tries to shop for me breakfast, lunch and dinner each and every time I see him.”
Palmer
“The primary batter I confronted in my first All-Megastar Sport [1970] used to be Willie Mays … the fellow I watched rising up in New York and California. I imply, in point of fact, Willie Mays. And I struck him out on 3 excessive fastballs. I noticed him on the Corridor of Reputation years later and he informed me, ‘I used to be informed you have been wild. I used to be informed you have been one of those a headhunter.’ I wasn’t wild or a headhunter, however the first time I confronted Willie used to be this kind of thrill.”
Alou
“That used to be the article about Willie. Regardless of the place he used to be enjoying, he at all times performed with pastime, whether or not for the Giants, or a barnstorming recreation, or spring coaching or enjoying stickball within the streets of New York with youngsters. His focus used to be like no person I had ever observed. And he beloved me for some reason why. He known as me Chico as it used to be exhausting for him to mention Felipe. Once in a while he known as me Phillip. However even as of late, if we are close to every different, he hears my voice from any other room, he acknowledges me and says, ‘Hiya, it is Chico!'”
Kuiper
“Willie crammed in and did the colour observation a couple of occasions a few years in the past sooner than Mike [Krukow, Kuiper’s current broadcast partner on Giants games] began doing video games. So I am the play-by-play man. It is Easter Sunday. Robby Thompson moves out on a take a look at swing with the tying run at 1/3 to finish the sport. So, on Easter Sunday, Willie says, at the air, ‘Jesus Christ!’ I checked out him. I’ve to speak as a result of I am the play-by-play man, and all I may just say used to be, ‘We will be again with Reverend Willie Mays, appropriate after this.'”
Bench
“The primary time we performed in opposition to him, the primary time he got here to the plate, he mentioned, ‘Hiya, how are you, child?’ He loves to inform the tale about how he used to be on 2d base and he says, ‘Guy, they [the Reds] were given this hotshot catcher, I am hoping we get a base hit as a result of I’ll knock his ass into the dugout.’ Then he mentioned, ‘We were given a base hit, I come round, and … have you ever slid right into a tree? I went backwards. I went again backwards.’ I will’t inform what he mentioned after that, nevertheless it used to be like, ‘Get this off me, you broke my blanking leg.'”
Jackson
“The primary time I met Willie Mays used to be my rookie yr in spring coaching enjoying for the A’s in 1969. Willie came visiting to the A’s bench and mentioned, ‘The place’s Reggie Jackson? Who is this child Reggie Jackson? I need to see Reggie Jackson.’ I met him. That used to be an enormous, large deal for me, for him to come back over to our dugout and ask for me. I were given to shake his hand. So Catfish Hunter and Sal Bando informed me, ‘Reggie, do your Willie. Do your Willie.’ I may just run like him. I may just do this pigeon-toed stroll that he had. He cracked up guffawing. Willie had his glove tucked below his arm. I mentioned, ‘What is this factor for your glove? Dollar?’ He mentioned, ‘That is my nickname.’ I mentioned, ‘That is in point of fact cool.’ After that, Catfish and Bando and [Rollie] Arms and [Joe] Rudi at all times known as me Dollar ever since then.”
Valentine
“[As the manager of the Rangers], I needed to cross to inform Willie at an Outdated-Timers’ Sport that Joe [DiMaggio] would now not pop out at the box except he got here out ultimate and used to be offered as the best residing participant. So Bobby Bragan made me inform Willie, Mickey [Mantle] and the Duke [Snider], one at a time, that Joe must pop out ultimate. Willie, with that high-pitched voice, mentioned, ‘Smartly, Joe if truth be told thinks he’s the best residing participant. So possibly we will have to let him.’ I informed Willie, ‘I’m so glad that you just mentioned that.'”
Palmer
“One time on the Corridor of Reputation, after the induction rite, all of us went again to the resort for hors d’oeuvres. At our desk used to be Yogi [Berra], Whitey [Ford], Duke [Snider], Tommy Lasorda, Willie Mays and me. Now that is a desk. So Lasorda asks Yogi what he desires to position on his tombstone. Yogi mentioned, ‘Oh, that is simple: It is over.’ You recognize, it is by no means over till it is over. Willie cackled. Willie has an excellent snort.”
Valentine
“In 2000 [during the playoffs], Willie used to be maintaining court docket within the Giants’ clubhouse. I requested Murph [Mike Murphy, the Giants’ home clubhouse manager] if he may just deliver Willie over to speak to my guys. So, Willie comes over and talks to my gamers. Extremely, a few of them did not know who he used to be. This used to be 2000! That used to be worse than disgraceful.”
Rose
“They did not know who Willie Mays is? Do they know who God is?”
Griffey Jr.
“I’ve a jersey signed via Willie. It says: ‘From One Child To Any other Child. The Say Hiya Child.’ This is prominently displayed in my guy cave at domestic. Folks are available and have a look at it and say, ‘Is that him?’ I mentioned, ‘Sure, that is Willie Mays.'”
