Willie Mays: Biography, Stats, and Facts

• Buffer
• Tweet

Willie Mays was one of the world’s greatest black baseball players in the world. He came along during the time that it was not easy for blacks to be accepted or recognized in areas of physical achievements. His persistence and love for the game earned him a spot in the baseball hall of fame.

Willie Mays Jr. was born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, To Willie Howard Mays Jr, and his wife Ann. His father was employed as a local steel worker, who also played center field, for a local Birmingham Industrial League. His mother Ann was a former high school track star. At the age of three years old his parents divorced. Mays continued to live with his father where his interest in baseball continued to flourish. He had shown interest in baseball at an early age. He was attentive to strategies and techniques and learned to relax in any competitive environment. Willie Mays was already playing semi professional baseball (for the Gray Sox) by the time he reached the age of thirteen.

Mays unique gift and accelerated learning abilities landed him a salary paying job as a center field at the Major Leagues for African American player. He earned $250.00 per month, and eventually graduated from high school as a professional baseball player. During the time of black integration into professional teams Mays captured the attention of a scout who convinced his supervisors at the New York Giants that Mays was worth giving a shot to. They offered him a $4000.00 sign on bonus and a paid salary of $250.00 a month. He was drafted into the minor leagues who was responsible was developing team talents to eventually play, in the major leagues.

Mays newly found success and achievements soon allowed him to be promoted to the Minneapolis Millers, a Triple A club. The spread of Mays success reached the ears of Leo Durocher. He was the Manager of the New York Giants. At this time (in the early 1950′s) the Giants was experiencing a very bad season. Durocher quickly promoted Mays to starting center fielder, and gave him the lineup number, thirty- three. Mays career took slow turn in the mid year of 1951. Still a rookie Mays still exhibited signs of brilliance. During one of the most infamous moments in baseball history, where the Giants went into a three game series with the Dodgers, after winning sixteen games in a row they were able to force a play off, against their rival. These three games would determine what team would be listed as the winner of the league championship. During this event the Giants won the third, and most crucial deciding game. The New York Giants then went on to play yet another rival team, the New York Yankees. After a series of games the Giants lost in seven of the playing games.

Mays was recognized for his .274 batting average for the season, his 20 home runs, and he was named the National Rookie of the year for 1951. After his return from the United States Army, Mays led the Giants to the world championship while hitting a .345 average with 41 home runs. He won, and was honored with the most valued player award. During the first game of the series Mays showed an exceptional skill, by catching the baseball over his shoulder, and this remarkable skill has been named, “the catch”. Mays was offered a better contract and entered into the 1955 season with the title, “superstar”.

In the 1955 season Mays batted 51 home runs. This was amazing because 1954 was Mays first full season of playing in the major leagues. After the 1957 season; the Giants migrated to San Francisco, where Mays went through a difficult period of adjustment. In 1962 Mays led the giants once again in the World Series with a career, all time high of 141 runs batted in. In the following year he smashed his 400th home runner, while enjoying the prestige of an exclusive club.

After the 1966 season Mays home runs and batting average began to drop. In 1973 his career was wounding down with the New York Mets, but they didn’t affect the all time record he had already established for himself. He had already earned the world recognition as the greatest all time Negro baseball player in history. His records include a combination of twenty four straight all star game appearances, more than three thousand career base hits, and his first year election into the baseball Hall of Fame, with a 94.6 percent of unparalleled votes. He had 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, and 338 stolen bases. Mays fame has inspired the efforts of many other famous American Africans, and his accomplishments will forever be remembered. Mays trailed Jackie Robinson’s record by 170 hits. He is partly responsible for helping to break the color barrier in Professional events that once banned African Americans.

Only a few people know the real Willie Mays. He has a compassionate side that reflects his personal belief. He feels that children will appreciate you when adults won’t. His legacy foundation called, “say hey” is established to continuously support children organizations. His life time partner and soul mate Mae Allen willfully set aside for career as a social worker to share her life with her beloved Willie Mays. Mays fulfilled one of his dreams when he accompanied President Obama on Air Force One to a 2009 All Star game in St. Louis.

Resources about Willie Mays

More information about Willie Mays
Baseball Hall of Fame induction information for Willie Mays
Encyclopedia of Alabama: Willie Mays
2001 article about Willie Mays, the Say Hey Kid, turns 70

Resource by F.Rosseti

I am a teacher in Michigan. I grew up in Florida and have lived here in MI for close to 15 years. I enjoy writing and skiing in my spare time.

Related Research For Teachers, Students, and Kids