Willie Mays Fast Facts
CNN Editorial Research
Here’s a look at the life of Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder Willie Mays.
Personal
Birth date: May 6, 1931
Birth place: Westfield, Alabama
Birth name: William Howard Mays Jr.
Father: William Mays
Mother: Ann (Satterwhite) Mays
Marriages: Mae Louise Allen (1971-2013, her death); Margherite Wendell Chapman (1956-1961, divorced)
Children: adopted with Margherite Wendell Chapman: Michael
Military Service: US Army, 1952-1954
Other Facts
Career statistics include 3,283 hits, 660 home runs and a batting average of .302.
As of April 2021, only five other players in baseball history have hit more home runs than Mays: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez, and Albert Pujols.
Won 12 consecutive Gold Gloves.
Played in 24 All-Star Games and four World Series.
Godfather to baseball player Barry Bonds.
His nickname was the “Say Hey Kid.”
Timeline
1948-1950 – Plays for the Birmingham Black Barons, part of the Negro League.
1950 – Signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent.
1951-1957 – Plays for the New York Giants.
1951 – Is named National League Rookie of The Year.
1952–1954 – Serves in the US Army.
1954 – During the World Series, Mays makes an over-the-shoulder catch that is considered one of the most memorable moments in baseball history.
1954 – National league MVP.
1955, 1962, 1964, 1965 – Leads the National League in home runs.
1957 – Wins the first-ever Gold Glove for center field.
1958 – The New York Giants become the San Francisco Giants.
1958-1972 – Plays for the San Francisco Giants.
August 30, 1961 – Hits four home runs in one game.
1963 – MLB All-Star Game MVP.
1964 – Becomes the first black team captain in the major leagues.
1965 – National League MVP.
1968 – MLB All-Star Game MVP.
1972 – Is traded to the New York Mets.
1972-1973 – Plays for the New York Mets.
1973-1979 – New York Mets hitting instructor.
1979 – Is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving 409 out of 432 votes.
1986 – Assistant to the president of the Giants Organization. The position is extended for his lifetime in 1993.
2000 – Founds the Say Hey Foundation, which serves underprivileged children.
March 31, 2000 – A 23-ton bronze statue of Mays is unveiled at the new Major League ballpark in San Francisco.
December 2007 – Is inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
November 24, 2015 – Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
May 12, 2020 – “24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid” is published, co-authored by Mays and John Shea.
August 26, 2022 – The New York Mets announce they will retire Mays’ No. 24 jersey during an Old-Timers’ Day celebration at Citi Field, New York.
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