Legendary Baseball Player Willie Mays Dies at 93

Willie Mays, the baseball great who captured the attention of millions for his strong batting and outfield abilities, died June 18th in Palo Alto, California, at 93. Known as ‘The Say Hey Kid,’ his cheerful demeanor and theatrics on the field delighted fans for his two decades of play in the major leagues.

Mays was born in 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. He began playing baseball as a young boy and started his professional career in the Negro Leagues, playing for the Chattanooga Choo-Choos and the Birmingham Barons.

In 1951, he joined the New York Giants, becoming National League Rookie of the Year. After being drafted to fight in the Korean War, he returned in 1954, helping the Giants win the World Series, most notably through the most famous play in his career, the ‘The Catch,’ in Game 1.

He went on to play until 1973, staying with the Giants when they moved to San Francisco in 1958 until his trade to the New York Mets in 1972, retiring as third in career home runs. He would make regular appearances at Giants games in his retirement.