Birth State: Alabama. Mays led the team in eight offensive categories in 1962: runs 130 , doubles 36 , home runs 49 , RBI 141 , stolen bases 18 , walks 78 , In Game1 of the World Series, a 62 loss to New York, Mays recorded three hits. Mays was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 25, 1951, with the New York Giants. ESPN Writer: ESPN Outside the Lines. copyright=new Date(); Baseball history in 1985 American League by Baseball Almanac - a walk through the 1985 American League season with stats, top 25, final standings, rosters and other baseball history. 13) League leader in everything?While some players consistently lead the league in a certain category -- whether it be home runs or stolen bases or triples -- it was nearly impossible to predict which stat Mays would ultimately lead his league in for a given season. Data Provided By This player does not have game logs available for some years. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. [Answer], 1979 - Willie Mays was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, on his first ballot, with 94.7% of the votes. On the play, the umpire, crouched over the plate for the best angle, makes the out call and Mays rushes in, waving his arm in disagreement. Its a gut-punch watching someone great flail at breaking balls and lose routine fly balls in the sun. #DeDollarization #USDollar #Dollar #GeoPolitics Now get regular updates on , . Over 66 games, Mays batted .211 with .646 OPS. He also led the NL five times apiece in OPS and slugging percentage; three times in triples; twice each in runs, extra-base hits and on-base percentage; and once apiece in hits and walks. The Giants will face off against Bruce Bochys Rangers today in Cactus League action. . Bats/Throws: R/R. when do tulips bloom in maryland; indo pacific region upsc Willie Mays was born on Wednesday, May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. His OPS+ was below league average for the first time in his career. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Did not play in major or minor leagues (Military Service). copyright=new Date(); Willie Mays: New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1952, 1954-1972), New York Mets (1972-1973) . Born: May 6, 1931 in Westfield, AL. That means Mays finished only 6.6 WAR shy of the all-time mark despite missing most of the 1952 season and the entire 1953 season while serving in the U.S. Army. Willie Mays World Series Stats by Baseball Almanac. In 1985, the format of the League Championship Series changed to best-of-seven. . Because Mays contributed to the book with author Ron Smith. Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today. stats, pitching stats (where applicable), cumulative career totals Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. copyright=new Date(); In a 1-2 count, he takes a fastball from As starter Ken Holtzman that teases the outside of the plate. 17 - Willie Mays had seventeen 20-home run seasons (1951, 1954-1968 & 1970), eleven 30-home run seasons (1954-1957, 1959 & 1961-1966), six 40-home run seasons (1954, 1955, 1961, 1962, 1964 & 1965), and two 50-home run seasons (1955 & 1965) / review the Most Seasons With XX Home Runs Record Book to see where he ranks in each of these plateaus. Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from Prospect HS (Mount Prospect, IL), the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (9th) of the 1968 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase and the . The Willie Mays League Championship Series stats seen below include his League Championship Series year-by-year hitting stats, League Championship Series fielding stats, and League Championship Series pitching stats (where applicable). You can see stats, World Series, awards and more. Throughout most of 1952-53 Mays served in the Army, when he returned in 1954 he led the league with his batting average, home runs, and total runs. Born: All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Willie Aikens was born on Thursday, October 14, 1954, in Seneca, South Carolina. Mays was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 25 1951 with the . Baseball is a game, yes. Player stats do not include the extensive amount of exhibitions and barnstorming games Negro League teams often played. 22 - Willie Mays wore uniform number 24 across all his 22-seasons in the majors. Listed below are the players chosen by The Sporting News as Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. For more than a decade, umpire Bob Motley called balls and strikes for the Negro Baseball League, earning the opportunity to work with such legends as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Willie Mays. Facing the Mets in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium on May 31, 1964, Mays shifted from center field to shortstop to begin the bottom of the 10th inning. "I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw." - Willie Mays. Keep in mind that upon his return to the Majors in '54, Mays accounted for at least 7.0 WAR every season from 1954-66. The Braves head of scouting, Harry Jenkins, watched Mays play many times, and raved about him often - but lost him in a dispute over $2,500 when two of his assistant scouts, sent to cross-check, doubted that Mays was work $10,000. In August 2007, during the 50th anniversary of the Gold Glove Awards, the best defensive players in baseball history were announced and the Say Hey Kid won the highest percentage of votes amongst every outfielder! Exceeded rookie limits during 1951 season, View Player Bio Even when removing the outfield qualifier, Mays' three such seasons are tied with Honus Wagner for the most in big league history -- and Mays and Wagner are the only players with more than one such season. Do you have a sports website? 6th inning (74), In fact, he received a share of MVP votes each season from 1954-66 and he finished in the top 6 in 12 of those 13 years -- and in the top 3 six times. After Mays graduated from high school on 20 June 1950, the The Giants assigned Mays to their Trenton, The Sporting News named Mays National League NL . Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Fairfield Industrial High School (Fairfield, AL), Willie Mays All-Star Stats by Baseball Almanac. May 25, 1951 The 1951 Bowman is the only recognized Willie Mays rookie card and one of the most valuable baseball cards in the hobby and easily among his most expensive.. After starting his rookie campaign in a terrible 0-12 slump, Mays sent a Warren Spahn pitch over the left field wall of the Polo Grounds for his first Major League hit. 24 - Willie Mays was an All-Star twenty-four times, tied with Hank Aaron and Stan Musial for the most in baseball history, prompting Ted Williams to say, "They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays.". Top-Rated baseball bat Nicknames Louisville Slugger Mickey Mantle The Destroyer "The Beast" "The Truncheon" Cudgel George Brett Cal Ripken Jr. Ichiro Roger Maris Stick Babe Ruth Club Ken Griffey Jr. Mallet Pete Rose Hank Aaron Willie Mays Hammer Bat Slugger Stan Musial The Demolition Man The Tank The Terminator The Crusher The Pittbull The . He won the admiration of many with his cheerful personality, sportsmanship, and restraint in the face of provocation. & N.L.C.S. Baseball DN Archives: 'Baseball's greatest is still a young kid' 1-on-1 with Willie Mays as baseball legend turns 50 Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. from the SABR BioProject, More Willie Mays Pages at Baseball Reference. Willie Mays Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. 7th inning (65), The Official Site of Minor League Baseball web site includes features, news, rosters, statistics, schedules, teams, live game radio broadcasts, and video clips. Willie Aikens Stats, Fantasy & News Noticias. A structured . Willie Mays hit 365 solo homers, 220 with a single runner on base, 67 with two men on base, and 8 grand slams. Hal McRae, one of the most respected players in the Kansas City clubhouse, pulled Aikens aside at least twice. copyright=new Date(); Still, Mays started 14 straight All-Star contests from 1957-65 (including both games in each season from 1959-62). All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); The League Championship Series determines who wins the league pennant and advances to the World Series. Why couldnt he have just recognized the signs of decline and bowed out gratefully? Why did he have to turn 40? If the Date is followed by an asterisk (*), Mays started during that game at the first position listed in Main Menu. He played in only 34 games in 1952, then missed the entire '53 season after being drafted into the Army. -. That includes his season and a half with the Mets -- at ages 41 and 42 -- when he hit just 14 homers in 135 games. This player does not have splits available for some years. - Sportswriter Harry Jupiter in The San Francisco Chronicle [Willie Mays Quotes], Willie 'The Say Hey Kid' Mays Autograph on a 1986 Topps Baseball Card (#403 | Checklist), Willie Mays Miscellaneous Items of Interest. The six who preceded Mays were; Jack Doyle (1902), Dan McGann (1903-1907), Larry Doyle (1908-1916), Gus Mancuso (1937-1938), Mel Ott (1939-1947), and Alvin Dark (1950-1956). Like Hank Aaron in Brewers garb or Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave. Weekend BP: Ismael Munguia makes a splash in his return, MLB Pipelines top 30 Giants prospects heading into 2023. document.write(update); Mays expects it and unravels, bringing the barrel of his bat around on an outside fastball that skips between 3rd base and short for a hit. 1970. Share your opinion with us on Baseball Fever. Now, steeped in maturity, I get how hard it is to say goodbye to something that was your whole life for your whole life as Mays did with baseball. From his remarkable combination of speed and power at the plate to his iconic defense in center field, Willie Mays is undoubtedly one of the best all-around players in Major League history. After sharing some of it with his teammates, Mays sent the rest to the Texas Children's Hospital. 1971. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Thursday BP: Buster Posey is in favor of the new MLB rule changes. Indeed, they were All-Star teammates a staggering 22 times -- each year from 1955-72, with an additional four from 1959-62 when the . var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that Willie Aikens is the only player in baseball history to hit a home run in a World Series game (October 14, 1980) on his birthday? He blew through two bank accounts and $300,000 to satisfy his craving. update=copyright.getFullYear(); Mays homered off 266 different pitchers during his career, connected most often while batting third in the lineup, and drove in 1038 total runs when he went deep! Mayss last professional at-bat came in Game 3 as a pinch hitter for Tug McGraw in the 10th in a 2-2 tie. They hit the ball, I catch it. Mays accomplished the feat in 1957, when he racked up 26 doubles, 20 triples, 35 homers and 38 stolen bases. Cumulative monthly totals are provided where applicable. The All-Star label/link in the final section only shows whether or not Willie Mays was an All-Star during the season where he appeared in the World Series (Dash=Not an All-Star | Stats=An All-Star and the link leads to the All-Star Game). Negro League player stats include league games, interleague games (against major Negro League competition), and games against select top-level independent Black Baseball teams. Willie Mays stats for 1973 and the rest of his career. OF. Throughout his career, Mays claimed four home run titles, four stolen base titles and one batting title. We might have gotten rid of Willie forever if I'd only struck him out.". Age: 91. That final year as a whole wasnt much of a swan song and more of a pissy goose honk as the bird peppers your front lawn with turds. document.write(update); 12) Three is the magic numberMays is one of 33 members of the 3,000-hit club, but he's the only player in MLB history with at least 3,000 hits, a .300 average, 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases. Research is still ongoing and well continue to publish updates as more information becomes available. Rule Changes Probable Pitchers Starting Lineups . He hit 660 home runs. As a player, Willie Mays could never be captured by mere statistics." Willie Mays hit 660 home runs during his career, 335 while playing at home, 325 while on the road. Mays finally announced his intent to retire at the end of the season in September and the Mets dedicated a night to him to say good-bye in the middle of the postseason push. Willie Mays Stats () 12 15, 2020 admin. He helped lead the Mets to the World Series in 1973 and 1976, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Denial comes before acceptance and the 1972/73 seasons in New York were necessary for Mays to come to terms with his age. Willie Mays appeared in 136 Major League games during the 1971 regular season. (Age 20-019d) Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Mays was the model of consistency from 1954-66, stringing together a 13-season run of pure excellence. Keep in mind, he also averaged "only" 21 homers and 70 RBIs over his final five seasons with the Giants. $165,000.00. Birth date: May 6, 1931. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Last-Modified: February 5, 2023 3:00 AM EST, The Oldest Living Major League Baseball Players, The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, Most Seasons With XX Home Runs Record Book, Fairfield Industrial High School (Fairfield, AL). var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); An inning-by-inning breakdown of every home run hit by Willie Mays: 1st inning (123), Though his tenure with the Mets have been much maligned, his first 69 games with the 72 club were actually pretty serviceable for a 41 year old. Center fielder Willie Mays played 22 seasons for the Giants and Mets. As a player, Willie Mays could never be captured by mere statistics." 1 of 11. For most, the 73 playoffs are bitterly remembered. As for opposing pitchers, he was a career .300 hitter with a .917 against righties, and a .305 hitter with a 1.006 OPS vs. lefties. The Catch!Don't forget to subscribe! on HBO and HBO Max (9 p.m. May 6, 2023. 9) Golden defenseAlong with being one of the game's most prolific hitters, Mays is widely regarded as one of the best defensive center fielders of all-time. Willie Mays . The thud didn't really come until Dec. 12, 1994, when he stood before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple on federal drug and firearms charges." The tiny failures of the flesh, the prolonged but steady collapse: deaths dominoes. All rights reserved. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, bats, throws, school and more on Baseball-reference.com Their coverage of baseball has no rival and they are simply the most respected source of baseball statistics anywhere. . Though he did not see any action, Mays spent three innings at short before shifting back to center field for the remainder of San Francisco's 23-inning victory. Do you agree or disagree with The Sporting News choices? document.write(update); Before Willie Mays, the typical baseball scout's report on a talented black player would mention the player's color first, his ability second. See coverage note. In the box, through the fuzz of blown out colors and poor quality retention, Mays looks like he did in his prime. the games Mays appeared in, specifically relating to his Say Hey Kid is a nickname for Willie Mays. making a donation to Baseball Almanac : "No record book reflects this kind of concentration, determination, perseverance or ability. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Mays won 2 MVP Awards and was selected to play in 24 All-Star Games. View Willie Mays's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). The highest civilian award in the United States had previously been bestowed to only eleven big league ballplayers! All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. The Giants' home ballpark was Seals Stadium.The team had a record of 80-74 finishing in third place in the National League standings, twelve games behind the NL Champion Milwaukee Braves.. Of the broadcast team, Russ Hodges left his former broadcasting partners in New . The following season, Mays won his first home run championship (his first of four), led the league in total bases (which he did three times) and extra base hits (which he did two times). For his pro baseball career, Mays slapped 660 baseballs over the fence while knocking in 1,909 runs. Twenty-seven years later the mark was finally tied, but not beaten. "No record book reflects this kind of concentration, determination, perseverance or ability. Mays, however, is the only player who is a member of both clubs. Visit his page for comprehensive 24. Stats. "Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars" is his revealing, humorous memoir. One of the established facts is that he has collected 89 stolen bases and scored a whopping 106 runs with 187 hits and 29 total doubles. The Giants catching conundrum is getting more complicated, 2023 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List No. Mays also ranks second within the 500-homer club in stolen bases (338), trailing only Barry Bonds (514). 3rd inning (82), Measures may unfairly penalize players with fewer league games scheduled. During his many seasons, he played for the New York Mets, the New York Giants, and the San Francisco Giants. Stats. As a player, Willie Mays could never be captured by mere statistics." Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Stats. Willie Mays! 'He was in total denial,' says Aikens' former agent, Ron Shapiro, who eventually had him admitted to a drug treatment program. Many thanks to him. document.write(update); var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that in the Willie Mays Miscellaneous All-Star Items of Interest section seen above you can click the Stats link under the All-Star label and a truly comprehensive history of that All-Star Game will appear on your screen? 1973. 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie Card. "I don't make history. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. They throw the ball, I hit it. Mays logged only 10 at-bats over 12 games. . Willie Mays had 660 home runs over his career. vs. PHI 5 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Last Game: Willie Mays League Championship Series Stats by Baseball Almanac. Photo by Magali Gauthier. Willie Mays. copyright=new Date(); Willie Mays | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1979 (HOF), The Say Hey Kid only won a single batting title, when he hit .345 in 1954, but that same year he also led the National League in slugging percentage (which he led five times), on base percentage (which he led five times) and triples (which he led three times). He was the first player in MLB history with multiple 35-35 seasons, though he's since been joined by Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano. Charisma.". Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Please consider purchasing this great coffee table book through our Amazon links. Odds & lines subject to change. Willie Mays, San . Advanced Stats; More Willie Aikens Pages at Baseball Reference. His .407 on-base percentage and .626 slugging percentage that season are the highest among any of the four players in this exclusive group. . Copyright 1999- Dr. Ankit Shah I De-dollarization: Is the World moving away from the Dollar? What are your feelings about this particular list? Next pitch, Mays offers at a sweeping slider that is somehow deemed a no-swing by first base umpire and Mays, half-turned towards the dugout, leans back on his bat, a bit chastised now, almost embarrassed that he got the call. Mays also had 1,928 documented total bases in the seventh inning or later, second-most on record behind only Aaron (1,984). Prior to 1969, the pennant winner was determined by the best won-loss record at the end of the regular season. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Willie Mays Aikens; Nacido: 10/14/1954 . Register Batting. 1966 Topps Willie Mays 2022-11-08. . Needless to say, Mays' 23 overall hits are the most in All-Star Game history. Baseball legend Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. Mays homered off 266 different pitchers during his career, connected most often while batting third in the lineup, and drove in 1038 . An iconic moment in World Series history where Mays made an over-the-shoulder running grab in deep center of the Polo Grounds of a long drive off the bat of Vic Wertz during the eighth inning of Game 1. Willie howard mays. Aikens was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 17, 1977, with the California Angels.