Mays, Willie (Howard)

Willie Mays.

(credit: UPI)

(born May 6, 1931, Westfield, Ala., U.S.) U.S. baseball player. Mays played for the Birmingham Black Barons in the National Negro League when he was only 16. The “Say Hey Kid” later played principally for the New York (later San Francisco) Giants in the major leagues (1951–72). A brilliant centre fielder and a powerful right-handed hitter, he ranks among the all-time top five in home runs (660), runs (2,062), and extra-base hits (1,323) and among the top 10 for runs batted in (1,903) and hits (3,283). Mays is considered one of the greatest all-around players in the history of the game.

Mays, Willie (Howard, Jr.) (1931– ) baseball player; born in Westfield, Ala. During his 22-year career (1951–73) primarily with the New York and San Francisco Giants (he played most of his last two seasons with the New York Mets), he hit 660 homeruns, third highest in major league history, and twice won the league Most Valuable Player award (1954, 1965). Famous for his "basket" catches, he was one of the greatest defensive center fielders in the game's history. Nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid," his engaging personality made him a fan favorite. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1979.