Willie Mays

  • Major League Baseball All- Century Team
  • 30-30 Club
  • 300-300 Club

Willie Howard Mays Jr. ( born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Jefferson County, Alabama ) is a former baseball player of the New York Giants, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets in Major League Baseball. Mays played the position of center fielder and won in his long career, even the World Series (1954 ), 21 Views All-Star Team, 12 Gold Gloves and two titles of " Most Valuable Player " ( MVP ) of the National League. In 1979 he was elected by the Veterans Committee with 95 % of votes in the Baseball Hall of Fame and his jersey number 24 is not longer available from the Giants. The extroverted and childish for his joy at the game known Mays was nicknamed " Say Hey Kid".

Mays was one of the best all-rounder of all time. Offensively, he was both a good "power hitter " who hit 660 career home runs, as well as a reliable " base hitter " that could either bring yourself in the game ( 3,283 hits) or a teammate in " scoring position " ( showed that second or third base) home ( 1,903 runs batted in). Mays is in the eternal MLB list in home runs fourth in RBIs and tenth in hits, the number eleven. Beyond hitting the sprint strong Mays was four consecutive season record holder in steals ( respectively 40, 38, 31 and 27).

Also on the defensive Mays was world class. With 12 won Gold Gloves, he is one of the most successful defensive player of the MLB history. Particularly outstanding Mays was because of his quick feet and his strong throwing arm, with which he could still catch extremely long balls and quickly throw it back into the infield. Legendary Mays was Game 1 of the World Series in 1954, which was in the 10th inning Larry Doby of the Cleveland Indians on the second base and his teammate Vic Wertz hit a long flyball. Mays ran almost to the homerun wall and caught the ball blindly with his back to the ball With this action, which became known as " The Catch " in the MLB history, Mays prevented a secure (and predetermining end ) point. The glove, with which he made ​​this catch is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Also in 1954 Mays was awarded the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Associated Press.

Private life

Mays missed the MLB season in 1953, because he was bound for the Korean War in the U.S. Army. After his return he married in 1956 Margherite Wendell Chapman and adopted a child with her. In 1961 he was divorced.

Trivia

For the label Okeh Mays took a duet with the vocal group The Treniers the song " Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song) " on. Mays was promoting the brand of cigarettes Chesterfield.

May 25 September 9 Batting Average Hit (Baseball) Major League Baseball All-Century Team 30–30 club National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Jefferson County (Alabama) Run (Baseball) Stolen Base Associated Press Athlete of the Year
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