Barry Bonds mourned the dying of his godfather Willie Mays on Tuesday night time in a submit on social media, saying that he was “devastated” over the passing of the baseball icon at 93 years previous.
“I’m past devastated and overcome with emotion,” Bonds wrote in an emotional submit on Instagram. “I’ve no phrases to explain what you imply to me — you helped form me to be who I’m in the present day. Thanks for being my Godfather and all the time being there. Give my dad [Bobby Bonds] a hug for me.
“Relaxation in Peace Willie, I like you endlessly. #SayHey.”
The submit was accompanied by a photograph of Bonds alongside Mays with the 2 smiling.
Mays had been teammates with Bonds’ father, Bobby, on the Giants from 1968-72.
Mays died simply two days shy of a recreation scheduled for Thursday between the Cardinals and Giants that may have fun the Negro Leagues at historic Rickwood Area, the oldest ballpark within the nation and the house of Mays’ Negro Leagues crew, the Birmingham Black Barons.
The “Say Hey Child” had started his baseball profession with the Black Barons in 1948 earlier than becoming a member of the Giants, whom he performed for from 1951 by means of 1972, when he was traded to the Mets.
He ended his profession with the Amazin’s in 1973.
Mays had already informed the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday that he wouldn’t be attending the Rickwood Area recreation and would as a substitute be watching from house.
“My coronary heart will likely be with all of you who’re honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who ought to all the time be remembered, together with all my teammates on the Black Barons,” Mays had mentioned on Monday. “I needed to thank Main League Baseball, the Giants, the Cardinals and all of the followers who’ll be at Rickwood or watching the sport. It’ll be a big day, and I hope the children will take pleasure in it and be impressed by it.”
New York, June 9, 1951. AP
Bonds is scheduled to be a part of the festivities Wednesday, participating in an exhibition superstar softball recreation as one of many captains for the occasion at Rickwood Area.
Thursday’s MLB recreation will now tackle a brand new which means.
“With unhappiness in our hearts, it is going to now additionally function a nationwide remembrance of an American who will endlessly stay on the brief record of essentially the most impactful people our nice recreation has ever recognized,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned in a part of an announcement.
