Willie Mays’ greatness prolonged far past his play on the sector. His legacy will perpetually reside as considered one of baseball’s most impactful individuals. We could by no means see a phenomenon like him once more, granted, we did expertise one thing shut.
When information started circulating about Mays’ loss of life on Tuesday, graphics with his profession statistics and achievements had been plastered in all places. These embody Mays’ profession batting common of .301, his 3,291 hits, hits, 660 residence runs, 1,909 RBI and holding a .384 on-base and .557 slugging share.
Add these numbers to his 24 All-Star picks, 12 Gold Gloves (tied with Roberto Clemente for essentially the most amongst outfielders), a number of MVP awards, Rookie of the 12 months honor and World Sequence championship, and Mays has a case as the best participant of all-time.
However Mays’ resume does not even inform the story of his infectious persona and marketability throughout an period Main League Baseball was adapting to eliminating the segregation inside the sport and integrating Negro League gamers. Mays was a needed determine for the time, as he was beloved by followers of all ages and races.
There’s just one participant in baseball historical past who even comes near evaluating to Mays by way of every thing he was, each on and off the sector.
Ken Griffey Jr. took the sports activities world by storm, most notably with the Seattle Mariners all through the Nineteen Nineties. Taking part in middle subject and sporting the No. 24 as a tribute to Mays, Griffey was also known as “The Child” in an identical approach Mays was referred to as the “Say Hey Child” by followers. This immediately sparked comparisons. Griffey, a baseball legend who grew up across the sport, began to dominate individually, making individuals consider Mays much more.
Very like Mays for an earlier technology, Griffey argued as the sport’s finest participant throughout his prime. Along with being a whole participant — excelling offensively and defensively — who performed the identical place as Mays, Griffey immediately took the mantle because the face of the game. He signed with Nike, marketed the game together with his huge smile on commercials and video video games, and set All-Star voting data. At the moment, many even believed Griffey would surpass Mays and make his declare as the very best.
Whereas accidents within the second half of his profession derailed Griffey from really reaching Mays’ stage, he nonetheless did greater than sufficient to ascertain himself as a legend. In 22 seasons, Griffey recorded 2,781 hits, smashed 630 residence runs, drove in 1,836 RBI and posted an OBP of .370 and a slugging share of .538. Griffey additionally received an MVP and amassed 10 Gold Gloves at middle subject.
Some point out Mays’ godson and fellow Big Barry Bonds, however he does not match the invoice like Griffey. Bonds performed left subject and is polarizing as a consequence of his connection to performance-enhancing medicine.
These phrases from legendary sportscaster and baseball historian Bob Costas counsel Griffey is the one true comparability to Mays.
“Perhaps the closest comp in latest historical past could be the wholesome and younger Ken Griffey Jr. in two respects — he was a sensational middle fielder, he was an excellent and quick base runner like Willie, he hit for energy and for common and he exuded pleasure.”
