Baseball Icon Willie Mays Passes Away At 93

Major League Baseball icon Willie Mays has passed away at the age of 93, is son, Michael Mays, confirmed in an announcement through the San Francisco Giants organization on Tuesday.

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” Michael said in a statement. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

Mays began his professional baseball career with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948. He made his MLB debut in 1951 with the New York Giants.

The “Say Hey Kid” went on to have one of the most memorable careers in Major League Baseball history, a career that included 24 All-Star nods and two Most Valuable Player awards.

Mays’ 660 home runs between the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball is still good for sixth all time, a feat he accomplished despite missing the 1953 season for military service as part of the Korean War. He is also a member of the 3,000 hit club and finished his career with a batting average of .302.

In addition to his offensive prowess, Mays is also considered to be one of the best defensive outfielders of All-Time. He racked up 12 Gold Gloves throughout his first-ballot Hall of Fame career, a record for outfielders.

His over-the-shoulder catch in the 1954 World Series is considered one of the greatest baseball plays of all time. The legendary play was a deviation from his best known defensive attribute, which was his knack for “shoestring catches” just before balls landed for a hit.

Mays played the majority of his career with the Giants and stuck with the team when they moved to San Francisco in 1958. He won a World Series title with the team in 1954 and had his number retired after his playing days came to an end.

Widely considered as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, Mays was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Century team in 1999.