Willie Mays
Inducted:
1979
Stats
5-10, 170lb
178cm, 77kg
Born
May 6, 1931
Westfield, Alabama, U.S.
Died
June 18, 2024
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Position:
Center fielder
College:
Fairfield Industrial HS
Willie Mays was one of the greatest all-around players in baseball history, combining elite hitting, power, speed and defense throughout his career. Known as the “Say Hey Kid,” he starred for the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing his career with the New York Mets.
Mays won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1951 and helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series, highlighted by his famous over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1. He won two NL MVP Awards, a batting title, four home run titles and 12 Gold Glove Awards. Mays finished with 3,293 hits, 660 home runs, 1,909 RBI, 2,068 runs and 339 stolen bases.
He was selected to 24 All-Star Games and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.
Mays' Awards and Honors
- 24× All-Star (1954–1973)
- World Series champion (1954)
- 2× NL MVP (1954, 1965)
- NL Rookie of the Year (1951)
- 12× Gold Glove Award (1957–1968)
- NL batting champion (1954)
- 4× NL home run leader (1955, 1962, 1964, 1965)
- 4× NL stolen base leader (1956–1959)
- Hit four home runs in one game on April 30, 1961
MLB Records
- 7,095 career outfield putouts-all-time record for an outfielder
- Only 600-home-run hitter with a four-home-run game
- Only player to record both a 50-home-run season and a 20-triple season
- First player to reach 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, 2,000 runs and 300 stolen bases
- Only player with 3,000+ hits, a .300+ career average, 300+ home runs and 300+ stolen bases
MLB Career
New York Giants (1951–1952, 1954–1972)
New York Mets (1972–1973)
Number Worn
24
MLB Stats
Seasons:
23 (1948–1973)
Games:
3,005
Hits:
3,293
Doubles:
525
Triples:
141
Home runs:
660
RBI:
1,909
Runs:
2,068
Stolen bases:
339
Batting average:
.301
On-base percentage:
.384
Slugging percentage:
.557
OPS:
.941