Baseball Legend Willie Mays Dead at 93

Baseball legend Willie Mays died on Tues., June 18. He was 93.

The two-time MVP center fielder died “peacefully and among loved ones,” according to a statement released by the San Francisco Giants on behalf of Mays’ son, Michael.

“I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years,” Michael said. “You have been his life’s blood.”

Mays was born on May 6, 1931 in Alabama. He began his baseball career in 1948 playing in the Negro American League with the Birmingham Black Barons when he was just 16. He signed with the New York Giants in 1950 and continued to play with the Giants for 21 seasons before spending his final two years in professional baseball with the New York Mets. Mays was ultimately inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.

“Today we have lost a true legend,” Giants Chairman Greg Johnson said in a statement following Mays’ passing. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant.

“He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America,” Johnson’s statement continued. “He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred paid tribute to Mays as he noted that the entire MLB community was “in mourning.”

“His incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable,” Manfred’s tribute said in part. “We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.”

Former President Barack Obama, who awarded Mays the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, also remembered the baseball great in a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter. “Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill and power,” Obama wrote. “He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person - and an inspiration to an entire generation. I’m lucky to have spent time with him over the years, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family.”

Social media was flooded with tributes to Mays as celebrities and professional athletes alike recognized his significant impact on sports.

“One of the greatest to ever play the game, Willie Mays, passed away last night. A legend on and off the field. Another reason to celebrate greatness on #juneteenth,” Today show co-host Al Roker wrote on Instagram.

“RIP to a true legend #HeyKid,” Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted.

“The great @Willie Mays has passed away. Had the honor of talking with him several times. He loved that we mentioned his ‘54 World Series catch in @CitySlickers.The man who hit the ball and the ‘ Giant’ who caught it signed this ball. RIP #24.. a thrill to watch you play,” actor Billy Crystal wrote.

“RIP #WillieMays. As a #Dodger fans we feared and respected him. But as a baseball fan you had to simply stand in awe of him. What a multifaceted superstar,” director Ron Howard said.

“He was a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a 2-time MVP, World Series champion, and a Hall of Famer. The great Willie Mays has passed away,” tennis legend Billie Jean King tweeted. "It was a privilege to know him. We were both honored by @MLB in 2010 with the Beacon Award, given to civil rights pioneers. He was a such a kind soul, who gifted my brother Randy a new glove and a television during his rookie year with the @SFGiants. My deepest condolences to his family. He will be missed.”

Next: Remembering the Stars and Legends We've Lost In 2024