Willie Howard Mays, Jr., the “Say-Hey Kid”, did all the things in the game of baseball that the greatest players of all-time would do, and more. He was a gentleman off the field, as well.
Born on May 6, 1931, Mays stepped to the plate for his first Major League baseball game in 1951 for the New York Giants, and he retired after 22 stunning seasons. He made what is considered the greatest catch ever in the World Series in 1954, turning his back to a blast off the bat of Vic Wertz to grab the ball over his shoulder while still on the run for the long, long out in center field. The famous catch still rates as one of the best ever made in the sport; some say it’s the best ever.
The greatest players of all-time are the fellows who could hit for average, club impressive home runs, and get on base when needed, whether by slugging, slicing a single, or sacrificing their at bat in crucial situations. The greatest players were blessed with great arms capable of throwing out a runner speeding toward an extra base. These players altered defenses, stole bases, fielded their positions in Gold Glove style, and brought groans of despair to the lips of great pitchers.
Giants Manager Leo Durocher gave the “greatest player ever” nod to Mays. “What can I say about Willie Mays after I say he’s the greatest player any of us has ever seen?” Durocher stated. Mays was a member of the (20th Century) All-Century Team gathered together over two decades ago, and he garnered the most votes for best ever player.
In all of baseball’s 20th Century history, the “greatest players” were typically great in all categories of the game. Statistically speaking, the only player of that era who outdid Mays in most of the recorded stats categories was “The Georgia Peach”, Detroit Tiger star Tyrus Raymond Cobb, who played 24 years in the Majors. Cobb’s birth date is January 24, 1886. He played from 1905 to 1928.
Mays’ Career Stats:
Games played: 2,992; At bats: 10,881; Runs scored: 2,062; Hits: 3,283; Doubles: 523; Triples: 140; Home runs: 660; Runs batted in: 1,903; Bases on balls: 1,464; Intentional bases on balls: 192; Strikeouts: 1,526; Batting average: .302; Stolen bases: 338; Caught stealing bases: 103.
Mays won two Most Valuable Player awards many years apart, in 1954 and in 1965, proving the durability of his many skills. He didn’t play baseball for most of 1952 and missed the entire season in 1953, as he served in the U.S. Army during those periods.
In ten different seasons, Mays hit over 35 homers. He won the stolen base title four times, was sixth, or higher, in MVP voting in 12 different seasons, and captured the Gold Glove award 12 years running from 1957 to 1968.
Cobb’s Career Stats Line:
GP-3034; AB-11434; R-2246; H-4189; D-724; T-295; HR-117; RBI-1938; BB-1249; IBB-not kept; SO-357; BA-.366; SB-897; CS-178.
(Note: Cobb’s stats very slightly from these retrieved from the official “The 2005 Baseball Encyclopedia”, and those recorded in the 2005 volume entitled “Cooperstown Hall of Fame Players”, Publications International, Ltd., Illinois.)
The most incredible stats comparison for Cobb to Mays are the few times Cobb struck out, 357, compared to his at bats — 11,434, and his stolen base percentage. He was thrown out only 178 times and successfully stole a base 892 times in a feared, spikes high manner.
Mays was a better slugger, by far, and he had more skill for skill, all around raw talent.
Cobb, who also played the outfield, received 222 of 226 votes cast in baseball’s first Hall of Fame entry election held in 1936. His career batting average is the highest ever achieved. Twelve times, he won the season’s batting title. But he had no home run swing, nor the grace and skill of Mays in fielding his position.
Others Who Excelled
One can argue for the Boston Red Sox’s exquisite hitter Ted Williams as baseball’s best batsman ever. His knowledge of the art of hitting was his alone, and he is one of the few players to twice win the batting Triple Crown — most home runs, most RBIs, and best batting average in a single season.
Jackie Roosevelt Robinson was a phenomenal player who acquired the added task of breaking baseball’s color barrier as a Brooklyn Dodger. He was less of a hitter than Williams, but a better fielder.
And, of course, many believe “The Babe”, George Herman Ruth was the greatest player of all-time. He was the charismatic who became far-and-away the game’s best slugger as a New York Yankee while also claiming fame as a pitcher in his early years with the Boston Red Sox.
“The Yankee Clipper”, Joe DiMaggio, a three-time MVP, still holds the consecutive games with a hit record — 56. That streak barely has been approached since DiMaggio’s time as a player.
Hall of Famers all, these players gave fans what they wanted to see — skills of the game and winning results.
However, measuring from all skill sets of baseball and every statistical category recorded for the sport, the “Say-Hey Kid” hits an all-time grand slam as the best ever of the diamond’s best.
And his humble answer to that claim when the 20th Century’s All-Century Team was chosen was, “Say-Hey!”
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Image Credits:
Top and Bottom Photos courtesy of http://www.pixabay.com
Photo of Willie Howard Mays, Jr. compliments of http://www.wikimedia.com
Three Photos of the baseball fields from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg
Champions In Sport 