Happy Birthday Willie Mays

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CardsofSTL
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Happy Birthday Willie Mays

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https://www.mlb.com/news/willie-mays-me ... h-birthday
Willie Mays celebrates his 90th birthday on Thursday. He is the oldest living Hall of Famer now. But he is so much more than that.

Willie Mays is the greatest all-around player who ever lived, whose legendary career started at the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants in 1951. It means that for so many lifelong fans, he is the greatest player they never really saw. Even for the ones who did see him at his best, in the 1950s and ’60s, in New York and San Francisco, they go mostly on memories now, ones that No. 24 burned into their imagination forever
https://www.mlb.com/news/willie-mays-90th-birthday
The Say Hey Kid will always be forever young. The excitement he displayed on the baseball diamond in the 1950s and '60s was second to none.

For MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds, it isn’t hard to figure out why Mays shined with the Giants.

“If you think about it, the players that came out of the Negro Leagues [like Mays did], they weren’t just good. They were exceptional,” Reynolds said. “The cream of the crop of athletes, Willie was the greatest. I think we overlook his athleticism and abilities.”

Angels outfielder Mike Trout has been, for quite a few years now, the best player in all of baseball, and he's almost assuredly on his way to the Hall of Fame. But Mays had Trout’s power and hitting skills, while also being among the best center fielders in baseball history, and a fantastic baserunner, too. So if you love watching Trout play, it’s worth learning about Mays, who brought more to the game than just his skills on the diamond. People who saw Mays play will say he had that flair, that gait and bounce in his step. Supreme confidence.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/m ... 960925001/
The Hall of Fame outfielder almost certainly holds the title of the greatest living baseball player after hitting 660 career home runs, winning a pair of MVP awards, plus 12 Gold Gloves and a World Series ring in his amazing 22-year MLB career.

However, what really made Mays special was his style and grace, both on and off the field. In the words of MLB Network's Willie Mays 90th birthday tribute that will be shown on the channel throughout the day: "He was born not just to play baseball, but to entertain."

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CardsofSTL
All Hail the GDT Master
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Joined: April 26 11, 6:06 am
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Re: Happy Birthday Willie Mays

Post by CardsofSTL »

Some good stuff in the articles linked in the opening post; if you have some time give them a read.

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