Loss Of A Legend: Baseball Great Willie Mays Dies At 93-Years-Old
It's a sad day for baseball, as one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, Willie Mays, passed away at the age of 93.
The San Francisco Giants organization posted on X late Tuesday afternoon, "It is with great sadness that we announced that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93."
Mays' career was legendary, in every sense of the world. After starting his career, briefly, in the Negro Leagues, Mays made his major league debut in 1951 with the then New York Giants. Almost immediately, he was a force of nature, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. A true five-tool player, Mays was able to impact the game with his power, speed, and of course, defense.
By 1954, he was already among the best players in the game. During his MVP-winning season, Mays hit 41 home runs, scored 119 runs, drove in 110, stole eight bases, hit .345/.411/.667 for a 173 weighted runs created plus. Combined with his above average defense in center, he put together a 10.3 win season. Oh, and then had one of the most famous catches in baseball history in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series.
SAN FRANCISCO - Broadcaster Vin Scully (left) is congratulated on his final broadcast by Hall of Famer Willie Mays during the fourth inning between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park on October 2, 2016. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
Willie Mays' Legacy Lives On In Modern Baseball
Mays had four…FOUR seasons where he was worth more than 10 wins. For comparison, Ronald Acuna Jr. has never had a 10-win season. Mike Trout, one of the best modern comparisons for Mays, has "just" two 10-win seasons.
And he had two more of 9.7 and 9.8 wins. His list of career accomplishments is endless:
- 24 time All-Star
- 1954 World Series Champion
- Two-time NL MVP
- 12 time Gold Glove winner
- Four-time stolen base leader
- Four-time home run leader
- 3,293 career hits
- 660 career home runs
- 1,909 career runs batted in
- 2,068 career runs
- First ballot MLB Hall of Fame inductee
His career OPS+ put him in a tie with Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio and Mel Ott. It doesn't get much better.
Even today, Mays provides the template for what teams look for in young prospects. The ability to hit, hit for average, hit for power, provide value on the bases and on defense at a premium position, and exceptional plate discipline. Mays was one of the most influential figures in baseball history, and his loss is a loss for all of us, and the game itself.