Happy Birthday To Willie Mays

Former Centerfielder Willie Mays, my first sports hero turns 77 today. While playing with the New York Baseball Giants in the 1950s, Mays was part of a legendary triumvirate of Center fielders in New York that included Mickey Mantle of the Yankees and Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Dodgers and Giants of course moved to Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively in 1958. Mays of course, played for the San Francisco Giants until the early 1970s when he was traded to the New York Mets. After reading about Mays in a magazine article in 1967, I suddenly became a big baseball fan.

Happy Birthday, Willie Mays

 

My childhood idol, Willie Mays turns 91 today (May 6, 2022).  Mays was the centerfielder of the San Francisco (originally the New York) Giants and basically wrote the book on how to play the position.  

When started watching baseball on TV, he was pretty much in the twilight of his career, but there was always a certain excitement when he was up to bat. 

According to my source, Mays is the oldest living player in the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

Happy Birthday, Willie! 

From 2015, Willie Mays Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Obama awarded Willie Mays with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom in 2015.

Willie McCovey Dead At 80

Willie McCovey, Hall Of Fame 1st baseman for the San Francisco Giants, has died at 80.  McCovey played alongside the great Willie Mays to form one of the best homerun hitting duos in baseball at the time.  

McCovey's 18 career grand slams are the most in National League history.  The body of water behind right field in the Giant's stadium is name McCovey Cove after the popular slugger. 

Since Seattle did not have a team when I first started watching baseball in the 1960s, the Giants were my favorite team.  Decades later, I ate in McCovey's a restaurant in Walnut Creek named after him.

Three All Time Greats Leave Us In 2024

So long to three of the best baseball players in my lifetime all in 2024.  

Willie Mays (middle), at the time, the oldest living Hall Of Famer died in June.  Mays was perhaps my most favorite player.

Pete Rose ,(top picture), baseball's all-time leader in career hits.  Rose was banned for life from MLB, creating a debate on whether he should be in the Hall Of Fame.  A debate that will never probably never end. 

Rickey Henderson (bottom picture), perhaps the most shocking passing died Saturday December 20th.  Henderson holds the season record for stealing bases and is the career leader. Henderson was 65.

These three players brought excitement and new fans into baseball during their careers.  They will all be missed 

 

Two Living Legends

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 I'm happy these two icons of baseball in the 1960s (and 1950s) are still with us.  Both Willie Mays from the Giants and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers.

Both started on New York teams that moved to California in the late 50s.  Koufax had just retired when I started following baseball, but was a commentator on the NBC game of the week.  I learned of Mays through an article in the Scout magazine Boys Life.  Since Seattle did not have a team at the time, I adopted the San Francisco Giants as my favorite baseball club.

This picture was posted in the Sandy Koufax fan group on Facebook. 

Giant Heroes

Growing up, there was no Seattle MLB team until the late 1970s. (except for the one season of the Seattle Pilots) I rooted for the closest team, the San Francisco Giants.  They also had 2 great stars in Willie Mays and Willie McCovey 

I just received this card this past week

Eddie Feigner, a Walla Walla native was "The King" of "The King And His Court" they were to Softball what the Harlem Globetrotters were to basketball. In 1967, in a 2 inning exhibition game, Eddie struck out Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Brooks Robinson, Maurey Wills and Roberto Clemente. Featured in Sport Illustrated in the '70s. he pitched an exhibition in Walla Walla that I was able to watch.

Book Review: David Halberstam's October 1964

This book was touted on KJR-AM a couple of months ago after David Halberstam's
tragic death. The backdrop is the World Series of 1964, but the book is about so much more.

At the time, the American League and the National League were microcosms of 2 different segments of American society. The American League was steeped in tradition, clean cut, and mostly white. The teams in the American League relied mostly on sluggers like Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew, and Boog Powell. The teams in the National League where more new era, with many African Americans, Hispanics. The teams played more "small ball" with bunts, stolen bases and more versatile players like Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Lou Brock, and Maury Wills. This was a transitional time in our history going from an era of innocence into a time of dissent. A great deal of this was reflected in the 1964 baseball season. The Yankees great run was coming to an end while the St Louis Cardinals were emerging. I think that one thing that interested me in this book was the fact that this was beginning of the great Cardinal teams that I would see in the first 2 World Series that I would ever watch, 1967 and 1968.

So Long Say Hey Kid

Willie Mays, whose charisma and exciting play went a long way toward making me a baseball enthusiast, has died.  

One of the last baseball icons of his era and considered by many as the greatest player of all time was 93. 
 

Classic Baseball Card

I could not resist this offer that I found online.  A card featuring all time greats Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.  Two of the reasons that I fell in love with Baseball as a kid.

Griffey's Number 24 Retired In Safeco Ceremony

 

Ken Griffey Jr's became the first Seattle Mariner to have his number retired as of last night.  Griffey, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame a few weeks ago was in Seattle this weekend for the ceremony.   Not only were Griffey's former teammates on hand, but baseball legend Hank Aaron spoke on the big screen. Aaron's appearance  built the anticipation that another baseball great the wore the number 24,  would appear.  MC Rick Rizzs  introduced various number 24s until Willie Mays, appeared on the big screen with his taped greetings. Then the above plaque was unveiled.  It is next to Jackie Robinson, whose number is retired throughout baseball. I found it ironic that Griffey's number is the reverse of Robinson's.
  Thank you to Root Sports, who carried the ceremony on TV before the Mariner's game with the Angels.  The M's wound up sweeping the Halo's in the weekend series.

Griffey Gives Emotional Speech At Hall Of Fame Induction

Ken Griffey, Jr choked back tears and thanked his parents, coaches, children, and teammates as he became the first player to be inducted as a Mariner. He also thanked former teammate Randy Johnson, a fellow Hall Of Fame player who entered as a Diamondback.  Not to be left out was Jay Buhner, who was Griffey's closest teammate. 
Griffey was so great, that you never wanted to leave your seat when he was up to bat. Of course when he was in the field, he made spectacular catches.  He wore the number 24, the same number of another great centerfield with whom he is also compared, Willie Mays.

We Salute Jackie Robinson

Many baseball players wore number 42 today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into Major League baseball. Robinson became the first African American to play in the bigs. His struggles are well documented. Robinson's persistence paved the way for some of my old favorite players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Lou Brock. It was the charisma and talent of these players that drew my interest in the sport.

Hot Corner Hero Brooks Robinson--Dead At 86

 Brooks Robinson, the legendary 3rd Baseman of the Baltimore Orioles of the 60s and 70s, has died. He was 86.  

Robinson, who some may say is the best 3rd baseman of all time, help lead the Orioles to 4 World Series appearances.,winning two.

Robinson, who played in an era of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron, was a first ballot Hall Of Famer.

Vin Scully Signs Off

Vin Scully ended his incredible broadcast career yesterday.  Scully had announced Dodger games for 67 years.  He started when the teams was in Brooklyn.  That's 8 years before I was born.  His last game was in San Francisco at AT&T Park.  In this picture he is shown with Giant legend Willie Mays.  You can read Vin's final call by clicking here.  We wish Vin a long and happy retirement!

Cardinals Vs Tigers Memories From '68

This year's world series matchup between the St Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers brought back memories of the 2nd World Series that I ever followed between the Tiger and the Cards. I had known the Cardinals line up by heart Speedster Lou Brock Centerfielder great Curt Flood. Slugger Orlando Cepeda. Exact same line since the previous year when they slipped by the Boston Red Sox in 7 games. Detroit had been the sentimental favorite the whole year because of their great slugger Al Kaline who was winding down his career and had never been to the World Series. That was the summer I met Cousin Rick down in Seaside Oregon. He was about my age and equally mad about baseball. I had this game called Stat-O-Matic (it was sort of like what we know called fantasy baseball) and we had a blast playing it. Two of the teams we had were the Cardinals And Tigers.
It was the year that Denny McLaine became the last pitcher to win 30 games. It was the year of the pitcher as the batting average leader in one league barely had an average over .300.
Willie Mays was still great and at the time was my all time favorite player. Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle where hanging in as well.
Back then, they were the St Louis "baseball" Cardinal as St Louis' Football team was also had that name.

Walla Walla Native Eddie Feigner Inducted

There was a ceremony before last Sunday's Mariner game.  Several well known athletes were being inducted into the State Of Washington Sports Hall Of Fame and one not as well known.  Walla Walla native Eddie Feigner, who passed away several years ago, joined Chip Hanauer, Alvin David, Keith Jackson, Detlef Shrempf, and Jack Thompson as inductees.  Feigner was represented by his son, Eddie Feigner, Jr.
Feigner was a pitcher and "The King" for a barnstorming team known as "the King and His Court",  a fast-pitch softball team.  In an exhibition one time, Feigner struck out Willlie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Brooks Robinson, Willie McCovey, Maury Wills, and Harmon Killebrew, consecutively.  For more on Feigner, click here