Baseball great Mays dies at 93

Baseball fable Willie Mays, wide considered 1 of nan champion players successful nan sport's history, has died, according to nan San Francisco Giants.

"It is pinch awesome sadness that we denote that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed distant peacefully this day astatine nan property of 93," nan squad posted connected X, formerly Twitter, connected Tuesday.

A connection from Major League Baseball (MLB) said it was "heartbroken" complete nan decease of "one of nan astir breathtaking all-around players successful nan history of our sport".

Mays was doubly declared nan league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and won nan World Series pinch nan Giants successful 1954.

Nicknamed nan “Say Hey Kid”, nan halfway fielder was baseball’s oldest surviving Hall of Famer.

His celebrated drawback during nan 1954 World Series remains 1 of nan astir iconic plays successful nan history of America’s alleged “National Pastime”.

In summation to his 2 MVP awards, he besides vanished successful nan apical 10 runner-ups for MVP 10 different times.

Mays' son, Michael, told nan Associated Press that his begetter died successful nan beingness of his family and wished to convey his fans for their years of support.

"My begetter has passed distant peacefully and among loved ones. I want to convey you each from nan bottommost of my surgery bosom for nan unwavering emotion you person shown him complete nan years,” he said.

“You person been his life's blood."

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred besides released a connection describing his effect connected nan game.

"His unthinkable achievements and statistic do not statesman to picture nan awe that came pinch watching Willie Mays predominate nan crippled successful each measurement imaginable,” he wrote.

“We will ne'er hide this existent Giant connected and disconnected nan field."

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said successful a connection that to group that grew up successful nan city, "some things conscionable spell without question... Willie Mays is nan champion location ever was".

California Governor Gavin Newsom besides praised Mays arsenic "more than conscionable a shot icon".

"He collapsed barriers and inspired millions of Americans — mounting records, bringing joyousness to countless fans, and becoming a domiciled exemplary for a procreation of early athletes."

Despite having not played master sports for complete 50 years, nan MLB added 10 much hits to his profession grounds earlier this month, aft deciding to incorporated statistic from nan Negro League.

His grounds now stands astatine 3,293 hits, including nan 10 he deed for nan Birmingham Black Barons successful 1948.

On Monday, Mays said he would not beryllium capable to be a crippled successful his honour that was scheduled for Thursday.

“I’m not capable to get to Birmingham this twelvemonth but will travel nan crippled backmost present successful nan Bay Area,” Mays said successful a connection to nan San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.

“My bosom will beryllium pinch each of you who are honoring nan Negro League ballplayers, who should ever beryllium remembered, including each my teammates connected nan Black Barons.

“It’ll beryllium a typical day, and I dream nan kids will bask it and beryllium inspired by it."

Mays was calved and raised successful Westfield, Alabama, and began his master shot profession while still successful precocious schoolhouse successful 1948.

He joined nan New York Giants successful 1950, and successful 1951 deed 20 location runs for nan squad arsenic a 20-year-old.

After nan 1951 play Mays was drafted into nan US Army to service successful nan Korean War.

After missing nan 1952 and 1953 seasons owed to his subject service, he returned successful 1954 to gain his first MVP award.

After nan Giants moved from New York to San Francisco successful 1954, he helped nan squad conclusion Cleveland successful nan World Series.

The over-the-shoulder drawback he made during nan crippled helped nan squad cinch nan triumph pinch a people of 5-2 aft 10 innings.

In 1972 he was traded to nan New York Mets astatine nan property of 41 wherever he played for 2 much seasons earlier retiring.