Willie Mays dies at age 93

Baseball legend Willie Mays, widely considered one of the best players in the history of the sport, has died, according to the San Francisco Giants.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93,” the team wrote Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

A statement from Major League Baseball (MLB) said it was “heartbroken” over the death of “one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport.”

Mays was twice named the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and won the 1954 World Series with the Giants.

Nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid,” the center fielder was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer.

His famous catch during the 1954 World Series remains one of the most iconic plays in the history of America’s so-called “National Pastime.”

In addition to his two MVP awards, he also finished in the top 10 runner-up for MVP 10 other times.

Mays’ son, Michael, told the Associated Press that his father died surrounded by his family and wanted to thank his fans for their years of support.

“My father passed away peacefully and among loved ones. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years,” he said.

“You have been his lifeblood.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also released a statement detailing his impact on the game.

“His incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable,” he wrote.

“We will never forget this true Giant, both on and off the field.”

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement that for people who grew up in the city, “some things just come without question… Willie Mays is the best there ever was.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom also praised Mays as “more than just a baseball icon.”

“He broke barriers and inspired millions of Americans – setting records, bringing joy to countless fans and becoming a role model for a generation of future athletes.”

Despite being out of professional sports for more than 50 years, the MLB added another 10 hits to his career record earlier this month after deciding to include Negro League statistics.

His record now stands at 3,293 hits, including the ten he hit in 1948 for the Birmingham Black Barons.

On Monday, Mays said he would not be able to attend a game in his honor scheduled for Thursday.

“I won’t be able to make it to Birmingham this year, but I will be watching the game here in the Bay Area,” Mays said in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.

“My heart will be with all of you who honor the Negro League ballplayers who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons.

“It will be a special day and I hope the children will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”

Mays was born and raised in Westfield, Alabama, and began his professional baseball career in 1948 while still in high school.

He joined the New York Giants in 1950 and hit twenty home runs for the team as a 20-year-old in 1951.

After the 1951 season, Mays was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War.

After missing the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to military service, he returned in 1954 to earn his first MVP award.

After the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco in 1954, he helped the team beat Cleveland in the World Series.

The over-the-shoulder catch he made during the game helped the team earn the win with a score of 5-2 after 10 innings.

In 1972, at the age of 41, he was traded to the New York Mets, where he played two more seasons before retiring.