Famous Baseball legend Willie Mays dies at 93

Baseball icon Willie Mays, celebrated for his dazzling skills and athletic grace, passed away at the age of 93, his family announced on Tuesday. Mays’ passing was confirmed in a joint statement with his former team, the San Francisco Giants.

“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” said his son Michael Mays. “Thank you all for the unwavering love you’ve shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

Giants chairman Greg Johnson praised Mays as a trailblazer and an inspiration beyond baseball. “Today we have lost a true legend. Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball but on the fabric of America.”

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred honored Mays as a star who inspired generations. “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.”

Born in Alabama in 1931, Mays started his career with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League in 1948. Signed by the New York Giants in 1950, he dazzled in his 1951 debut season, earning the Rookie of the Year award with 20 home runs.

Mays’ most iconic moment came in the 1954 World Series with “The Catch,” a jaw-dropping over-the-shoulder grab that remains one of baseball’s most famous plays. He helped the Giants win their last title before relocating to San Francisco, where he played until 1972, finishing his career with the New York Mets in 1973.

A two-time MVP and 24-time All-Star, Mays hit 660 home runs, placing him sixth on MLB’s all-time list. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015.

“Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill, and power,” Obama wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person – and an inspiration to an entire generation.”

Willie Mays’ legacy will forever shine in the pantheon of baseball greats and in the hearts of fans around the world.