Mays, Willie

Mays, Willie (Howard, Jr.)

(1931– ) baseball player; born in Westfield, Ala. During his 22-year career (1951–73) primarily with the New York and San Francisco Giants (he played most of his last two seasons with the New York Mets), he hit 660 homeruns, third highest in major league history, and twice won the league Most Valuable Player award (1954, 1965). Famous for his "basket" catches, he was one of the greatest defensive center fielders in the game's history. Nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid," his engaging personality made him a fan favorite. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1979.