8 ms·

Willie Mays, SF Giants baseball player, has died

131 points by coloneltcb 2y ago

Balgair 2y ago
Just an amazing player, literally one of the best. I think it will be very interesting here in the next few years as MLB adds more of the Negro Leagues' data to the official stats. Willie's official stats have already been increased. If you would like to assist in the effort to recognize the efforts of those men, then please consider volunteering time here: https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/NegroLeagues.html https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/NegroLeagues.html I know for a fact that they are in dire need of coders and programmers to help with web development for submitting newspaper clippings and other records. Additionally, if you or anyone you know has access to old newspaper clippings and other records, say in an attic or basement, please get in contact with the above people.
- astura 2y ago
  >If you would like to assist in the effort to recognize the efforts of those men, then please consider volunteering Men and women! Let's not forget that three women played in the Negro Leagues - Toni Stone, Connie Morgan and Mamie Johnson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Morgan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Morgan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Johnson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Johnson
  - gdiamos 2y ago
    What? That's incredible. They played in the same league as male players? Clearly I'm missing a history lesson here.
Lammy 2y ago
> In fact, Mays and his wife, Marghuerite, were rejected when trying to buy a house in St. Francis Wood, a prestigious San Francisco neighborhood, because they were Black. Was curious enough to look into this, and here's the front page Chronicle article from when this happened and a EBT article with more detail: https://www.sfchronicle.com/chronicle_vault/article/Chronicle-Covers-When-Willie-Mays-was-denied-10518685.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/chronicle_vault/article/Chronicl... https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/11/15/discrimination-s-f-style-hit-mays/ https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/11/15/discrimination-s-f-s... SF (and the whole Bay Area, frankly) is unfortunately very segregated even today: http://radicalcartography.net/bayarea_race.jpg http://radicalcartography.net/bayarea_race.jpg St. Francis Wood is the area around this point: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=37.7348&mlon=-122.468&zoom=15#map=15/37.7348/-122.4680 https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=37.7348&mlon=-122.468&zo...
- dyauspitr 2y ago
  On the flip side, San Diego is surprisingly a very well integrated city.
  - TheBlight 2y ago
    More active military personnel in the area likely explains it.
    - inferiorhuman 2y ago
      The Bay Area (including San Francisco) had quite a large modern day military presence up until recently. Treasure Island, BVHP, Presidio, Ft. Point, Ft. Mason, Ft. Funston, Ft. Cronkhite, Alameda, Moffett, Mare Island, Hamilton, Port Chicago, Oakland, Pt Molate, LLNL, Mt. Tam, etc., etc. Integration never really stuck.
      - TheBlight 2y ago
        Most of those places haven't been staffed with enlisted men at any sort of real capacity for decades (if ever.)
        inferiorhuman 2y ago
        All of those saw active use during WW2, many up through the cold war. Letterman was used in every 20th century US foreign conflict. Sure, most of them were decommissioned during the Clinton era. But if it only took three decades to bring back segregation perhaps the military didn't bring lasting integration in the first place. And if you look beyond the military towards support folks, the Bay Area saw a huge influx of immigrants during WW2 (e.g. for ship building). One look at Marin City and you'll notice the white immigrants got out ASAP. Quite frankly I'd be careful calling San Diego "integrated". Perhaps the city proper is, but in my experience the burbs aren't necessarily (especially the more posh ones). Once you hit north county it turns in to duelling banjo country right quick. They don't call it Klantee without reason.
jgalt212 2y ago
Top 5 All Time Wins Above Replacement https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_career.shtml https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_career.shtml
toomuchtodo 2y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays
cbfrench 2y ago
“There's a long drive... way back at center field... way back, back, it is a... Oh my! Caught by Mays!” https://youtu.be/7bLt2xKaNH0?si=I1rvcp67qk2pV5yN https://youtu.be/7bLt2xKaNH0?si=I1rvcp67qk2pV5yN
- somenameforme 2y ago
  The YouTube algorithm actually worked pretty well for once. It linked to this [1] video for me that broke down that catch. I'm not a big baseball fan and so that catch looked nice, but not especially remarkable, to me. The video breaking down exactly what you're watching there is really helpful for understanding what's really going on. [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZNlCZ6uqE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZNlCZ6uqE
- astura 2y ago
  This play has its own wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball)
- mikemitchelldev 2y ago
  i used to have a photograph of this catch on my corkboard when a child.
doodlebugging 2y ago
One of the all-time great baseball players. He passed away less than two days before Major League Baseball would be playing a regular season game in recognition of the Negro Leagues for the first time at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Willie Mays played for the Birmingham Black Barons before he was picked up by the SF Giants. Mays wouldn't have been at the game due to health problems, but he was the oldest living Baseball Hall-of-Famer when he passed today. He was interviewed for the story and was rightfully honored when the announcement was made last year.[0] He almost made it. [0]https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-giants-to-play-at-rickwood-field-in-2024 https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-giants-to-play-at-rickwoo...
josh2600 2y ago
One of the best to ever do it. I remember going to opening day at Pac Bell Park where Willie was hanging out next to his statue. It's a real good one that summarizes one of the greatest players in history. Seeing Willie and the Giants at the games when I was a kid are some of fondest memories of when life was simple.
hammyhavoc 2y ago
It always surprised me how baseball never caught on in the UK. American football did a little better, but not by much. Same with NHL to be honest, interest in hockey seemed to peak with the Mighty Ducks movie.
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 2y ago
  > It always surprised me how baseball never caught on in the UK. It’s too close to cricket.
  - oliyoung 2y ago
    Yeah, it's the same here in Australia. Massive basketball (top 5 domestic league, huge NBA market) but baseball is relegated to a 2-month semi-pro competition in front of maybe a thousand people. Which is a shame, a lot of the enjoyment (some of it, I'm a Cubs fan, I get enjoyment out of baseball where I can) I get out of Baseball is the same as Cricket
- whartung 2y ago
  I remember the first of the London Series games. Yankee v Red Sox, and what a perfect, iconic baseball matchup it was. The first game was 17-13, which is quite high. Bugs Bunny baseball slugfest. I was hoping after the London visitors got a taste of that extreme game that the next day it go the other way and would be one of those grinding, 15 inning, 1-0, pitching duels.
  - hammyhavoc 2y ago
    Love this anecdote so much.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
otras 2y ago
Willie Mays was the mystery guest on the gameshow What's My Line in 1954, 70 years ago: https://youtu.be/XoQOIf7utlY?si=FGMF0kZ5AFq86nuh&t=1021 https://youtu.be/XoQOIf7utlY?si=FGMF0kZ5AFq86nuh&t=1021 Nearly all episodes of that show are available on YouTube. Much like that one, they're all time capsules.
- astura 2y ago
  Wow, they got it right away.
O1111OOO 2y ago
Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKA9Zi5-_Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKA9Zi5-_Y
iancmceachern 2y ago
Since we heard the news yesterday there has been a continuous stream of people paying their respects at his statue here in Willie Mays Plaza, bringing flowers and saying their goodbyes. There were people there at 1am and in the morning when we woke up. When he would come to games I remember people being extatic that he was just attending that day. Imagine seeing him play. A truly beloved man, and deservedly so.

131 points by coloneltcb 2y ago

Just an amazing player, literally one of the best. I think it will be very interesting here in the next few years as MLB adds more of the Negro Leagues' data to the official stats. Willie's official stats have already been increased. If you would like to assist in the effort to recognize the efforts of those men, then please consider volunteering time here: https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/NegroLeagues.html https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/NegroLeagues.html I know for a fact that they are in dire need of coders and programmers to help with web development for submitting newspaper clippings and other records. Additionally, if you or anyone you know has access to old newspaper clippings and other records, say in an attic or basement, please get in contact with the above people.

astura 2y ago
>If you would like to assist in the effort to recognize the efforts of those men, then please consider volunteering Men and women! Let's not forget that three women played in the Negro Leagues - Toni Stone, Connie Morgan and Mamie Johnson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Morgan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Morgan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Johnson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Johnson
- gdiamos 2y ago
  What? That's incredible. They played in the same league as male players? Clearly I'm missing a history lesson here.

Lammy 2y ago

> In fact, Mays and his wife, Marghuerite, were rejected when trying to buy a house in St. Francis Wood, a prestigious San Francisco neighborhood, because they were Black. Was curious enough to look into this, and here's the front page Chronicle article from when this happened and a EBT article with more detail: https://www.sfchronicle.com/chronicle_vault/article/Chronicle-Covers-When-Willie-Mays-was-denied-10518685.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/chronicle_vault/article/Chronicl... https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/11/15/discrimination-s-f-style-hit-mays/ https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/11/15/discrimination-s-f-s... SF (and the whole Bay Area, frankly) is unfortunately very segregated even today: http://radicalcartography.net/bayarea_race.jpg http://radicalcartography.net/bayarea_race.jpg St. Francis Wood is the area around this point: https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=37.7348&mlon=-122.468&zoom=15#map=15/37.7348/-122.4680 https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=37.7348&mlon=-122.468&zo...

dyauspitr 2y ago
On the flip side, San Diego is surprisingly a very well integrated city.
- TheBlight 2y ago
  More active military personnel in the area likely explains it.
  - inferiorhuman 2y ago
    The Bay Area (including San Francisco) had quite a large modern day military presence up until recently. Treasure Island, BVHP, Presidio, Ft. Point, Ft. Mason, Ft. Funston, Ft. Cronkhite, Alameda, Moffett, Mare Island, Hamilton, Port Chicago, Oakland, Pt Molate, LLNL, Mt. Tam, etc., etc. Integration never really stuck.
    - TheBlight 2y ago
      Most of those places haven't been staffed with enlisted men at any sort of real capacity for decades (if ever.)
      - inferiorhuman 2y ago
        All of those saw active use during WW2, many up through the cold war. Letterman was used in every 20th century US foreign conflict. Sure, most of them were decommissioned during the Clinton era. But if it only took three decades to bring back segregation perhaps the military didn't bring lasting integration in the first place. And if you look beyond the military towards support folks, the Bay Area saw a huge influx of immigrants during WW2 (e.g. for ship building). One look at Marin City and you'll notice the white immigrants got out ASAP. Quite frankly I'd be careful calling San Diego "integrated". Perhaps the city proper is, but in my experience the burbs aren't necessarily (especially the more posh ones). Once you hit north county it turns in to duelling banjo country right quick. They don't call it Klantee without reason.

jgalt212 2y ago

Top 5 All Time Wins Above Replacement https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_career.shtml https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_career.shtml

toomuchtodo 2y ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Mays

cbfrench 2y ago

“There's a long drive... way back at center field... way back, back, it is a... Oh my! Caught by Mays!” https://youtu.be/7bLt2xKaNH0?si=I1rvcp67qk2pV5yN https://youtu.be/7bLt2xKaNH0?si=I1rvcp67qk2pV5yN

somenameforme 2y ago
The YouTube algorithm actually worked pretty well for once. It linked to this [1] video for me that broke down that catch. I'm not a big baseball fan and so that catch looked nice, but not especially remarkable, to me. The video breaking down exactly what you're watching there is really helpful for understanding what's really going on. [1] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZNlCZ6uqE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htZNlCZ6uqE
astura 2y ago
This play has its own wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(baseball)
mikemitchelldev 2y ago
i used to have a photograph of this catch on my corkboard when a child.

doodlebugging 2y ago

One of the all-time great baseball players. He passed away less than two days before Major League Baseball would be playing a regular season game in recognition of the Negro Leagues for the first time at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. Willie Mays played for the Birmingham Black Barons before he was picked up by the SF Giants. Mays wouldn't have been at the game due to health problems, but he was the oldest living Baseball Hall-of-Famer when he passed today. He was interviewed for the story and was rightfully honored when the announcement was made last year.[0] He almost made it. [0]https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-giants-to-play-at-rickwood-field-in-2024 https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-giants-to-play-at-rickwoo...

josh2600 2y ago

One of the best to ever do it. I remember going to opening day at Pac Bell Park where Willie was hanging out next to his statue. It's a real good one that summarizes one of the greatest players in history. Seeing Willie and the Giants at the games when I was a kid are some of fondest memories of when life was simple.

hammyhavoc 2y ago

It always surprised me how baseball never caught on in the UK. American football did a little better, but not by much. Same with NHL to be honest, interest in hockey seemed to peak with the Mighty Ducks movie.

RcouF1uZ4gsC 2y ago
> It always surprised me how baseball never caught on in the UK. It’s too close to cricket.
- oliyoung 2y ago
  Yeah, it's the same here in Australia. Massive basketball (top 5 domestic league, huge NBA market) but baseball is relegated to a 2-month semi-pro competition in front of maybe a thousand people. Which is a shame, a lot of the enjoyment (some of it, I'm a Cubs fan, I get enjoyment out of baseball where I can) I get out of Baseball is the same as Cricket
whartung 2y ago
I remember the first of the London Series games. Yankee v Red Sox, and what a perfect, iconic baseball matchup it was. The first game was 17-13, which is quite high. Bugs Bunny baseball slugfest. I was hoping after the London visitors got a taste of that extreme game that the next day it go the other way and would be one of those grinding, 15 inning, 1-0, pitching duels.
- hammyhavoc 2y ago
  Love this anecdote so much.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

otras 2y ago

Willie Mays was the mystery guest on the gameshow What's My Line in 1954, 70 years ago: https://youtu.be/XoQOIf7utlY?si=FGMF0kZ5AFq86nuh&t=1021 https://youtu.be/XoQOIf7utlY?si=FGMF0kZ5AFq86nuh&t=1021 Nearly all episodes of that show are available on YouTube. Much like that one, they're all time capsules.

astura 2y ago
Wow, they got it right away.

O1111OOO 2y ago

Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKA9Zi5-_Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKA9Zi5-_Y

iancmceachern 2y ago

Since we heard the news yesterday there has been a continuous stream of people paying their respects at his statue here in Willie Mays Plaza, bringing flowers and saying their goodbyes. There were people there at 1am and in the morning when we woke up. When he would come to games I remember people being extatic that he was just attending that day. Imagine seeing him play. A truly beloved man, and deservedly so.