Published May 9, 2021 Updated May 10, 2021, 10:39 am CDT
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing ridicule online after sharing the wrong photograph of an iconic Black baseball player. Featured Video Hide
While attempting to honor the 90th birthday of the legendary Willie Mays on Thursday, Pelosi instead shared a photograph of deceased Black baseball player Willie McCovey. Advertisement Hide
“Happy 90th Birthday to an all-American icon, Willie Mays,” Pelosi tweeted. “A trailblazing, record-breaking baseball player, civil rights leader, and champion for youth sports and well-being, Willie Mays is a civic legend and a national treasure.”
Unsurprisingly, the photograph was flooded with comments shortly after pointing out that Pelosi had showcased the wrong man. McCovey, who died at the age of 80 in 2018, spent years playing alongside Mays for the San Francisco Giants.
May 6, 2021 Press Release
San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this statement wishing San Francisco baseball legend Willie Mays a happy 90th birthday:
“Happy 90th Birthday to an all-American icon, Willie Mays. A trailblazing, record-breaking baseball player, civil rights leader and champion for youth sports and well-being, Willie Mays is a civic legend and national treasure. How proud we were to see President Obama joyfully granting him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. How proud we were to see Willie reveling in the San Francisco Giants’ three World Series victories and rallying fans at the ballpark.
“When we dedicated a statue for Willie Mays’ fellow Alabamian, civil rights hero Rosa Parks, in the Capitol of the United States, I invited Willie Mays as my guest. He could not attend but sent a letter to mark the occasion, and gave me permission to share his words. He said: ‘Most times, change doesn’t happen fast. Most times, it happ
Mays is overflowing with youthful memories, but focuses on kids futures
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Willie Mays has a lot of baseball memories that will bring a smile to his face, but he also wants to focus on future generations of baseball players. “I like to help people,” he says.Deanne Fitzmaurice / The Chronicle 2004
To sit and talk with Willie Mays is to walk into the Polo Grounds or Candlestick Park, hang with Monte Irvin or Bobby Bonds, lose your cap running first to third, and make a basket catch or three.
Willie Mays makes us young again. He makes us feel good about ourselves, our environment. He makes us reflect and smile. He makes us want to do better and be kinder.
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