Willie Mays at 90 He was Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Simone Biles and Mikhail Baryshnikov
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Appreciating Willie Mays illustrious MLB career on his 90th birthday (3:39)
In honor of Willie Mays 90th birthday, several notable MLB names look back at his incredible career spanning 22 years. (3:39)
Analyst/reporter ESPN television
To appreciate Willie Mays, the oldest living Hall of Famer at age 90, is to remember him at 20. When he joined the New York Giants in 1951, the game had never seen an athlete like him breathtakingly graceful, the greatest combination of power, speed and defense ever to wear a major league uniform. And 70 years later, to many, he remains precisely that.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
The case of Willie Mays’ missing HR: Will he get credit for Negro League blast? [San Francisco Chronicle]
Dec. 21 The magical number 660 overlaps generations of Giants fans.
Everyone knowing at least a little about Giants franchise history knows 660 is Willie Mays’ home run total.
What if the number jumped to 661?
Negro Leagues statistics from 1920 to 1948 soon will be classified among statistics of major-leaguers, and 1948 was Mays’ rookie season with the Birmingham Black Barons.
It had been believed Mays had no home runs that year, at least based on statistical websites. Upon further review, he did hit a homer in 1948, according to newspaper clippings and a record of the Negro American League final stats.
The case of Willie Mays missing HR: Will he get credit for Negro League blast?
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Willie Mays, star outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, arrives on Feb. 4, 1962 at a San Francisco public playground equipped for a workout on his own. Mays, who recently signed a Giants contract for an estimated $90,000 largest in Giants history, said he wanted to limber up some as spring training is just around the corner. (AP Photo/Robert Houston)Robert Houston / Associated Press 1962
The magical number 660 overlaps generations of Giants fans.
Everyone knowing at least a little about Giants franchise history knows 660 is Willie Mays’ home run total.
As Willie Mays career stats grow, he s just happy for his Negro League teammates
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Giants legend Willie Mays is among the players whose stats from the Negro Leagues will now be added to his MLB numbers.Associated Press 1970Show MoreShow Less
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Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants centerfielder, licks his fingers after taking a bite of huge cake presented in the clubhouse on July 18, 1970 in San Francisco following game with Montreal in which Mays hit his 3,000th career hit in major league. (AP Photo)Anonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESSShow MoreShow Less
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1962: San Francisco Giants player Willie Mays looking at his bats during spring training on February 23, 1962. (Photo by Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images)Rogers Photo Archive / Getty ImagesShow MoreShow Less