RIP
He started his career with only one hit in his first 26 at-bats then tearfully asked his manager to send him back to the minors. Leo Durocher told him as long as he was in charge Willie was his center fielder. Mays relaxed and went on a hitting tear. Rookie of the Year in 1951.
Biden will probably be claiming he played ball with Willie Mays, like he claimed he hit a ball 368 feet in his 2nd Congressional Baseball game in 1974:
Lying Joe Biden Makes Up Story About Baseball Glory Days, Gets Completely Debunked by Fact-Checker
Talkin’ Baseball by Terry Cashman
The Whiz Kids had won it,
Bobby Thomson had done it,
And Yogi read the comics all the while.
Rock ‘n roll was being born,
Marijuana, we would scorn,
So down on the corner,
The national past-time went on trial.
We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ‘em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Well, Casey was winning,
Hank Aaron was beginning,
One Robbie going out, one coming in.
Kiner and Midget Gaedel,
The Thumper and Mel Parnell,
And Ike was the only one winning down in Washington.
We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ‘em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Now my old friend, The Bachelor,
Well, he swore he was the Oklahoma Kid.
And Cookie played hooky,
To go and see the Duke.
And me, I always loved Willie Mays,
Those were the days!
Well, now it’s the 80’s,
And Brett is the greatest,
And Bobby Bonds can play for everyone.
Rose is at the Vet,
And Rusty again is a Met,
And the great Alexander is pitchin’ again in Washington.
I’m talkin’ baseball!
Like Reggie, Quisenberry.
Talkin’ baseball!
Carew and Gaylord Perry,
Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue,
If Cooperstown is calling, it’s no fluke.
They’ll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
It was Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
I’m talkin’ Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Say Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
God needed a center fielder, so Willie is safe at home today.
The Greatest Player of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKTQ4a3BR5c
I am so blessed to have seen him play. Wrigley Field, 1964.
He is all-time top 5 in my book. Loved his balanced batting stance. If more guys these days would adopt it, they’d hit 25 points higher w/o sacrificing power.
Rest in Peace Champion.
My baseball hero as a child growing up in the 50’s. I always played center field and made basket catches to copy him. RIP Willie!
Prayers to his family ..