Willie Mays could do everything on a baseball field. Those gifts made him one of the best -- if not the very best -- players who ever lived.
One of the greatest players of all time, Frank Robinson, was asked once if Willie Mays was the best player he had ever seen. Robinson got that annoyed look on his face and rolled his eyes, insulted that the question was even asked. After a pause, he answered:"Of course he is. He's good as you want him to be. You can't exaggerate how great he was.''
"With Willie, it was like Tiger Woods coming to your town, you just always expected him to win,'' Giants Hall of Fame broadcaster Lon Simmons said in 2008."The fans expected a miracle from Willie every day. And he just gave them a miracle every other day.'' Mays hit 660 home runs, fifth most all time; he led the league in home runs four times, had six 40-homer seasons and led the league in slugging five times, all while playing a good portion of his career in a pitchers' ballpark and in a pitchers' era.
"He could have stolen a lot more bases if he had wanted,'' Robinson said."But back then, you only stole a base to help your team win a game. He could have stolen 50 every year if he'd wanted to.''He was also a terrific defender -- probably the greatest defensive center fielder of all time. He won 12 Gold Gloves, most of any center fielder, and they didn't start awarding Gold Gloves until 1957, his fifth full season.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Willie Mays was heartbroken to miss MLB's Rickwood Field game before death: 'Everything I wanted'Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday just days before being honored at MLB’s Rickwood Field Game in Birmingham.
Read more »
Willie Mays dies: Giants legend and MLB Hall of Famer was 93Willie Mays, the electrifying 'Say Hey Kid' whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball's greatest and most beloved players, has died. He was 93.
Read more »
MLB at Rickwood to serve as ‘national remembrance’ of Willie MaysMajor League Baseball issues a statement on the death of “this true Giant on and off the field.”
Read more »
MLB icon Willie Mays dies at 93MLB legend Willie Mays has died at 93.
Read more »
SF Giants legend, MLB Hall of Famer Willie Mays dies at 93 years oldAt 93 years old, Mays was the oldest living Hall of Famer and was set to be honored this week at MLB’s Rickwood Classic.
Read more »
San Francisco Giants Legend Willie Mays, Dead at 93San Francisco Giants and MLB all-time great Willie Mays has passed away at 93.
Read more »