Willie Mays, often regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, enjoyed an illustrious career that spanned over two decades from 1951 to 1973. He was a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a two-time National League MVP (1954 and 1965).
He ranks fifth on the all-time home run list with 660, and his 338 stolen bases demonstrate his speed on the base paths. Mays consistently boasted a high batting average, finishing his career with a .302 mark. As a Black player during the era of racial segregation in baseball, Mays became a symbol of breaking barriers and inspiring generations of African-American players.
His acrobatic catches in center field, known as "The Catch" during the 1954 World Series, are still considered some of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history. Mays' impact transcended the game itself, making him an enduring icon and a beloved figure in the world of sports. Willie Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, cementing his status as a legend in the annals of baseball history.
