Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays died Tuesday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants announced. He was 93 years old.
“All of Major League Baseball is mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and a legacy like no other began,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise.”
Mays’ death comes a day after it was revealed he wouldn’t attend Thursday’s game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals honoring him and the Negro Leagues.
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“I’m not able to get to Birmingham this year but will follow the game back here in the Bay Area,” Mays said in a statement to the paper on Monday. “My heart will be with all of you who are honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons. I wanted to thank Major League Baseball, the Giants, the Cardinals and all the fans who’ll be at Rickwood or watching the game. It’ll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”
Mays was widely considered baseball’s greatest living player before his death. He won the World Series with the Giants in 1954 and was a 24-time All-Star during his career, tied with Stan Musial for second-most behind Hank Aaron’s 25. Mays won the 1954 major league batting title and was voted NL MVP in 1954 and 1965.
He racked up a lot of awards during his playing career, including 12 Gold Gloves. Mays was also a two-time MVP, two-time All-Star Game MVP and 24-time All-Star. He slashed .301/.384/.557 with 660 home runs, 1,909 RBI, 3,293 hits and 339 stolen bases.
The Hall of Famer began his baseball career in the Negro Leagues as a teenager and received a slew of interest from several MLB teams including the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers. Mays signed his first MLB contract with the New York Giants for $4,000 in 1950.
Thursday’s Giants-Cardinals game — which will air on FOX — will feature a pregame ceremony that will honor the life of Mays.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
