Saying goodbye to the "Say Hey Kid"

Greetings, fellow baseball enjoyers! And welcome to your thrice-weekly dose of baseball banter!

My name’s AJ… and this is Two-Strike Count.

Willie Mays: champion, legend, astronaut

From his humble beginnings in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons to his induction into Cooperstown, Willie “the Say Hey Kid” Mays was the ultimate five-tool player. He finished with a career .301 average, 660 home runs, 339 stolen bases, and was arguably the best defensive center fielder of all time. His résumé includes accomplishments like 24-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 2-time MVP, 12-time Gold Glove winner, and World Series Champion.

But his story is about so much more than stats. It’s about his legacy.

He made arguably the most iconic catch in baseball history with an over-the-shoulder grab in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. He was instrumental in helping the Giants win that series, defeating the 111-win Cleveland Indians and treating New York fans to one last championship before the team left for San Francisco.

Mays played stickball with young fans on the streets of Harlem, won the first-ever Roberto Clemente Award for his contributions to the community, shook hands with presidents, met the Queen, had the World Series MVP trophy named after him, and even went on a couple of game shows.

Over the years, baseball legends and pundits alike have praised the way he played the game and dubbed him the best all-around player to ever step on the field, with some going as far to call him the greatest of all time.

I’m not sure if I’d go as far as dubbing him the GOAT (there was a guy named Ruth who was pretty okay at baseball too), but I agree with Mays being the best all-around player of all time. Not only could he do it all, he did it with a style and flair that continues to influence the game of baseball to this day. He was transcendent.

Wilie might be gone, but his legacy will live on as long as people are playing baseball. He was a great baseball player, and so much more.

He was born in 1931 in a company town in Alabama. He died a baseball legend, World Series champion, and Hall of Famer in 2024. 

Willie Mays was an astronaut. 

That’s it for this edition of Two-Strike Count, baseball fans. Until next time! 

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