thetallguy747 wrote:
The only time I saw Mays play in person was his last full season with the Giants. I think he was 39 or 40 years old. He played one game of a double header at Busch Stadium and I happened to snag a seat right behind home plate. He went 3 for 4 with a double, a triple, and a home run. All 3 hits were screaming line drives to CF. I had never seen a RH batter hit the ball so hard and wouldn't again until Albert Pujols came along. Even at age 39 or 40 it was obvious that Mays was something very special. I think his SOM cards do not reflect the impact he had on the game as it was played on the field -- a lot like Bob Gibson's SOM cards. There are some facets of individual performance that just can't be incorporated into a SOM card.
Who can complain about Willie? I saw him play in person more times than I can count between 1963 and 1973 and what he did on the field often could not be captured in a box score. Even when he was traded to the Mets my dad and I would go to Candlestick when the Mets were in town just to see Willie. He hit the first Major League homer I ever saw in person in 1963 and he continued to amaze me for years.
So here is a good Mays story when he was with the Mets in 1973 and I was in attendance. August 1973 Mets at Giants bottom of the 9th and Mays comes in to pinch hit and 16,000(the Giants didn't draw well in those days.) fans give him a standing ovation. This is a visiting player mind you. Mays has to tip his cap and gesture to everyone to sit down so the game can continue. He ends up hitting a line shot to left center. In Candlestick at the time they only had about and 8 ft high chain link type fence in that area with a 4 by 4 at the top. If it hits at or near the top, or hits an upright post, it caroms back hard but if it hits in the bottom 2/3 of the fence between the uprights it falls straight down dead. Well on the way to first Mays is watching and gauging where it might hit and he obviously decides before he reaches first because he puts his head down and steams for second. Well Garry Maddox in center is first on the scene and he pulls up short thinking its going to hit high and carom back but it hits in the middle and drops dead and he goes after it and bobbles it a little and Mays pulls in to second standing up and the crowd gives him another standing O. Advantage Mays because he knows the outfield at Candlestick very well and Maddox is still learning. But when Willie made his decision just before reaching first he put on a burst of speed that was incredible and the man was 42 years old. And none of that will show up in a box score. To be fair you could say that about a lot of players but when it comes to Willie Mays....Your damn right he was special.
Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:28 am