willie mays stats baseball almanac willie mays stats baseball almanac

24. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. See coverage note. His .407 on-base percentage and .626 slugging percentage that season are the highest among any of the four players in this exclusive group. Noticias Completas Postemporada 2022 Ligas Invernales 2022 Liga Dominicana 2022 Premios 2022 World Baseball Classic Homerun Derby X Premio Roberto Clemente Mejores Prospectos Juego de Estrellas Lanzadores Probables . Owning a Mantle rookie may not be in the price range of every vintage card collector, but other Mantle cards are affordable. Keep in mind that upon his return to the Majors in '54, Mays accounted for at least 7.0 WAR every season from 1954-66. All rights reserved. American - Athlete Born: May 6, 1931 See also: Quotes about Willie Mays. (Age 20-019d) Mays, however, is the only player who is a member of both clubs. Skip to content. Your comm ission helps our site grow and we are thankful. Willie Mays Stats () 12 15, 2020 admin. An FBI agent visited the Royals, cautioning them that they were being monitored for drug activity. Overall, Mays racked up 124.1 WAR from 1954-66 -- 27.7 more than any other player during that span. update=copyright.getFullYear(); And he had the other magic ingredient that turns a superstar into a super-superstar. His .407 on-base percentage and .626 slugging percentage that season are the highest among any of the four players in this exclusive group. 24 amazing Willie Mays stats and facts. ESPN Writer: ESPN Outside the Lines. Gaps In The Road. 3) A run like no other: 13 years of MVP consideration. In 1985, the format of the League Championship Series changed to best-of-seven. The Say Hey Kid is currently the oldest living Hall of Fame player! May 6, 1931 The thud didn't really come until Dec. 12, 1994, when he stood before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple on federal drug and firearms charges." The total success rate of Willie Mays is about 76.7 percent. Willie howard mays. Mays accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons from 1957-58, posting a collective .340 average while averaging 32 homers and 34 stolen bases over those two campaigns. Career Stats Game Log Splits. I just struck me while looking at Mays' career on BBRef that much noise is made about the time guys like Ted Williams lost to military service in WWII, but Willie missing almost two seasons to the service in the '50s is pretty much ignored. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that in the Willie Mays Miscellaneous All-Star Items of Interest section seen above you can click the Stats link under the All-Star label and a truly comprehensive history of that All-Star Game will appear on your screen? Find out more. The program didn't take. He is one of just 30 players all-time to hit at least 50 homers in a single season and he's one of 86 players to rack up at least 20 triples in a season. Copyright 1999- Throughout his career, Mays claimed four home run titles, four stolen base titles and one batting title. Making it all the more incredible is the fact that Mays reached those plateaus just two years apart, crushing an MLB-leading 51 homers in 1955 before pacing all players with 20 triples in '57. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Willie Mays had 3,293 hits over his career. I wanted Willie Mays to be perfect, but he just wasnt. 22 - Willie Mays wore uniform number 24 across all his 22-seasons in the majors. The highest civilian award in the United States had previously been bestowed to only eleven big league ballplayers! Over 66 games, Mays batted .211 with .646 OPS. document.write(update); Willie Mays Quotes - BrainyQuote. ES. We have box scores from every World Series game in history, line scores, Series rosters, composite team stats, trivia, a sample program, and a detailed written account of the actual Fall Classic. "Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars" is his revealing, humorous memoir. A structured . Next pitch, Mays offers at a sweeping slider that is somehow deemed a no-swing by first base umpire and Mays, half-turned towards the dugout, leans back on his bat, a bit chastised now, almost embarrassed that he got the call. Baseball Almanac. I love this image though. document.write(update); He ranks among the all-time leaders in Wins Above Replacement. 1960s - Willie Mays, on January 17, 1970, was named by The Sporting News the Player of the Decade, the best ballplayers during the entire decade of the 1960s! He later teed off for a career-best 52 homers in '65, making him one of just nine players in MLB history with multiple 50-homer seasons. Willie Aikens Autograph on a 1980 Topps (#368), Willie Aikens Miscellaneous Items of Interest. Aikens was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 17, 1977, with the California Angels. For most, the 73 playoffs are bitterly remembered. 1969. Willie Mays is a former professional American baseball center fielder. Data Provided By His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Willie Mays baseball stats page. He played in only 34 games in 1952, then missed the entire '53 season after being drafted into the Army. 1970. when do tulips bloom in maryland; indo pacific region upsc If you find this type of "free" data useful please consider On April 30, 1961, Mays went 4-for-5 with four homers and eight RBIs in a 14-4 win against the Braves at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Notes: The Date / Box field has a link Charisma.". You can see stats, World Series, awards and more. $165,000.00. 17) All-around talentMays had three seasons in which he racked up at least 8.0 offensive bWAR and 2.0 defensive bWAR. Sound off on our baseball message boards. But its a common misconception that Mays was thrown out at the plate on the play. Baseball history in 1985 American League by Baseball Almanac - a walk through the 1985 American League season with stats, top 25, final standings, rosters and other baseball history. "Although we were never teammates," Mays said, "we played in many All-Star Games together.". Drafted by the California Angels in the 2nd round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from Prospect HS (Mount Prospect, IL), the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (9th) of the 1968 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase and the . copyright=new Date(); Though his tenure with the Mets have been much maligned, his first 69 games with the 72 club were actually pretty serviceable for a 41 year old. The decision was 50 years in the making: a promise initially made by Mets owner Joan Payson to entice Mays to come back to New York in the twilight of his career. See coverage note. This player does not have game logs available for some years. Incredibly, Mays' four-homer effort came opposite fellow Hall of Famer Henry Aaron, who hit two long balls of his own in one of the best head-to-head slugging showdowns of all-time. 24's legendary career. Willie Mays, San . Year Team League; 1951: New York Giants: NL: As a player, Willie Mays could never be captured by mere statistics." Baseball DN Archives: 'Baseball's greatest is still a young kid' 1-on-1 with Willie Mays as baseball legend turns 50 An iconic moment in World Series history where Mays made an over-the-shoulder running grab in deep center of the Polo Grounds of a long drive off the bat of Vic Wertz during the eighth inning of Game 1. Like Hank Aaron in Brewers garb or Babe Ruth as a Boston Brave. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Last-Modified: February 5, 2023 3:00 AM EST, The Oldest Living Major League Baseball Players, The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, Most Seasons With XX Home Runs Record Book, Fairfield Industrial High School (Fairfield, AL). He had a .302 batting average with 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, 1,903 runs batted in, and 2,062 runs scored. Thursday BP: Buster Posey is in favor of the new MLB rule changes. Mays was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 25, 1951, with the New York Giants. Facing the Mets in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium on May 31, 1964, Mays shifted from center field to shortstop to begin the bottom of the 10th inning. Did you know the smallest crowd at a League Championship game was 24,265 and that game was played on October 11, 1973? Did you know Willie Mays was the first player in National League history to join the 30 / 30 Club (30 Home Runs and 30 Stolen Bases)? Mays also had at least a .300 average and .925 OPS in every month except July (.280 BA, .870 OPS). copyright=new Date(); Willie Mays appeared in 136 Major League games during Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. He could hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field. Could you give me some sort of vitamin? documentary. Willie Mays was born on Wednesday, May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. The Giants' home ballpark was Seals Stadium.The team had a record of 80-74 finishing in third place in the National League standings, twelve games behind the NL Champion Milwaukee Braves.. Of the broadcast team, Russ Hodges left his former broadcasting partners in New . The New York Mets retired Willie Mayss number 24 last Saturday. February 27, 2023 new bill passed in nj for inmates 2022 No Comments . Only five other players have even logged a plate appearance in that many Midsummer Classics. (Voted by BBWAA on 409/432 ballots) View Willie Mays's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). items-of-interest. Skip to primary navigation; . 32. Who is the 32nd-best prospect in the Giants system? Ed Kolenovsky/AP. Mays also had 1,928 documented total bases in the seventh inning or later, second-most on record behind only Aaron (1,984). copyright=new Date(); Visit the main page for Willie Mays for his comprehensive regular season statistics and World Series data. He greets Gene Tenace with a gentle touch on the hip, then takes his hat out of his back pocket and pulls it onto his head. Born: May 6, 1931 in Westfield, AL. Kyle Harrison and Marco Luciano lead a pack of surprising names. update=copyright.getFullYear(); Mays not only took home 12 Gold Glove Awards (the most by any center fielder), but he is also responsible for "The Catch" -- an iconic over-the-shoulder grab in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series that is universally considered one of the greatest defensive plays in MLB history. Born: 6th inning (74), var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); An inning-by-inning breakdown of every home run hit by Willie Mays: 1st inning (123), 7th inning (65), Do you remember who that slugger was? 4th inning (67), Prior to 1969, the pennant winner was determined by the best won-loss record at the end of the regular season. Willie Mays is the 13th player in Major League Baseball history to have his . Willie Aikens was born on Thursday, October 14, 1954, in Seneca, South Carolina. "No one will ever know the athlete (Willie) Aikens could've been, what was already slipping away on that mid-October night in 1980 when, after he hit his fourth homer of the World Series against the Phillies in Game 4, he left the ballpark and celebrated by snorting a few lines of cocaine. The Sporting News is nothing short of the most respected and legendary magazine / newspaper in sports history. Even when removing the outfield qualifier, Mays' three such seasons are tied with Honus Wagner for the most in big league history -- and Mays and Wagner are the only players with more than one such season. Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Perhaps most amazingly, Mays' numbers would have been even more remarkable had he not missed nearly two full seasons in the prime of his career while serving in the military. The 20 year old Mays next up when the Giants win the pennant. He helped lead the Mets to the World Series in 1973 and 1976, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. . 2015 - Willie Mays received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2015. Dr. Ankit Shah I De-dollarization: Is the World moving away from the Dollar? Stats. 20) 35-35 clubMays made a couple bids at a 40-40 season, though that was one of the few feats he ultimately did not accomplish. Mays accomplished the feat in 1957, when he racked up 26 doubles, 20 triples, 35 homers and 38 stolen bases. Under his record, Mays has nine home runs. Willie Mays had 660 home runs over his career. Oracle; Willie Aikens page at the Bullpen Wiki; Minor, Winter & Mexican Lg Stats; Splits. 19) Three is good, four is betterOf the 28 players in the 500-home run club, none hit as many triples as Mays' 140. Retrieved March 27, 2013. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Keep in mind, he also averaged "only" 21 homers and 70 RBIs over his final five seasons with the Giants. Willie Mays Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac. Willie Mays. This player does not have game logs available for some years. Ive never been 42as a 30 year old, it doesnt sound idealbut if I get there, I wont be mad if I love and want and feel something as deeply as Willie Mays does in that moment. copyright=new Date(); Baseball is a game, yes. Willie Mays Stats, Fantasy & News. Stats. Noticias Completas Serie Del Caribe 2023 Ligas Invernales 2022 Liga Dominicana 2022 Postemporada 2022 Premios 2022 World Baseball Classic Homerun Derby X Premio Roberto Clemente Mejores Prospectos Juego de Estrellas Saln de la Fama Fernando Valenzuela Recuerdos . His biographical data year-by-year hitting stats fielding stats pitching stats where applicable career totals uniform numbers salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Willie Mays baseball stats page. Stats. biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, detailed fielding Same stance, slightly cocked and slightly open, his fingers wringing the wooden handle of his bat. Mays faced 14 Hall of Fame pitchers overall, posting a .286 batting average and an .859 OPS over 1,319 plate appearances. Many thanks to him. The next pitch comes quick and angry. Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, the professional center fielder has received many . "I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw." - Willie Mays. . The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Did not play in major or minor leagues (Military Service). the Position(s) column. The photograph became the poster image of his final year: a hero leveled, half-buried in the ruins of his career, helpless and begging. $165,000.00. Mays was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 25 1951 with the . As a player, Willie Mays could never be captured by mere statistics." nicknames for baseball batsmary calderon quintanilla 27 februari, 2023 . Its an admission. How comprehensive is our All-Star section? You can see stats, World Series, awards and more. extra innings (22). document.write(update); . Why couldnt he have just recognized the signs of decline and bowed out gratefully? Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. The Official Site of Minor League Baseball web site includes features, news, rosters, statistics, schedules, teams, live game radio broadcasts, and video clips. Gender: Male. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If you find this type of "free" data useful please consider Willie Mays hit 365 solo homers, 220 with a single runner on base, 67 with two men on base, and 8 grand slams. Its a gut-punch watching someone great flail at breaking balls and lose routine fly balls in the sun. #DeDollarization #USDollar #Dollar #GeoPolitics Now get regular updates on , . Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Advanced Stats; More Willie Aikens Pages at Baseball Reference. A surrender. What are your feelings about this particular list? See coverage note. Though he did not see any action, Mays spent three innings at short before shifting back to center field for the remainder of San Francisco's 23-inning victory. On Thursday, the Say Hey Kid gets to add another one: He turns 90 years . Positions: Leftfielder, First Baseman and Third Baseman Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-6, 210lb (198cm, 95kg) Born: December 21, 1948 in Pendleton, OR Draft:. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He dropped the cross three times, didn't he? update=copyright.getFullYear(); Yet neither could find an answer for Mays' prowess at the plate. For more than a decade, umpire Bob Motley called balls and strikes for the Negro Baseball League, earning the opportunity to work with such legends as Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Willie Mays. 22 24 24 +2. Did you know that Willie Mays played Major League Baseball for twenty-two seasons and was named to twenty-four All-Star Games? Odds & lines subject to change. Back in the Bay Area, a late addition after Rusty Staub was scratched, Mays gets the start in center, a short boat ride from his old stomping grounds at Candlestick. Willie Mays: New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1952, 1954-1972), New York Mets (1972-1973) . "No record book reflects this kind of concentration, determination, perseverance or ability. Shapiro was right. That final year as a . 4 - Willie Mays hit four home runs in a game on April 30, 1961, only the sixth instance in National League history and a record for Most Home Runs in a Game Record that still stands to this day. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Noticias Completas . I catch fly balls." Actually, Willie Mays did both. The Braves head of scouting, Harry Jenkins, watched Mays play many times, and raved about him often - but lost him in a dispute over $2,500 when two of his assistant scouts, sent to cross-check, doubted that Mays was work $10,000. baseball players first names that start with r. February 26, 2023 . Mickey Mantle is one of the top cards that all vintage collectors want in their collection. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. 1951 Bowman #305 Willie Mays Rookie Card. . He inflated his .618 OPS with the San Francisco Giants (over 19 games) to .848 with a .402 OBP that was one of his higher marks in the Majors. Still, it's hard not to wonder what he might have done with an extra 1,000 plate appearances in the early days of his career. in Westfield, AL 11) Mays and Trout in class of their ownMike Trout has often drawn comparisons to Mays due to the pair's consistency and dominance in center field -- and the two stand alone as the only players in Major League history with multiple seasons of at least a .320 batting average, 25 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Still, he finished with 36 home runs and 40 stolen bases in 1956, then followed it up with 35 homers and 38 steals in '57. He was an All-Star in each of those seasons and was the National League MVP in 1973. document.write(update); Copyright 1999- Only two other members of the club even topped 100 triples -- Babe Ruth had 136 and Jimmie Foxx had 125. ET), here's a look at 24 facts on No. Giants legend Willie Mays is among the players whose stats from the Negro Leagues will now be added to his MLB numbers. All major league baseball data including pitch type . the games Mays appeared in, specifically relating to his September 9, 1973 His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Willie Aikens baseball stats page. 21) Split proofFor Mays, it didn't matter where he was playing or who he was facing -- he was going to produce. The 1961 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 79th year in Major League Baseball, their fourth season in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 2nd season at Candlestick Park.The team finished in third place in the National League with an 85 wins and 69 losses record, eight games behind the NL Champion Cincinnati Reds. It is also a business. The 569 . OF. Of course, the classic image is of him on his knees, arms spread wide, pleading with the umpire after an close play at the plate. update=copyright.getFullYear(); 3 - Willie Mays, on May 12, 1972, became the third Giants' player to have his number (#24) retired by the franchise, joining Carl Hubbell (#11 | Retired in 1944) and Mel Ott (#4 | Retired in 1949). Youth. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Top-Rated baseball bat Nicknames Louisville Slugger Mickey Mantle The Destroyer "The Beast" "The Truncheon" Cudgel George Brett Cal Ripken Jr. Ichiro Roger Maris Stick Babe Ruth Club Ken Griffey Jr. Mallet Pete Rose Hank Aaron Willie Mays Hammer Bat Slugger Stan Musial The Demolition Man The Tank The Terminator The Crusher The Pittbull The . Willie Mays: New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1952, 1954-1972), New York Mets (1972-1973) Position. 13 - Willie Mays in his thirteenth at-bat, May 28, 1951, (after going hitless in his first twelve at-bats), hit a home run in the first inning over the left field fence in the Polo Grounds for his first big league hit. Directed by Nelson George, the documentary features black-and-white and color footage of Mays' career from the MLB archives, plus interviews . document.write(update); [Answer], 1979 - Willie Mays was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, on his first ballot, with 94.7% of the votes. Willie Aikens hit two home runs in Game 1 of the 1980 World Aeries and, two home runs during Game 4 of that same Fall Classic - making him the first player in World Series history to hit two home runs in the same game twice during the same World Series. In fact, he received a share of MVP votes each season from 1954-66 and he finished in the top 6 in 12 of those 13 years -- and in the top 3 six times. We forward in this generation, Triumphantly. var pfHeaderImgUrl = '';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 0;var pfDisableEmail = 0;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = 'https://www.baseball-almanac.com/css/print.css';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); Did you know that in the Willie Mays Miscellaneous World Series Items of Interest section seen above you can click the Stats link under the World Series label and a truly comprehensive history of that World Series will appear on your screen? The pitcher, future Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, quipped, "I'll never forgive myself. Denial comes before acceptance and the 1972/73 seasons in New York were necessary for Mays to come to terms with his age. The chart below is a comprehensive analysis of the games Mays appeared in, specifically relating to his 1971 hitting statistics. A feat not duplicated until the 2009 World Series. Associated Press 1970 Show More Show Less 2 of 11. Birth Country: United States. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Who did it? Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. The tiny failures of the flesh, the prolonged but steady collapse: deaths dominoes. Willie Mays All-Star Stats by Baseball Almanac. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Willie Mays 1971 League Championship Series Batting Logs. The two division winners within each league played each other in a best-of-five series to determine who would advanced to the World Series. On this page: Player News. Ways scored a total of 51 home runs in the national league. Exceeded rookie limits during 1951 season, View Player Bio Part of the Baseball Almanac Family, Last-Modified: August 29, 2022 10:43 AM EST. Hank Aaron was second with 96.4 WAR, followed by Mickey Mantle at 90.0. update=copyright.getFullYear(); Willie Mays is shown "the key" to the Willie Mays Ballpark by Bob Hellman before the opening ceremony for the Homer Field Willie Mays Ballpark on May 9, 2015. Stats. update=copyright.getFullYear(); Register Batting. He disappeared for two days during Spring Training, earning a fine from manager Yogi Berra, he spent time on the disabled list, was left out of lineups, his range and arm strength declined in the outfield and he found himself practicing short-hops and holding runners at first base. In honor of Tuesday night's debut of "Say Hey, Willie Mays!" 16) Ranking among the best. Mays even referenced this in his statement when Aaron passed away at the age of 86, one year ago Saturday. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Please consider purchasing this great coffee table book through our Amazon links. Willie Mays. - Sportswriter Harry Jupiter in The San Francisco Chronicle [Willie Mays Quotes], Willie 'The Say Hey Kid' Mays Autograph on a 1986 Topps Baseball Card (#403 | Checklist), Willie Mays All-Star Miscellaneous Items of Interest. He was just 1-for-10 at the plate, while fellow Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry earned the win after tossing 10 scoreless innings in relief. Willie Howard Mays, Jr. was a Major League Baseball player with the Birmingham Black Barons (1948-1950), New York Giants (1951-1957), San Francisco Giants (1958-1972), and New York Mets (1972-1973). Negro League data is not complete. Compare this to the frazzled 42 year old left on deck, the bat and career out of his hands, the call already made. Mays expects it and unravels, bringing the barrel of his bat around on an outside fastball that skips between 3rd base and short for a hit. Center fielder Willie Mays played 22 seasons for the Giants and Mets. Willie Mays | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1979 (HOF), The Say Hey Kid only won a single batting title, when he hit .345 in 1954, but that same year he also led the National League in slugging percentage (which he led five times), on base percentage (which he led five times) and triples (which he led three times). Or write about sports? Copyright 1999- Prior to 1969, the pennant winner was determined by the best won-loss record at the end of the regular season. There was no disillusionment that he could still play like he did in 65 or 54but he still looked trim in a uniform and could still pull a single through the 5.5 hole and rounding first still brought him joy. Willie Mays, born on May 6, 1931, was a professional baseball player, team captain, and instructor.