"I never became a cleaner or a presser in a laundry. That was the job they trained me for at the Fairfield Industry High School in Fairfield, Alabama." (p. 11)
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Willie Mays grew up in southern Alabama in a small town called Westfield. He was born on May 6, 1931. His talent with a baseball began very early. Willie's father got him to walk by using a baseball for him to chase after. He grew up playin wit a ball for hours and hours each day. He never got tired of playing ball and loved every chance he got to play. He claimed that he was not the working type; all he wanted to do was play ball. Since he loved baseball so much and did not like to do work, playin in the minor leagues fit him perfectly. However, he did not know that he would soon after be playing in the Major leagues for the New York Giants with some of the greatest players of all time, including himself.
When Willie was three years old, his parents got a divorce so helived with his father from then on. His father was his idol and in a way his best friend. He felt that he had a good childhood and didn't have much trouble with other kids over racism. He believed that the parents caused the all the problems with racism. But since he was black, Willie was not likely to grow up and have a well paid job. Most blacks grew up to work in factories and other places with low paying wages.
"I was crouched in the on-deck circle praying to God: Please don't let it be me. Don't make me come to bat now, God. Times changed, of course. As the years went by, those clutch situations were what i prayed for. Please, God, let it be me up at bat when we need a hit."(p. 15)
Willie began his professional career in 1947 when he was only sixteen with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro League. Just as any other beginner in anything, Willie was nervous his first game but became comfortable very quickly afterwards. A few years later in 1951 Willie broke into the Major League with the New York Giants. He was only a 20 year old rookie. He found himself in the same situation in close games when he needed to pull through for the team. In tight situations he became nervous and scared and started his first season a little rough. Over time he became the "go-to guy" in tight situations and it was more intuitive to him. He became the clutch in those times, and he hoped to the one called up to bat. He was brave and courageous in each game and played each like it was a world series game. His enthusiastic character in every game lead him to be one of the greatest baseball players ever. His clutch intuitive also gave him a rush in extra innings. He holds the record for the most home runs in extra innings--22.
"Was it the greatest catch i ever made? Some people think it was the greatest catch anyone ever made, but i think that's because it was in a World Series and seen by so many people on television. Also, there is a famous action sequence of the catch by a photographer and it is prety dramatic." (p. 118)
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Here is the dramatic action sequence that Willie referred to above. It is also his most famous catch. However he feels that he has made better ones during his career. Since it was televised and in the World Series it became his most popular catch. I am sure that he has most likely made better ones in his career also. He is the only one who knows how difficult it was to make that catch or any other ones. Therefore, he would know which catch took a larger amount of difficulty for him to make. But in a larger sense, May's famous catch in the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians has gone down in history and is well known to true baseball fans.
"It was strange how, over the years, I would pass out after putting a great deal of effort, emotional and physical, into something." (112)
Being the best doesn't come easy. Willie Mays gave his all on every play. He never took off a play or took it easy. He was always prepared for whatever was next. Mays' effort and dedication to the team in the game was outstanding. A lot of pitures of him in action show how hard he played. They also showed him without a cap. His cap would always fly off when he ran for a steal or for a catch. Even though he gave his all on ever play there was a trick to his cap flying off:
"I lost my cap on purpose... I started thinking about what I could do to give the fans a show, geneerate a little more excitement. So I came up with a gimmick: I started wearing a cap that was too big for me" (14).
When he gave his all he also gave a show. His cap was just something that made the game and Willie himself more interesting and appealing to the fans. I guess you could add this to his fame and talent in baseball.
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Willie Mays is arguably one of the greatest baseball players to have ever played the game. In 1979 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He is one among many blacks to be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige and others.
Mays, Willie. Say Hey: the autobiography of Willie Mays/Willie Mays with Lou Sahadi. New York. Simon and
Say Hey:The Autobiography of Willie Mays
Willie Mays with Lou Sahadi
"I never became a cleaner or a presser in a laundry. That was the job they trained me for at the Fairfield Industry High School in Fairfield, Alabama." (p. 11)
When Willie was three years old, his parents got a divorce so helived with his father from then on. His father was his idol and in a way his best friend. He felt that he had a good childhood and didn't have much trouble with other kids over racism. He believed that the parents caused the all the problems with racism. But since he was black, Willie was not likely to grow up and have a well paid job. Most blacks grew up to work in factories and other places with low paying wages.
"I was crouched in the on-deck circle praying to God: Please don't let it be me. Don't make me come to bat now, God. Times changed, of course. As the years went by, those clutch situations were what i prayed for. Please, God, let it be me up at bat when we need a hit."(p. 15)
"Was it the greatest catch i ever made? Some people think it was the greatest catch anyone ever made, but i think that's because it was in a World Series and seen by so many people on television. Also, there is a famous action sequence of the catch by a photographer and it is prety dramatic." (p. 118)
"It was strange how, over the years, I would pass out after putting a great deal of effort, emotional and physical, into something." (112)
"I lost my cap on purpose... I started thinking about what I could do to give the fans a show, geneerate a little more excitement. So I came up with a gimmick: I started wearing a cap that was too big for me" (14).
Mays, Willie. Say Hey: the autobiography of Willie Mays/Willie Mays with Lou Sahadi. New York. Simon and
Schuster, 1988.
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