It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93. pic.twitter.com/Qk4NySCFZQ
I never really followed baseball, but I think he may have been the first baseball player I knew about. He was a symbol of baseball when I was learning about the sport. [Reply]
My dad grew up outside SF in the 50’s. My grandpa took him to several games. I was talking to him tonight on the phone and he was pretty sad. We lost a good one today boys! [Reply]
I'm old enough to remember watching Willie in the late 60's early 70's. Even at the end of his career he was still damn good. Say Hey to Hank Willie RIP. [Reply]
Originally Posted by alanm:
I'm old enough to remember watching Willie in the late 60's early 70's. Even at the end of his career he was still damn good. Say Hey to Hank Willie RIP.
Same here, except probably started around '63 (turned 7 in August) or '64 (obviously turned 8 in August) with watching. It's probably hard to believe now days, but back then there was one game a week televised. There was a lead in show called This Week in Baseball. It was must watch for me, as that is where you hoped to see the highlights you read about in the newspaper all week. It was one of the only places you could see players like Willie Mays maybe for weeks at a time. And it is why All-Star games back in the day were huge. One day a year where you knew you could see all your hero's.
There weren't playoffs then either. Just the World Series. And most of those games were day games. So if it was a week day game and you were in school, you didn't get to see those either.
It was a great era, and Mays was the best of the best!
I know the Babe is often argued to be the best player of all time, but I think it was Willie Mays. Could do absolutely everything on offense and defense. RIP. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Coogs:
Same here, except probably started around '63 (turned 7 in August) or '64 (obviously turned 8 in August) with watching. It's probably hard to believe now days, but back then there was one game a week televised. There was a lead in show called This Week in Baseball. It was must watch for me, as that is where you hoped to see the highlights you read about in the newspaper all week. It was one of the only places you could see players like Willie Mays maybe for weeks at a time. And it is why All-Star games back in the day were huge. One day a year where you knew you could see all your hero's.
There weren't playoffs then either. Just the World Series. And most of those games were day games. So if it was a week day game and you were in school, you didn't get to see those either.
It was a great era, and Mays was the best of the best!
RIP Willie Mays!!!
Coogs You guys got hosed then. I grew up in Omaha. If there were WS games in the afternoon teachers would wheel in the big old TV's on a rolling cart and we would get to watch the games in class. Didn't hurt much either that St. Louis was often playing with Bob Gibson pitching since he was from Omaha. :-) [Reply]
