Aug 20, 1983 Jersey Retirement
Sep 29, 1984 - commemorative cover for the 30th anniversary of the "catch" during the 1954 World Series between the SF Giants and the Cleveland Indians
Feb 14 1985 re-instated into baseball
1979 Mays signed as an Ambassador for an Atlantic City, NJ casino. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn thought that high profile former players hanging out with gamblers was bad for baseball. Kuhn banned Mays and Mickey Mantle, who signed with a casino in 1983, from the game. both had been paid coaches for spring training. Peter Uberroth took over the position as Commissioner in 1985 and looked into the case. He felt that since both players were only attending casino sponsored golf outings and not gambling events, he re-instated both players
Willie Mays joined the Birmingham Barons of the Negro American League at age 16. The New York Giants purchased his contract in 1950, and made his debut May 25, 1951. He would win Rookie of the Year honors. He would play 21 seasons with the Giants, interrupted by a 2-year stint in the Army.
1972 he moved from San Francisco back to New York to play for the Mets until his retirement in 1973.
- 24-time All-Star (1954-1973)
- World Series Champion (1954)
- 2-time NL MVP (1954, 1955)
- 12-time Gold Glove Award (1957-1968)
- NL Batting Champion (1954)
- 4-time home run leader (1955, 1962, 1964, 1965)
- 4-time stolen base leader (1956-1959)
- Roberto Clemente Award 1971
The Giants retired #24 May 12, 1972
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame 1979
Named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, chosen by fans in 1999
Career batting average .302 (hit over .300 10-times)
660 career home runs
338 stolen bases
additionally Mays has been honored on stamps from:
Granada - 1988
St Vincent - 1989
Ras Al Khama (member of the United Arab Emirates)
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