Happy 90th, Willie!

[Moose Milligan]

Willie Mays turns 90 today.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31308409/willie-mays-90-was-steph-curry-michael-jordan-simone-biles-mikhail-baryshnikov

Palmer, as only Palmer can:

Quote

Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer
"The first time I ever met him was in January 1969 at a golf event. His partner in the tournament was Joe Namath, who slept in on the day of the tournament and didn't show up on the first tee. So Willie didn't play. Willie and I were in the Long Drive Contest together. Here I am, this skinny pitcher, and here's Willie Mays, so strong. So I won the Long Drive Contest. Willie, in that high-pitched voice, told me, 'There's no way you can outdrive me. Your ball hit the sprinkler head.' I said, 'Well, all I know is that my drive went 310 and yours went only 290.' Willie just laughed."

Quote

"The first batter I faced in my first All-Star Game [1970] was Willie Mays ... the guy I watched growing up in New York and California. I mean, really, Willie Mays. And I struck him out on three high fastballs. I saw him at the Hall of Fame years later and he told me, 'I was told you were wild. I was told you were a kind of a headhunter.' I wasn't wild or a headhunter, but the first time I faced Willie was such a thrill."

Quote

"One time at the Hall of Fame, after the induction ceremony, we all went back to the hotel for hors d'oeuvres. At our table was Yogi [Berra], Whitey [Ford], Duke [Snider], Tommy Lasorda, Willie Mays and me. Now that's a table. So Lasorda asks Yogi what he wants to put on his tombstone. Yogi said, 'Oh, that's easy: It's over.' You know, it's never over until it's over. Willie cackled. Willie has a great laugh."

Great article with stories and anecdotes.  

Anyway, happy birthday to the great Willie Mays!   A national treasure.

[bobmc]

4 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Willie Mays turns 90 today.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31308409/willie-mays-90-was-steph-curry-michael-jordan-simone-biles-mikhail-baryshnikov

Palmer, as only Palmer can:

Great article with stories and anecdotes.  

Anyway, happy birthday to the great Willie Mays!   A national treasure.

Thanks for this!  Growing up in NY, he was my first baseball idol.  He was the main reason that I became a NY Giant fan (my first black and orange team!).  The basket catch, the cap flying off when he loped around the bases, making everything look so easy.  Stealing bases, throwing guys out!  Ken Griffey Jr. was the closest I ever saw to his abilities!  He was the straw that stirred the drink before Reggie.  It was a true dream to grow up in mid-fifties NY with Mickey, Willie and The Duke of Flatbush.  Happy Birthday Say Hey!

Edited May 6, 2021 by bobmc
Say Hey!

[SteveA]

4 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

Willie Mays turns 90 today.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31308409/willie-mays-90-was-steph-curry-michael-jordan-simone-biles-mikhail-baryshnikov

Palmer, as only Palmer can:

Great article with stories and anecdotes.  

Anyway, happy birthday to the great Willie Mays!   A national treasure.

Yeah, I read that article on the Athletic.   They had quotes from dozens of people including Palmer.   But Palmer was the only one who made a point in his tribute quotes to note twice how he had bested Mays -- in a long drive competition, and striking him out.   

Love Jim, but man that ego!

[bobmc]

2 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Yeah, I read that article on the Athletic.   They had quotes from dozens of people including Palmer.   But Palmer was the only one who made a point in his tribute quotes to note twice how he had bested Mays -- in a long drive competition, and striking him out.   

Love Jim, but man that ego!

I love him too and it really doesn't sound like bragging when he does it IMO.  He so matter of factly reports the facts.  Just like when Mays told Dusty Baker that he couldn't hit a ball over his head in CF.

[Frobby]

Willie Mays made me wish I was just a little bit older than I was.   By the time I got interested in baseball (late ‘66, but really more ‘67), he was past his prime (meaning he was “only” worth 6 WAR a couple of times, unlike earlier when he was routinely putting up 9-10 WAR seasons).  I would have loved to see him when he was truly at his peak.  

[Number5]

Say hey!