#vintage baseball

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Willie Mays 1931-2024

Above: Willie Mays in 1956. Photo: UPI/ABC News

Willie Mays, one of the greatest ballplayers in history, died today at the age of 93. He was one of the dominant figures in the golden age of New York baseball, when the Giants, the Dodgers, and the Yankees battled for supremacy. From 1947 to the Giants' and Dodgers' final season in New York in 1957, at least one of those three teams played in 10 of 11 World Series, and won 9 of them.

His stats are astonishing. Over his 22 years in the majors, he had a .301 batting average. He had 3,293 hits, including 660 home runs. His 7,112 putouts as an outfielder rank No. 1 in major league history, and he had 657 more playing first base. He stole 338 bases at a time when base stealing was not as common as it is now. He batted in 1,909 runs. Beginning in 1957, the year the title was created, he won 12 Gold Gloves.

But more than his statistics was his infectious joy in playing. He greeted everyone with "Say hey" and became known as the Say Hey Kid.

“Willie could do everything from the day he joined the Giants,” said Leo Durocher, his manager during most of his years at the Polo Grounds. “He never had to be taught a thing. The only other player who could do it all was Joe DiMaggio.” And DiMaggio said of him, "Willie Mays is the closest to being perfect I’ve ever seen."

Above: Willie Mays slides safely into the plate in the sixth inning of a game against the Phillies at the Polo Grounds, ca. early 1950s. Photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images/NBC News

Above: Willie's famous catch in the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds on September 29, 1954. His over-the-shoulder catch made while running is considered to be one of the greatest plays in baseball history. The score was tied at 2-2, and not only did he prevent a home run, he threw the ball in to the infield, preventing runners on base from scoring. The Giants went on to sweep the Cleveland Indians in four games.

Above: Mays plays stickball with local kids in Harlem in 1954. He lived on 155th Street while playing with the Giants. In 2017, the corner of 155th Street and Harlem River Drive was renamed Willie Mays Drive. Photo: Bettmann Archive/ABC News

Mays at home in Harlem with his landlady, Ann Goosby, in 1954. A profile of Mays published that year in LIFE pointed out that Mrs. Goosby “cooks his meals, keeps his clothes clean and generally takes care of” the young star. Photo: Alfred Eisenstaedt via Life magazine

Above: Willie Mays at the Polo Grounds in 1954. Photo: Patrick A. Burns for the NY Times via Instagram

[mypastnow]

[biscuitsnow]

[lovelyangryheart]

Daffy Dean, St Louis Cardinals 1937

Brothers Dizzy & Daffy Dean, St Louis Cardinals 1934

[thingsmk1120sayz]

[thestonecuttersguild]

Mid June means it's Base Ball Season! Opening day today, and the Lahdidahs got new uniforms. Northville won. Always a good time.

[kylejasonblack]

[markonpark]

Baseball buddies. Vintage snapshot photo of young men in RADIO emblazoned uniforms.

On Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/1519130526/

[chestprotectorfantasy-ultimate]

Umpire Bill Mckinley (1960)

Source: (Out of the Park) OOTP Developments Forums- Major League Baseball Umpires- Major League Baseball Umpires - Page 7 - OOTP Developments Forums

[newyorkthegoldenage]

On April 10, 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American ever to be admitted into the major leagues. He is shown here right after he signed his contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Dodgers' office.

Photo: Associated Press

[mypastnow]

[biscuitsnow]

[brooklynbutterflyarts]

Classic Babe Ruth Poster 24x29 This beautiful poster is printed on high quality mat paper to the highest possible resolution using only original inks. You will be amazed at the contrasts, depth and detail of this print. Ideal for framing and dry-mounting. If you are not satisfied with the quality you can return the print for a full refund. combined shipping available. We also offer this print elegantly custom framed in various sizes and optional mat colors.

[thingsmk1120sayz]

Rest in peace Willie Mays and may your memory be a blessing

[petar1989]

Baseball

http://tee.pub/lic/902vudx-0CE

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Must’ve been a chilly day.

April 18, 1923 Babe Ruth and the Yankees enter the stadium on the Opening Day at new Yankee Stadium. From America in the 1920's, FB.