Willie Mays was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. His full name is Willie Howard Mays Jr.
Before joining Major League Baseball (MLB), Mays played briefly in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons.
Mays made his MLB debut with the New York Giants in 1951 and won the National League Rookie of the Year award.
He made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch while running full speed to deep center field, preserving the win for the Giants. This play is simply known as "The Catch."
Mays was a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a two-time National League home run champion.
Mays served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.
The New York Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958, and Mays continued to play for the team throughout its relocation.
In a surprising move, Mays was traded to the New York Mets in 1972. He played his final season with the Mets before retiring at the end of the year.
Willie Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, receiving an incredible 94.7% of the vote.
He has also worked as a special assistant for the San Francisco Giants, offering guidance and support to the team's players and coaching staff.