Los Angeles Dodgers Pay Tribute to Willie Mays, Baseball Hall of Famer

Prior to Monday, July 22, the Los Angeles Dodgers will pay tribute to the legendary Willie Mays of the New York and San Francisco Giants, before the game begins at 7:10 p.m. Michael, Mays’ son, will be present.

^{Willie_Mays_cropped by New York World-Telegram
and the Sun staff photographer, William C. Greene, CC}

By: Angela Redding | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Beat magazine | July 19, 2024
Lead Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Media

Prior to spending 23 seasons in the Major League Baseball, Mays, who was 93 years old when he passed away on June 18, started his illustrious career in the Negro Leagues with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948. On May 25, 1951, he made his major league debut with the New York Giants. That year, he was named NL Rookie of the Year. He was a World Series champion in 1954, was selected for 24 All-Star Games, was a two-time National League MVP, won 12 Gold Gloves, won the Roberto Clemente Award in 1971, and led the league in home runs and stolen bases four times during his Hall of Fame career.

Number 24 is Retired

His number 24 is retired with the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets, whom he was traded to in 1972. He ended his career with a .301/.384/.557/.940 slashline – including 3,293 hits, 660 home runs, and 1,909 RBI – in 3,005 games. Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1979.

Will Mays SFGiants jersey number — Mets_retired_24 by CRoy23PSE, CC

Mays in the Broadcast Booth When Scully Called His Final Game

Mays was “the greatest player he ever called,” according to Dodgers Hall of Fame commentator Vin Scully, who also said that Mays was “his favorite player, even though you wore the wrong uniform.” When Scully called his final game during a road game in San Francisco, Mays was in the broadcast booth. It was then that Mays displayed a plaque dedicated to Scully in that box.

Mays Participated in 383 Games Against the Dodgers

Over his career, Mays participated in 383 games (more than two seasons’ worth) against the Dodgers, hitting 98 home runs—the most by any player against any other team and the most by any player against the Dodgers in history.

“As beautiful as the outpouring of love for my father has been, frankly, I’m not surprised,” said Michael Mays. “But for his team’s forever rival to make it their business to pay tribute to him may be the greatest testament of all to his impact.”