Willie Mays Biography

Willie Howard Mays Jr. born May 6, 1931, was an American professional baseball center fielder who played 23 major league seasons. Willie Mays played for the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro leagues before joining the National League with the New York and San Francisco Giants and later the New York Mets. In 1965 Mays earned a second MVP award and guided the Giants to the 1962 World Series, where they were defeated by the New York Yankees. Mays was an All-Star 24 times, tying for the second-most appearances in history. Mays also set standards for defensive brilliance, winning 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards after their creation in 1957. Willie Mays received induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 during his initial eligibility year and was selected for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015.