Today is May 5th, Cinco de Mayo to most people. Really, it's an excuse for most people to get hammered in the middle of a work week and eat mini tacos. While I'm sure there is more significance to Cinco de Mayo for the Hispanic culture, and by no means do I mean to diminish it.
Tomorrow is May 6th however and it happens to be the birthday of the greatest living baseball player, hall of famer, and the great, Willie Mays. While I can't say that Willie Mays is my favorite player, since I have never seen him play live in person, I can say that I admire and respect the heck out of the man, both as a baseball player and person. When I was in the 4th grade, my very first report that I ever wrote for school was on Willie Mays. I have an autograph plaque which resides in my mancave, the only room in the house I'm allowed to decorate and call my own. My wonderful fiance even bought me his recently published autobiography, the only one published in which he authorized and took part in. I love this man, and I never met him nor seen him player.
He is arguably the greatest all-around baseball player to ever play the game. The first five-tool player, his combination of hitting for average, power, speed, and defense was unheard of for a player in his era. Playing in the pitchers era, he ended his career with 660 home runs, 12 gold gloves, 29th all-time in stolen bases, and 3,283 hits. He is best known for making the greatest defensive play of all time, game 1 of the 1954 World Series, chasing down a deep fly ball to center off the bat of Vic Wertz, then hurling it back into the infielder, preventing the advancement of the runners on base. It preserved the win for the Giants, and propelled them to win the World Series, the last time the Giants had won the World Series until 2010.
What really made Willie Mays such an icon however is how he entrenched himself into the community. He became not only the face of the franchise for the San Francisco Giants when they moved out west from New York, but he became the face of the city as well. He still remains one of the most notably public figures in San Francisco, still working as an ambassador for the Giants at community functions and for charitable foundations. His home is San Francisco, his house located at 24 Willie Mays plaza, and fans treat him with fatherly respect.
He is a true hall of famer both on and off the field, and tomorrow, May 6th, Willie May's birthday, I just wanted to take a quick second to....SAY HEY!! Happy Birthday, Willie.
Mr. Armchair Speaking.
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