Legends Willie Mays

CSN documentary about the greatest ballplayer of all time Willie Mays
I apologize for the distortions in the video at the end. I should have reviewed the entire clip before uploading it, 7 years prior.
May 6, 2021 happy 90th birthday to the greatest all-around baseball player of all time, William Howard Mays, Jr!

[@doowaditti]

I am 64 yrs old and Willie Mays is my favorite player of ALL TIMEJust a side note...I am caucasian

[@kentduryea7109]

And I'm black. Why you say that?

[@DeweyParrish-dn2zu]

All I know is when Willie Mays was on the field especially when he was at bat I got to see GREATNESS!!! He's my HERO, and will always be my HERO!!! I was born in 1955!!! Think you WILLIE MAYS!!!

[@deancalloway5118]

In the nineteen sixty Willie Mays was my baseball hero while playing little league baseball. I had a Willie Mays glove and bat I bought using mowing lawns. In the sixties only one game on each weekend, but every time a San Franciso Giants came on I was in front of the TV. Even though I played shortstop I still had the basketball catch.

[@GeorgeYoung-uh5by]

I'm 76 so I go back to the 50s and 60s. The 5 best Mays number 1. Then.... Aaron Mantle Clenmente and. Griffey JR. Mays first Jr. Second

[@jeffrobdine]

Greatest all around player in my opinion.The Say Hey Kid !

[@MyREDTAIL]

Right on Willie loved to Play Stick Ball, With the kids in his Neighborhood, Whenever he could etc.

[@jeffrobdine]

@MANCHESTER UNITED The same 240 countries also play tiddlywinks!

[@alexsmuckler8556]

@MAN UTD This video is about Willie Mays. Please reserve your comments for soccer videos. If you don't like Baseball why are you watching this. Answer: Hypocrite.

[@markfletcher8084]

He made everything look easy.

[@Thailiverbird]

Could be great in any era. The best player ever.

[@Amick44]

Totally agree.

[@jimmyjam4ever]

Thailiverbird I agree!

[@patrickr.5900]

Mays was and is the best five tool player ever to play the game. End of story.

[@jcdsuper]

I think he had 6 managing the field and always studying the opponent (pitchers and hitters)

[@STWRITES1]

That's me at 29 minutes. First interview ever conducted at the Comcast studios at Union Square before they relocated.

[@felixmadison5736]

I saw Willie play and he was the best ever. Even Mickey Mantle himself said that Willie Mays was better than Duke Snider or Mantle. Anyone who says Willie wasn't the best, either never saw him play or don't know much about baseball.

[@buckfan1969]

+Oscar Robinson I was privileged to see him play too. Easily the best all-around player I've ever seen in nearly 60 years of watching the game. At one point I thought Griffey might be as good, but Griffey fell in love with the homerun and never got to Mays' level. Mays was also one of the smartest players ever. If he'd played in Atlanta rather than Candlestick he'd have finished with 800 home runs.

[@felixmadison5736]

+buckfan1969 Agree with everything you said!!

[@AHMAD-2324]

+buckfan1969 Absolutely Agree with everything you said Hand's Down!!!

[@allend2749]

I think Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were much much better than willie and they were white. However, if u dissagree simply check the stats.

[@MyREDTAIL]

Without Question with Bat or Glove An outstanding Player etc.

[@abundance6692]

I saw Mays play a lot when I was a kid in the 60's at Candlestick. He was undoubtedly the greatest player I have ever seen, and I've seen many over the years. The smartest, too. He knew the strength and weaknesses of every player like an encyclopedia. He would position the outfielders from pitch to pitch, he knew how to steal the signs from the opposing team. He ran the bases like a demon in a manner calculated to intimidate and disrupt the other team, and caused many defensive errors in the opposition. I saw him make unbelievable throws from the deepest parts of the outfield and run down fly balls no one else could possibly have caught. And I remember watching him hit 4 home runs in a game in Milwaukee on a day when it was obvious the opposing pitchers had no idea how to get Mays out. Anyone who actually saw Mays play has to think that he's the greatest all-around player ever, bar none.

[@allend2749]

did the giants win the pennant every year with this great player. No, but the yankees did with dimaggio and with mantle. u know, like otto graham in football. now, if willie were a golfer, an individual sport, he might be considered the greatest but he is not. he is the member of a team. so, before u can say how good a certain player on that team is, first ask, how good is the team? Evidentally willie was not good enough to carry his team to the world series often. Mays played in only 4 world series, only won 1 batting title. and u call him the greatest. give me a break. not even close. u r saying this because he is black.

[@MyREDTAIL]

Never forget that Catch he made over his shoulder on Player Vic Wortz Unbelievable on the run also while making it etc.

[@MyREDTAIL]

I met Willie Mays when the Mets were in Chicago Back in the late 70's As I was on a trip out to Chicago & at Wriggley field you can easly go into the doug out etc , What a Great guy he is to talk to, Really down to earth, By the way the Mets did win that Day etc.

[@jayvicious2011]

Willie Mays should have more than 660 Homeruns. Two years cut due to the Army and he lost alot of Homeruns at Candle Stick Park

[@jadentrez]

I agree. The two years in the military (1952-53) cost him at least 60 HRs, by my estimate (based on his stats in that era, he was averaging more than 30 HRs per season). So without the military service, he would have hit 720+, and broken Ruth's record in 1973 -- one year before Aaron did it.

[@charlesmcglasker7613]

Hey Willie !,I've watched from the 50's ,the best ever !!!!! - 5 tool super in every way of the game...

[@kleffner123456]

He would've been in the 700 club!!Easy!!

[@jerrybrownell3633]

I watched him play at Candlestick. He would hit balls off the wall which would easily have been doubles, triples or even inside the park home runs but Willie would stop at first base so that the other team would have to pitch to McCovey and not intentionally walk him. I am not making this up. It is another reason he is probably the GOAT.

[@shessoheavy6130]

Agreed, no question.

[@thomaslapare9137]

Happy birthday Willie! 90, just great! You were not only one of the very best, the best thing about you, was and still is, you are a kid that never grew up, you loved the game and you love life, God bless! Stay well!

[@zerubbablestranger6970]

For me, at a time when it was difficult, at best, to see my father as a “hero” figure, #24, William Howard Mays was my “HERO”! I used to sneak the TV up to my room to watch the Giants play the Mets, we lived in CT at the time and with the 3 hour time difference, the game started at 10pm. I can still hear Lindsay Nelson, Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy calling the game and hear how a pitcher should be very careful when facing #24..... When watching this video, look at the playing surface..... The fields that they played on were.... TERRIBLE! We should all have a lot more respect for what the players of that time accomplished......

[@clydeb7713]

I was a Yankee fan but... Mays was just super!

[@ric60100]

It's hard to say who was the greatest. That is something people can debate forever. All I can say he's the best that I have ever seen and I'm a lifelong Dodgers fan.

[@thop1321]

Can u believe it... he was the best , if u were lucky enough to see the man play... u will never forget it. This man was the best EVER... From Alabama, 89 yrs old today, if u love the game, u love Willy.

[@mothertree]

Every player involved in this documentary about the great WIllie Mays should be thanked but the reason they are a part of it is because they are thanking Willie.If you grew up at this time like I did you witnessed some of the greatest athletes in the world !

[@jerrybrownell3633]

When he first came up in 1951 he was like 0-12 and practically begged his Manager Leo Durocher to send him back to the minors because he couldn't hit. Durocher told him: "I don't care, you are my center fielder". Then Willie hit his first home run off Braves star Warren Spahn and you know the rest of the story.

[@heisenberg1763]

Best authoritative ball player ever. He was in control of the field

[@bobcapps7528]

Mays broke my 9 year old heart with that home run in the 1962 playoff game vs. the Dodgers. I have still never forgiven him for that. When I got home from Dodger Stadium that night I threw away his baseball cards.

[@donaldshaw1242]

One of my earliest memories is seeing Willie Mays rob a guy of a base hit by making a shoestring catch in short center field in the Polo Grounds in New York City in 1957.

[@snuffyballparks6501]

Willie was the best ALL AROUND player ever. Mantle did some things better when not injured, but Willie did it ALL at the highest level. And he was smart with a very high baseball IQ. Great natural talent sure, but he worked hard and made himself a winner.

[@TheBatugan77]

Loved Willie. Still do.

[@Amick44]

The Greatest in his sport. Ever

[@teddylopez509]

Yah, cause Mickey Mantle got hurt so much. Mantle had more power could out run him and, Mays said it himself. Trust me had Mickey taken better care of hmself, he would have broken all the records. Hank Aaron said that too bad Mickey got hurt or he would have been the greatest of them all. Mays can thank God Mickey got hurt so much. MICKEY MANTLES' BIGGEST FAN.

[@jadlersen8709]

I've read this same nutty spam comment you've written about Mays thanking God that Mickey got hurt so much at way too many sites on YT. Only a troll would make a stupid comment like that and then write it over and over.

[@MyREDTAIL]

Willie loved to play Stick Ball with the Neghborhood kids every chance he got what a guy etc.

[@critter7052]

Happy 88th Birthday, "The Say-Hey" kid.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

It is totally in the realm of probability that had Willie not missed nearly two years of his prime due to military service and had not played much of his career in windy Candlestick Park that he might have had over 800 career home runs. He is almost certainly the greatest all around player ever which makes him true GOAT of baseball. The great man is in his 90th year of life and I am thrilled to know that I was around when he was.

[@billsmith5985]

Bob Murphy did MLB game-of-the-week(NBC) a year before being hired by the Mets for their team. I saw that game on a Sat. afternoon at Milwaukee when Willie hit 4.

[@Fruth37]

I just read "Mickey and Willie" by Allen Barra. I couldn't put it down. It will open your eyes about these two greats. I bought it at Ollie's Discount Store for about $4.00. Best book buy in years.

[@patrickr.5900]

+Fruth37 Actually just finished reading that book a couple of weeks ago. Excellent.

[@marqueswilliams345]

To think New York City had 3 hall of fame center fielders at the same time Duke Snider for the Brooklyn Dodgers Willie Mays for the New York Giants and Mickey Mantle for the New York Yankees damn I need a time machine

[@TheBatugan77]

In 1951 they had four. DiMaggio and Mick were teammates!

[@marqueswilliams345]

@@TheBatugan77 center fielders

[@TheBatugan77]

@@marqueswilliams345 Yes. That's what I said. DiMaggio, Mantle, Snider & Mays. Four HOF centerfielders.

[@EllotusFreeholy]

So while he's running to catch the ball his mind is already on where he's going to throw it, catching it is a given ~ Superb.

[@Scott-ly2nk]

I loved that catch ane it was not being a hot dog when he caught it he had the ball right there ready to rhrow it

[@nala3038]

Interesting little tidbit: Willie is the only player in MLB history to hit a home run in innings 1-16.

[@baronvonnembles]

Some of the comments below are off base. In all ways important Willie was a humble man. He wasn't arrogant or selfish. He didn't waste time with the false humility that so many athletes practice today, but he appreciated the game, he respected his teammates and he respected the fans.

[@MyREDTAIL]

The way he use to BASKET CATCH" The ball on his Chest was amazing while on the run etc.

[@MrYellowlabs]

Mays, McCovey, Aaron, Billy Williams...all from Mobile, Alabama What the hell is in the water down there?!?

[@fasteddie9055]

Sports is a way out of a rough neighborhood. Your ambition makes you play harder.

[@TheAssasin2525]

MrYellowlabs Whatever it has-I'd like a cup of it myself!

[@perrygrant94]

+MrYellowlabs Amos Otis and Cleon Jones were from Mobile as well. Willie was from Birmingham, though.

[@fasteddie9055]

Cleon was a well known figure here in Queens, NY. The edifice of his Queens Blvd. hotel is still there. I drive by all the time.

[@patrickr.5900]

+MrYellowlabs Mays is from Westfield, Ala. Outside Birmingham. Long way from Mobile.

[@nicobloffer]

Any lifetime batting average above .300 you're already considered an all star. 24x all star. 12x gold glove and he was already playing 7 season prior before gold glove was awarded. Home runs. He could run, field, hit, drive in runs. He didn't play in the babe Ruth era, I believe he's average would've been higher if he did.

[@jerrybrownell3633]

I don't remember what years but a few times there were 2 All Star Games which is how Mays got into 24 of them.

[@GlorifiedTruth]

No one talks about how strong he was. Willie could bench 600 pounds back when professional weightlifters were struggling to get 500.

[@TheBatugan77]

I could bench 700. For reps.

[@TheParadisecove]

...if you ever go BTTF..go to the 60's when the hi-light of any baseball season was the 11 games that KTTV channel 11 broadcast the Dodger, Giant games from Candlestick...in black and white.....and when they came to Dodger Stadium, all of the broadcasting trucks would be outside of the left field pavilion with their A/C humming to welcome all of us bleacher people...just like a World Series game...the Giants had an unbelievable team..but the Dodgers had the upper hand with our pitching staff...that kind of baseball atmosphere is long gone...

[@mikepeppers8073]

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WILLIE MAYS WAS THE GREATEST CENTER FIELDER OF ALL TIME. THE ONLY PERFECT OUTFIELD COMBINATION EVER AARON MAYS & CLEMENTE.I ALWAYS TELL AND OLD STORY ABOUT HOW I PLAYED IN A HIGH IMPACT BASEBALL LEAGUE THAT YOU WENT TO THREE TRYOUTS ,AND HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT ON A TEAM .THIS ORGANIZATION WAS IN A BIG CITY ,AND RAN BY X MINOR LEAGUE MANAGERS WHO NEW AND TAUGHT IT ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.I MADE ONE OF THE PONY LEAGUE BALL CLUBS ,AND WAS HAPPY THAT I MADE THE FIRST TEAM AS THE STARTING CENTER FIELDER.WILLIE MAYS WAS MY FAVORITE PLAYER.I TRIED TO PLAY HIS STYLE. ONE DAY I HAD A ROUTINE FLY BALL WAS HIT TO ME ,AND I MADE THE WILLIE MAYS FAMOUS BASKET CATCH.THE MANAGER WAS AN X TRIPLE A MANAGER ,AND HE BLEW A GASKET OVER WHAT I HAD DONE. I GOT BENCHED THE NEXT DAY.I WAS THE LEADOFF HITTER AND HAD HIT FOR A HIGH AVERAGE ALL SEASON ,BUT IT DID NOT MATTER. I LEARNED A LESSON THAT DAY. YES I WAS NO WILLIE MAYS ,AND NO ONE EVER WILL BE IN THIS LIFE TIME.GOD ONLY MADE ONE WILLIE MAYS AND ONE HANK AARON WE DO NOT GET TO SEE A SECOND. LIFE IN THIS WORLD ONLY GRANTS US ONE.

[@michaeldoran2767]

willie mays is the man no24

[@TheBatugan77]

The play in the 1951 World Series where Mantle blew out his knee... involved him, Joe DiMag and Willie, who hit the ball.

[@sergiojacquez2277]

Greatest of all time..... You understand this Dodger fans, mmm....

[@bullwinkle2380]

What if??? What if Willie Mays played somewhere other than Candlestick Park??? How many home runs??? Maybe 770???

[@GregJay]

1. Babe Ruth 2. Willy Mays 3. Ted Williams 4. Hank Aaron 5. Lou Gehrig Nuff' said, growing up in the 60's Mays was my favorite player. The only reason I put Ruth at 1 is because the Babe was also a great pitcher. Willy probably had more raw talent.

[@AHMAD-2324]

The Only reason Why I can't put Babe@#1 Bcuz Him,Ted or Lou didn't Compete against Black or Hispanic Player's...You have To Play the best to be considered the Ultimate Best. In my opinion!!!

[@BNSFREVIVAL1]

+Ahmad2423 Exactly! You can't say a person is the greatest unless they play against EVERYONE! And let's face it, Afro-Americans fucking DOMINATE in athletics. Not trying to make this about race, it's about skill. I just don't see the Babe getting all those home runs against a pitcher with Satchel Paige's ability.

[@AHMAD-2324]

J.A Dapper My Sentiments Exactly!

[@TheBatugan77]

@@BNSFREVIVAL1 Pretty dumb, JA.

[@why-why-whywhywhy]

Throughly enjoyed this, but any idea if there was ever one done on Major League Baseball's All-Time HR King, Mr. Henry Louis Aaron?

[@tonymoretti2347]

Maybe

[@clarksvillekid7177]

I saw Willie hit his 500 hr in the Houston AstroDome

[@frankbacosaii6194]

he was very cool just got to say

[@deepsquat600]

any of you remember a cartoon in the 70s called The Say Hey Kid ... ????

[@marcusbell5349]

Willie May's is one of the greatest center fielder ever in my opinion better than Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson The Hey Said Kid May's would be surpassed Aaron but he lost 2 full season in the Army

[@STWRITES1]

That's me around 35 minutes.

[@ErichLRuehs]

Open up the dictionary and look up "Five Tool Player" and all you need is a photo. No words, but one simple picture. And that, of course, would be Mr. Willie Mays. End of friggin' story.

[@chenrayen]

It's hard to believe Mays did not steal more bases. But then again he so often stretched out singles and doubles to doubles and triples, and as a hitter in front of McCovey he would forsake the extra bases and steals so that McCovey could hit and not walked intentionally.

[@jerrybrownell3633]

Willie won the stolen base title 4 consecutive years earlier in his career.

[@georgehakimian5949]

He was the best ballplayer ever, however, Hank Aaron may have been a slightly better hitter. I wouldn't have said that before I looked up both of their stats, but again, Mays was the best all around player of all time.

[@rooseveltgreen1276]

who sees the mistake mays made on that catch?????? great catch though..

[@kleffner123456]

What would Mays be worth $$$$$$today?

[@bittyguy5388]

Zero Dollars.

[@Scott-ly2nk]

He played on that junk fake surface in candle stick what a joke and willie handled it quite well

[@robertbrent6835]

Wow not one racist comment .._.. White ppl must have claimed him in the racial draft.._..

[@nicholasturner1439]

We did, we traded the cash me outside girl and that white chic that claims she's black.😄✌

[@watchmanonthewall14]

Only mistake he made was to play too long and embarrass himself at the end. That was hard to watch. Most great players do play too long, though.

[@youarerightboss]

Willie Mays, the 4th greatest baseball player of all time. Ty Cobb, #1.

[@nationtime4540]

Willie mays is arguably the greatest Baseball player of all time.Him being drafted into the arm service was a plot to slow him down and cut his statistical accumulation of Home.runs.He was averaging 45 home runs plus per season 75 to 80 home runs added to his gran total of 660 would have eclipsed Babe Ruth's Record of 714.White ball players of Mays contemporary as Mickey Mantle were not drafted...Why..Racism...He still remains the greatest all around Player in History.

[@jstarks123]

Willie was the best, but the remark about white players not being drafted is bullshit.

[@TheBatugan77]

Nation tim... You're a fucking idiot. And I'm being polite.

[@JuicersSuck]

Willie was a better all around player than the Mick, but the Mick was a better hitter. And if not for Micks injuries and battle with the bottle, Mick would easily have been the best player ever.

[@jerrybrownell3633]

When Mantle was healthy and he was at times he was probably the fastest player to ever lace them up. He still holds the record for going from home plate to first base ( from the left hand batters box ). It was a hand held timer but he did it in 3.1 seconds. Billy Hamilton probably the fastest guy in todays game was clocked in 3.4 seconds electronically.

[@spmack78]

Mays is 2nd only to Babe Ruth. Ruth pitched for 6 years or he would of hit 1000 homers. How many world series did Mays win ? Only 1. I always felt The Bambino was the goat. Won 7 World championships. Ranks 3rd all time in homeruns 714 and 3rd all time in ERA (2.28) with over 1000 IP. Babe Ruth is MLB's all-time leader in slugging percentage (.690) and OPS (1.163).

[@jerrybrownell3633]

-Ruth only had like 8200 at bats and still had over 2100 runs batted in ( 2nd all time behind Aaron who had over 15,000 at bats ).

[@jerrybrownell3633]

Yes Mays only won one World Series but it was the greatest upset in the history of professional sport. The Indians won 111 games( lost 43) won the American League Pennant by 27 games over the Yankees. The New York Giants only won 89 games. Cleveland was overwhelming favorites and hardly anyone gave the Giants a chance. Well apparently New York didn't get the memo. Led by Mays who made "The Catch" in game 1 the Giants swept the mighty Indians.

[@wfblover1999]

spatic I don't agree with you

[@carlengel4760]

Best ever? Remember....Babe Ruth had no hit pitching talent. He was the best all around player and hit .342

[@felixmadison5736]

+carl engel But Babe Ruth couldn't run and play the field like Willie Mays. No doubt Ruth was great, but Willie would have run circles around him and had as many homers if not for military service.

[@carlengel4760]

I agree. but he was one of the best hitters ever and had some of the best pitching talent of that era.

[@felixmadison5736]

+carl engel You don't have to sell me on the Babe!! I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan so I know all about Babe Ruth. Willie Mays was a standout in baseball, football, and basketball in high school. He also played when there was better pitching throughout the League. Babe played when pitchers tired late in games and were easier to hit. Also, bullpens were much weaker than the starting pitching. Not so in Willie Mays' time in MLB.

[@TheBatugan77]

@@felixmadison5736 Ruth pitched, and set several records doing so. As a Yankee, he hit 659 home runs in 15 years. One less than Willie hit in 22.

[@TheBatugan77]

@@felixmadison5736 Sorry, O. Ruth played under the same conditions as everyone else did in his time. No one else came close. Pitchers didn't tire. They learned how to last longer within the game.

[@ruthgehrig2621]

Greatest Centerfielder Ever?TY COBB.Greatest Player Ever?BABE RUTH.

[@bengrimm3340]

Ruth & Gehrig So True,Fellas.

[@ZPLS18]

Wrong

[@jamescampione8531]

Cmon man

[@pingpong2456]

he could do everything but be humble

[@toeg1]

Ping Pong, you watch one video of the man and you think you know all about him. I grew up idolizing him. Every time anyone interviewed him he was extremely courteous, always praising his fellow players and their abilities. That was Willie Mays over his entire career and beyond. He was the greatest. Before you cast disparaging comments on someone you don't even know, you should find out a bit more about the person many people say was the best there ever was.

[@georgecochran7497]

John Little

[@pingpong2456]

John Little but he is not humble, most great players aren't

[@toeg1]

***** Thank you.

[@spactick]

Greatest ever? ha! no way, career batting avg barely 300. Only won the series once, DiMaggio 9 times, Yogi Berra 11 times, and couldn't pitch at all, Ruth's records still stand for pitching and hitting, and Ruth only played the outfield 15 years, if he had played his whole career in outfield would have had 800 homers.

[@spactick]

JoJoGunn my mama never met either Barry or Bobby Bonds, and if she did? I doubt she would have given either of those gentlemen oral sex. I think you need to apologize.

[@jayvicious2011]

Mays lost alot of Homeruns at Candle Stick and he lost 2 years due to the Army.

[@spactick]

+jayvicious2011 agreed. Candlestick was a windy shithole of a ballpark. it was a mistake from day one. if he had played in Chicago? he could have hit 800, but if Ruth hadn't pitched for the first 5 years he also would have hit 800, and also remember Yankee stadium wasn't exactly a small park either.

[@jayvicious2011]

+spactick Babe Ruth, Lou Gerig, and Mickey Mantle hit alot of homers at Yankees Stadium cause of that short right porch in right field. Agree with u about Wrigley Field. And if Joe DiMaggio played there he would had more home runs

[@spactick]

+jayvicious2011 actually Ruth hit most of his home runs 'away' from Yankee Stadium. he hit 347 at home and 367 away.

[@WilliamFlickinger-ex2sd]

You always here mickey mantle one he play for Yankees he was white. White Mays and he was the greatest of all time Mays team player 5 tool player

[@WilliamFlickinger-ex2sd]

I grew up on the 1960 national league was a better league great black players America league was slow about signing black and latin players Mays Clemente Aaron b

[@michaeldoran2767]

willie mays is the man no24