September 28, 1958: Willie Mays vies for an improbable batting title on season’s final day

San Francisco adopted Willie Mays like a stepson. He was fine…

September 30, 1948: Willie Mays leads Black Barons to postseason victory

A teenage Willie Mays with the Birmingham Black Barons.…

June 29, 1961: Willie Mays hits three homers, including the game-winner in the 10th

Willie Mays became just the fourth major leaguer to hit at…

May 13, 1958: Willie Mays completes torrid stretch against rival Dodgers

Willie Mays batted .309 lifetime against the Dodgers and…
Willie Mays (Courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame)

July 11-13, 1960: Willie Mays hits for the cycle in All-Star doubleheader

In his second at-bat of the second All-Star Game in 1960,…
Willie Mays (Trading Card DB)

September 30, 1962: Willie Mays’ late homer forces 3-game playoff for NL pennant

The Los Angeles Dodgers held a four-game lead over the San…

September 15, 1960: Giants top Phillies behind three triples by Willie Mays

Willie Mays recorded 141 career triples and led the National…

April 26, 1958: Willie Mays ‘seals’ Giants’ win with first homer in San Francisco

For Willie Mays, the April 26, 1958, game between his San Francisco…

May 28, 1951: Willie Mays’s first National League hit is a towering homer

Willie Mays hit 20 home runs and won NL Rookie of the Year…

May 27, 1952: Willie Mays leads Giants over Dodgers as Army induction approaches

Willie Mays missed nearly two full seasons due to military…
A teenage Willie Mays with the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays’ father did not allow him to join the Black Barons full-time in 1948 until school was over at the end of May. (Courtesy of Memphis Public Library)

September 11, 1948: Willie Mays singles home the Game 1 winner for Black Barons in extra innings

A teenage Willie Mays with the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays’…

May 18, 1957: Willie Mays steals four bases, homers against Cincinnati

Willie Mays stole four bases in a game twice in his career.…

April 18, 1952: Willie Mays makes his greatest catch — no, not that one

New York Giants fans loved Willie Mays, the exciting young…

September 26, 1954: Willie Mays says ‘hey’ to the National League batting title

Teammates Willie Mays and Don Mueller battled it out for…
A teenage Willie Mays with the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays’ father did not allow him to join the Black Barons full-time in 1948 until school was over at the end of May. (Courtesy of Memphis Public Library)

September 12, 1948: Willie Mays’ two-out double in 9th saves the day for Black Barons

A teenage Willie Mays with the Birmingham Black Barons. Mays’…

May 24, 1954: Willie Mays’ 2 homers, 3 hits, and 4 RBIs sink Phillies

Willie Mays topped the National League in slugging percentage…
Willie Mays with the Minneapolis Millers in 1951 (SABR-Rucker Archive)

May 1, 1951: Willie Mays has 3 hits, makes spectacular catch in Millers’ home opener

Willie Mays had three hits, Ray Dandridge had four, and Hoyt…

September 25, 1955: Willie Mays ties Johnny Mize’s Giants record with 51st home run

The New York Giants fell to third place in 1955; even so,…

September 29, 1957: End of an era as Giants play final home game in New York

The New York Giants played their first game on May 1, 1883, and…

April 30, 1961: The Say Hey Kid’s four-homer game

The 1961 major-league season was barely three weeks old the…

September 29, 1954: Willie Mays makes The Catch; Dusty Rhodes homer wins Game One

  Willie Mays sprinted deep into the Polo Grounds outfield…

August 15, 1951: Willie Mays’ defensive gem caps Giants victory

Three years before Willie Mays made perhaps the most famous…