Tributes are pouring in after the death of legendary baseball player Willie Mays, with Barack Obama, Charles Barkley and Derek Jeter among those paying tribute to the MLB and Negro League icon.
Mays, whose storied career spanned from 1948 to 1973, was remembered as a “wonderfully warm and generous person” by the 44th President Obama, who shared a photo of the couple together.
“Willie Mays was not only a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill and power,” Obama wrote in x.
‘He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person, and an inspiration to an entire generation. “I’m lucky to have spent time with him over the years, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family.”
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, an Alabama native like Mays, He called CNN to pay tribute to the baseball star.
Willi Mays, one of the all-time baseball greats, has died at the age of 93.
Mays received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2015.
“Most of us black athletes have no idea what these guys have been through…Trying to be great at a sport and then dealing with all the racial struggle that these guys had to face, that’s what makes them into heroes.” ,’ he said.
“It’s easy for kids today to be heroes, when they make 30, 40, 50 million dollars playing a sport,” he continued. ‘You can say what you want, you can do what you want. But trying to be great at a sport, like I said, when you can’t stay in a certain hotel, you can’t go to a certain restaurant… that’s what makes Mr. Mays, Hank Aaron, Larry Doby… that’s What makes those guys heroes?
Yankees legend Derek Jeter added x that Mays was “one of the best to ever play the game and an even better person.” Our thoughts and prayers are with Willie’s family and loved ones,” he said.
And former Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who was Mays’ godson, wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram.
‘I am beyond devastated and overwhelmed with emotion. I have no words to describe what you mean to me: you helped me be who I am today. Thank you for being my godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me.
‘Rest in peace Willie, I will love you forever. #Say hello.’
Mays appears alongside Barry Bonds (left) and Derek Jeter (right) at the 2007 All-Star Game.
The legend of the San Francisco Giants is considered by many to be the best baseball player in history
In Alabama, fans attending a minor league game at Rickwood Field, where Mays played in the Negro League with the Birmingham Black Barons, gave their hometown hero a standing ovation when his death was announced at the stadium.
Meanwhile, Yankees star Aaron Judge also reacted to Mays’ passing after his team’s 4-2 win over the Orioles.
‘He was bigger than baseball,’ judge told reporters. ‘He was something special. And the baseball world will definitely miss a great one.”
Former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia also shared a photo of him and Mays to X, along with a touching message.
Mays was nicknamed ‘The Say Hey Kid’ due to his cheerful attitude and positive spirit.
“I’ll never forget this day I walked in and heard, ‘That’s that guy wearing his hat like that.’
RIP Willie Mays. You changed the game forever and inspired kids like me to chase our dream. Thank you for everything you did on and off the field. Always in our hearts.’
And the Yankees organization also issued a touching statement about York and simply one of the greatest.” players the game will ever see. “We offer our deepest condolences to the Mays family, the Giants organization and everyone who knew him.”
MLB also issued a statement Commissioner Rob Manfred, which said, “His incredible accomplishments and statistics don’t begin to describe the amazement I felt watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable.” We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.”
No cause of death was given for Mays, 93, who was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer.
Mays hit 660 home runs, scored 2,068 runs and had 3,293 hits while winning a World Series with the Giants (1954) in a legendary career.
He played 21 seasons with the Giants and completed his legendary career with the Mets in 1972 and 1973. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility.