Willie Mays [sports]

Calvin

Welcome to Headstones and Microphones where we use AI to step into the past through a researched, first-person simulation of history's most interesting people. I am your host, Calvin. While we’ve added some creative storytelling, our goal is to inspire your own study of these fascinating lives. Now, let’s meet our guest.

Calvin

I am absolutely buzzing today! We are joined by a true icon, a man who redefined what it meant to play the game of baseball with flair, speed, and a smile that could light up a stadium. For those who may somehow not know who you are... who are you?

Black Male

My name is Willie Mays, but a lot of folks know me as the "Say Hey Kid." I spent most of my life roaming center field and having the absolute time of my life playing ball.

Calvin

It is an honor, truly. Let’s take it back to the very beginning. When and where were you born?

Black Male

I was born on May 6, 1931, in a little town called Westfield, Alabama. It was right outside of Birmingham.

Calvin

And what was your given name at birth?

Black Male

Just Willie Howard Mays Jr.

Calvin

Is there a story behind your birth name?

Black Male

Not a complicated one! I was named after my father, Willie Howard Mays Sr. Everyone called him "Cat," though. He was a talented ballplayer himself in the industrial leagues around Alabama. I guess you could say the name—and the game—ran in the family.

Calvin

I love that. What was your hometown like growing up?

Black Male

Westfield was a company town, mostly folks working in the steel mills. It was a tight-knit community where everyone looked out for one another. It wasn't fancy, but it was home, and it was filled with the sounds of the neighborhood.

Calvin

And what was your family life like?

Black Male

My parents split up when I was quite young, so I was raised primarily by my father and two of my aunts, Sarah and Ernestine. They were my world. My aunts made sure I stayed on the straight and narrow, and my father was the one who put a ball in my hand almost as soon as I could walk.

Calvin

What kind of kid were you?

Black Male

Oh, I was active! I couldn't sit still. If there was a game being played—baseball, football, basketball—I was right in the middle of it. I was pretty quiet and respectful, mostly because my aunts wouldn't have it any other way, but on the field, I was all energy.

Calvin

What were your biggest fears growing up?

Black Male

You know, coming up in the segregated South, there was always a bit of a shadow of uncertainty. But honestly, as a kid, my biggest fear was probably letting my father or my aunts down. I wanted to make them proud in everything I did.

Calvin

What did you dream of becoming as a child?

Black Male

I wanted to be a ballplayer. Specifically, I wanted to be like my dad. I used to sit on the bench during his games and just soak it all in. I didn't necessarily dream of the big leagues back then—I just wanted to play.

Calvin

What were some of your favorite activities in school?

Black Male

I played everything! I was the quarterback for the football team and a high-scorer on the basketball team at Fairfield Industrial High School. I enjoyed the camaraderie of being on a team more than anything else.

Calvin

What was your first job?

Black Male

Aside from sports, I did a bit of everything to help out. But my first "professional" gig was playing for the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro American League while I was still in high school. I’d play the home games on the weekends so I wouldn't miss class.

Calvin

Was there a moment where you realized you were different from everyone else?

Black Male

I don't know if I felt "different," but I realized I had a knack for the game when the older guys—the grown men—started asking me to play in their games when I was only 14 or 15. When you're a teenager and you're holding your own against professionals, you start to think, "Hey, I might have something here."

Calvin

What’s a decision that changed everything for you, but felt small at the time?

Black Male

Deciding to sign with the New York Giants. At the time, I was just a kid who wanted to play professional ball, and the Giants offered a chance. I didn't realize that signature would lead me to New York and change the entire course of my life.

Calvin

What was your biggest break?

Black Male

Getting called up to the Big Leagues in 1951. I was playing in Minneapolis, doing pretty well, and I got the word that Leo Durocher wanted me in New York. That changed everything.

Calvin

What were your biggest struggles before success?

Black Male

When I first got to the Giants, I started off 0-for-12. I couldn't hit a thing! I was actually crying in the dugout because I thought I wasn't good enough. I told Leo Durocher to send me back down.

Calvin

Did you ever consider quitting?

Black Male

In that moment in the dugout, I felt like quitting. But Leo looked at me and said, "As long as I’m manager of this team, you’re my center fielder." That belief kept me going. After that, I hit a home run off Warren Spahn, and I never looked back.

Calvin

Were there any specific daily habits or routines that you feel are essential to your success?

Black Male

I believed in being early. I wanted to be the first one at the park. I also made it a point to talk to everyone—the ushers, the fans, the kids. Keeping that positive energy and staying connected to the joy of the game was my "routine."

Calvin

What job would you have had if fame never happened?

Black Male

I probably would have worked in the mills like my father or maybe become a coach. I always loved teaching the game to younger kids.

Calvin

What was your life like before fame?

Black Male

It was simple. It was Alabama, family, and playing stickball in the streets with the neighborhood kids. Even after I got to New York, I’d still go out and play stickball with the kids in Harlem after games at the Polo Grounds.

Calvin

How did relationships change after success?

Black Male

People certainly look at you differently, but I tried to stay the same Willie. My family kept me grounded. I didn't want the fame to change how I treated people.

Calvin

Did fame bring happiness?

Black Male

The game brought me happiness. The fame was just something that came along with it. Being able to take care of my family and give back—that’s what made me happy.

Calvin

What was the downside of becoming famous?

Black Male

You lose a bit of your privacy. You can't just walk down the street as easily as you once did. But honestly, if the worst thing in my life was people wanting to say "hello" or get an autograph, I figured I was doing alright!

Calvin

What misconceptions did people have about you?

Black Male

Some people thought I was just "naturally" good and didn't have to work at it. But I studied the game constantly. I knew every hitter, every pitcher, and every blade of grass in center field. It took a lot of work to make it look that easy.

Calvin

What was your darkest moment?

Black Male

Being drafted into the Army in 1952 was tough. I had to miss nearly two seasons right when my career was taking off. I worried I’d lose my edge, but I just kept playing ball for the Army team at Fort Eustis to stay sharp.

Calvin

What past regrets did you carry, that you spoke about?

Black Male

I don't like to dwell on regrets. I feel I gave the game everything I had. If anything, I wish I could have won a few more championships for the fans in San Francisco.

Calvin

What’s something people misunderstood about your life?

Black Male

Sometimes people thought I was being "flashy" with the basket catch or the way my hat would fly off when I ran. But that was just how I played! I played with everything I had. The hat flew off because I was running as fast as I could!

Calvin

Tell me about a time when everything went wrong and how did you handle it?

Black Male

My final season with the Mets was difficult. My body wasn't doing what my mind wanted it to do. It’s hard to handle when you realize you can’t play at the level you expect of yourself. I handled it by trying to be a leader in the clubhouse and helping the younger guys.

Calvin

Did fame and fortune change your life?

Black Male

It gave me opportunities I never thought an Alabama boy would have. I got to travel the world and meet Presidents. But in my heart, I was still that kid who just wanted to play ball.

Calvin

Who had the biggest influence on your life?

Black Male

My father, Cat, and Leo Durocher. My dad taught me how to play, and Leo gave me the confidence to believe I belonged in the big leagues.

Calvin

What was life like in your final years?

Black Male

I spent a lot of time working with the Giants organization and my Say Hey Foundation. I loved going to the ballpark and seeing the fans. I stayed involved with the game until the very end.

Calvin

What were you working on in your career before you passed away?

Black Male

I was focused on my legacy and making sure the history of the Negro Leagues was properly recognized. I wanted to make sure those ballplayers got their due.

Calvin

When and where did you pass away?

Black Male

I passed away on June 18, 2024, in Palo Alto, California. I was 93 years old.

Calvin

What happened?

Black Male

It was just heart failure—my time had come. I passed away peacefully, knowing I’d lived a full life.

Calvin

What’s a random fact about you most people have never heard?

Black Male

I was a pretty decent singer! I even recorded a song called "Say Hey" back in the fifties with a group called the Treniers.

Calvin

What’s the craziest rumor ever told about you?

Black Male

People used to say I could tell what a pitcher was going to throw just by the way he breathed. I wasn't quite that psychic, but I did pay very close attention!

Calvin

What was your most unique habit?

Black Male

Definitely the basket catch. Catching the ball down by my waist instead of up by my face. It felt natural to me, and it let me get the ball out of my glove faster to make a throw.

Calvin

What was your favorite food?

Black Male

I loved a good home-cooked meal. Fried chicken and collard greens always reminded me of home in Alabama.

Calvin

What was your favorite book?

Black Male

I wasn't a huge reader of novels, but I read anything I could get my hands on regarding sports and history.

Calvin

Did you have any known rivalries?

Black Male

People always tried to create a rivalry between me, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider because we were all center fielders in New York at the same time. But I had nothing but respect for those guys. We were all just trying to be the best we could be.

Calvin

Tell us a story nobody talks about.

Black Male

People talk about "The Catch" in 1954, but they forget the throw! I had to spin and fire that ball back to the infield to keep the runners from scoring. To me, the throw was just as important as the catch.

Calvin

What’s your funniest behind-the-scenes moment?

Black Male

Probably the times I’d play stickball in the streets of Harlem. The kids would treat me like just another guy until I’d hit a ball three blocks away. Their faces were priceless.

Calvin

What was the most outlandish purchase you made?

Black Male

I bought a pink Cadillac back in the day! It was quite a sight, but I loved that car.

Calvin

What advice would you give people chasing success?

Black Male

Whatever you do, do it with joy. And remember that you have to work hard even when no one is watching. Keep your head up and just keep swinging.

Calvin

Willie, do you have any closing remarks about the interview or the stories you shared that you would like to share with the listeners before we sign off?

Black Male

I just want to say thank you for remembering me. Life is a beautiful game, and I was so lucky to play it for as long as I did. Be kind to one another and keep the spirit of the game alive. Thank you for having me, Calvin. It’s been a real pleasure.

Calvin

What an absolute legend. From the Negro Leagues to the Hall of Fame, Willie Mays showed us all how to play with heart and grace. And that wraps up another conversation from beyond the grave. Thanks for joining us on The Headstones and Microphones Podcast. Remember—legends may die, but their stories never do. Please help spread the word by sharing and following the pod.