The death of Willie Mays on Tuesday at 93 elicited the form of tributes not often afforded an expert athlete. Mays was no extraordinary athlete.
Learn extra: Willie Mays Dies at 93; Was Baseball’s Oldest Living Hall of Famer
In line with the San Francisco Giants, with whom Mays performed the majority of his Corridor of Fame profession, he obtained honorary levels from Dartmouth, Miles Faculty, Ohio State College, San Francisco State, and Yale College. The Sporting Information ranked Mays second solely to Babe Ruth among the many 100 best baseball gamers of the twentieth century. ESPN listed him eighth in its rating of the highest 50 athletes of the century.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Pictures
Towards the backdrop of such widespread fame and acclaim, maybe it is no shock that Mays’ demise elicited reactions from a wide range of celebrities inside and outdoors the world of sports activities on Tuesday.
Former CCR lead singer/guitarist John Fogerty is a famous baseball fan who’s demographically excellent to understand the prime of Mays’ profession. He was 12 years previous and dwelling within the Bay Space when Mays’ New York Giants moved west to San Francisco.
Naturally, Fogerty was among the many musicians who weighed in with an appreciation for Mays’ life on his Twitter/X account:
Unhappy to see that Willie Mays has handed away. Once I was a child the Giants got here to San Francisco and Willie was the Biggest of All Time! I used to be fortunate to see him play many many instances at Candlestick Park and he’s the usual that Greatness is measured by. pic.twitter.com/HjVCRhu4Gk
— John Fogerty (@John_Fogerty) June 19, 2024
Actor/director Billy Crystal is known for guiding the acclaimed baseball movie 61* and is a famous New York Yankees fan. He weighed in on Twitter/X as effectively, displaying off a signed piece of Mays memorabilia from his assortment:
The nice @Willie Mays has handed away. Had the honour of speaking with him a number of instances. He liked that we talked about his ‘54 World Sequence catch in @CitySlickers.The person who hit the ball and the “ Large” who caught it signed this ball. RIP #24.. a thrill to look at you play. pic.twitter.com/FTNSc99Kh1
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) June 19, 2024
Rapper Chuck D can also be an enormous baseball fan, and in addition has a deep information of African-American historical past and Mays’ function within the integration of baseball as one of many sport’s first Black stars:
Mays’ appreciation from President Barack Obama extends past the Medal of Freedom Obama bestowed on Mays in 2015. Naturally, Obama was among the many most outstanding public figures to weigh in on Mays’ demise:
Willie Mays wasn’t only a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched mixture of grace, talent and energy. He was additionally a splendidly heat and beneficiant particular person – and an inspiration to a whole era. I’m fortunate to have hung out with him through the years, and Michelle and I… pic.twitter.com/tpO3O9B9yc
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 19, 2024
Obama wasn’t the one former president who appreciated Mays, as Bill Clinton weighed in along with his personal tribute assertion on Twitter/X:
A former Lawyer Normal of the US, Eric Holder, additionally shared his deep appreciation for Mays’ life and profession:
I’m heartbroken by the information that Willie Mays has handed away. He was my first sports activities hero and is a connection in my life to a greater time the place humility, decency and actual accomplishment had been the last word constructive defining traits.
Many instances you meet your heroes and… pic.twitter.com/3apDZnRgV2
— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) June 19, 2024
Former New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher CC Sabathia grew up within the Bay Space metropolis of Vallejo. He revealed his appreciation for Mays in a social media put up, as effectively:
I’ll always remember this present day after I walked in and heard, “that’s that boy who wears his hat like this.”
RIP Willie Mays. You modified the sport without end and impressed children like me to chase our dream. Thanks for every little thing that you simply did on and off the sphere. All the time in our hearts… pic.twitter.com/Xv2ZHbKFvt
— CC Sabathia (@CC_Sabathia) June 19, 2024
Former New York Yankees middle fielder Bernie Williams, now an expert musician, weighed in along with his phrases of respect for Mays too:
There’ll by no means be one other Willie Mays. — Bernie Williams (@bw51official) June 19, 2024
You don’t play Centerfield with out considering of Mr. Mays. We should always all rejoice and salute his legacy – – he transcended baseball, served our nation and is a real American legend & icon.
Credit score: Greg Kreindler @mlb @MLBNetwork pic.twitter.com/I8tdunpv4S
Mays is being honored throughout Main League Baseball on Wednesday with moments of silence prior to every sport.
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