Career Timeline of Willie Mays: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Willie Mays built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Willie Mays, "the Say Hey Kid," was a legendary MLB center fielder over 23 seasons. He began in the Negro leagues before joining the New York/San Francisco Giants and New York Mets in the National League. Considered one of baseball's greatest, Mays was a five-tool player renowned for his all-around excellence.
1948: Joined Birmingham Black Barons
In 1948, Willie Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League, marking an early step in his baseball career.
1948: 1948 Birmingham Black Barons Season Statistics
Information includes statistics for Willie Mays's 1948 season with the Birmingham Black Barons.
1948: 1948 Negro World Series Appearance
Willie Mays participated in 33 postseason games, including the 1948 Negro World Series where he batted .248.
1950: Joined Trenton Giants
In 1950, Willie Mays spent the latter part of the year with the Class B Trenton Giants after being signed by the New York Giants.
May 24, 1951: Called Up by the Giants
On May 24, 1951, Willie Mays was called up by the New York Giants, marking his entry into Major League Baseball.
1951: Played in the World Series
In 1951, Willie Mays played in the World Series with the New York Giants, where they faced the New York Yankees. Mays struggled at the plate and the Giants lost the series in six games.
1951: Promoted to Minneapolis Millers
In 1951, Willie Mays was promoted to the Triple-A Minneapolis Millers, where he demonstrated exceptional batting skills before being called up to the major leagues.
1951: Rookie of the Year Award
In 1951, Willie Mays won the National League Rookie of the Year Award after an impressive season with the New York Giants.
1951: 1951 World Series Appearance
Willie Mays participated in 33 postseason games, including the 1951 World Series where he batted .248.
1952: Played final games before Army service
In 1952, before joining the Army, Willie Mays played a few weeks with the Giants, receiving cheers even from rival Brooklyn Dodgers fans.
1954: Mays Adjusts Batting Style in 1954 for Higher Average
In 1954, Willie Mays adjusted his batting style to hit more to right and center field to improve his batting average, as requested by his manager.
1954: Increased Base Stealing
In 1954, Willie Mays increased his base stealing total, showcasing his growing versatility as a player.
1954: "The Catch" and World Series Win
In 1954, Willie Mays made "The Catch" during Game 1 of the World Series, helping the Giants sweep the Cleveland Indians to win the championship.
1954: Mays vies for NL batting title
In 1954, Willie Mays vied for the NL batting title.
1954: NL MVP Award and World Series Title
In 1954, Willie Mays won the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and led the Giants to a World Series title.
1954: MVP Award and Batting Title
In 1954, Willie Mays won the NL Most Valuable Player Award and the batting title, capping off a stellar season.
1954: Mays steals 8 bases, the fewest since 1954
Willie Mays stole only eight bases in 1963, his fewest since 1954.
1954: Mays' "The Catch" During the 1954 World Series
Willie Mays' signature play was his basket catch technique and "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series.
1955: Mays' All-Stars Attract Crowds in 1955
In 1955, Willie Mays led Willie Mays' All-Stars, drawing crowds of about 5,000 during their barnstorming tour in the southern United States.
1955: 51 Home Runs
In 1955, Willie Mays led the league with 51 home runs, though he finished fourth in NL MVP voting.
1956: Declining Attendance for Mays's Barnstorming Team in 1956
In 1956, Mays' All-Stars drew less than 1,000 fans, partially due to television's emergence.
1956: Joins the 30-30 Club
In 1956, Willie Mays joined the 30–30 club, hitting 36 home runs and stealing a career-high 40 bases.
1956: Mays bats under .300 for first time since 1956
In 1964, Willie Mays batted under .300 (.296) for the first time since 1956.
September 29, 1957: Final Game at Polo Grounds
On September 29, 1957, during the final Giants' home game at the Polo Grounds, fans gave Willie Mays a standing ovation during his last at-bat, marking the end of an era.
1957: Joins 20-20-20 club
In 1957, Mays became the fourth player in major league history to join the 20–20–20 club (doubles, triples, homers).
1957: Mays Leads All-Stars to Success in 1957
In 1957, Willie Mays led his All-Stars in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, drawing large crowds and winning most of their games.
1957: Mays wins First Gold Glove
In 1957, Willie Mays won the first Gold Glove award, recognizing his defensive play as a Center Fielder.
1958: Rigney limits Mays' spring training, Mays vies for batting title
In 1958, Giants' manager Rigney limited Willie Mays' spring training appearances, hoping to keep him fresh for the regular season. Mays also vied for the NL batting title, finishing with a career-high .347 average.
1958: Mays's Barnstorming Tour in Mexico in 1958
In 1958, Willie Mays' All-Stars played 20 games in Mexico as part of their barnstorming tour.
1958: First time since 1958 Mays failed to reach 100 RBI.
In 1967, was the first time since 1958 Willie Mays failed to reach 100 RBI.
1959: Mays Rests from Barnstorming in 1959 Due to Injury
In 1959, Willie Mays did not lead a team in barnstorming due to a broken finger, as Stoneham wanted him to rest.
1959: Mays' All-Star Game Performance in 1959
In the first All-Star Game of 1959, Willie Mays hit a game-winning triple against Whitey Ford, showcasing his skill and contributing to his team's victory.
1960: Giants Exhibition Series in Tokyo in 1960
In 1960, Willie Mays and the Giants played an exhibition series of 16 games against the Yomiuri Giants in Tokyo.
1960: Giants move to Candlestick Park, Mays adjusts to winds
In 1960, the Giants moved to Candlestick Park. Willie Mays found the stadium tricky to field due to unpredictable winds, but figured out how to play it as the season progressed. On September 15, Mays tied an NL record with three triples.
April 30, 1961: Mays hits four home runs in a game
On April 30, 1961, Willie Mays hit four home runs and drove in eight runs against the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium.
1961: Mays Declines Barnstorming in 1961
In 1961, Willie Mays again decided not to barnstorm, leading to the decline of the tradition due to factors like major league expansion and television.
1961: Mays Scores Winning Run in the 1961 All-Star Game
Willie Mays scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning of the first All-Star Game of 1961, contributing to a 5-4 victory for the National League.
1962: Mays leads Giants, advances to World Series
In 1962, Willie Mays led the Giants in eight offensive categories. On September 30, Mays hit a game-winning home run to force a tie for first place. He then caught the final out in the playoff series, advancing the Giants to the World Series.
1962: Giants in the World Series
In 1962, Willie Mays led the San Francisco Giants to the World Series, though they lost to the New York Yankees.
1962: Mays Returns to Playoffs Since 1962
The Giants won the NL West in 1971, marking Mays's return to the playoffs for the first time since 1962.
1963: Mays hits 16th-inning home run, wins Player of the Month, hits 400th home run
In 1963, Willie Mays hit a 16th-inning home run off Warren Spahn. In August 1963, he won his third NL Player of the Month Award. On August 27, 1963, he hit his 400th home run against the St. Louis Cardinals.
1964: Dark names Mays Giants' captain, Mays makes acrobatic catch
In 1964, Alvin Dark named Willie Mays the Giants' captain, making him the first African-American captain of an MLB team. On September 4, 1964, Mays made an acrobatic catch against the Phillies.
1965: Second MVP Award
In 1965, Willie Mays won his second NL Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the San Francisco Giants.
1965: Willie Stargell Amazed by Mays' Arm
In 1965, Willie Stargell was thrown out by Willie Mays's throw and expressed astonishment at the distance and strength of Mays's arm.
1965: Mays Sets All-Star Hit Record in 1965
With a leadoff home run against Milt Pappas in the 1965 All-Star Game, Willie Mays set a record for the most hits in his All-Star Games, totaling 21.
April 24, 1966: Mays ties Mel Ott's home run record
On April 24, 1966, Willie Mays tied Mel Ott's NL record of 511 home runs against the Astros.
1968: Mays Wins MVP at the 1968 All-Star Game
Willie Mays won the All-Star Game MVP Award for the second time in 1968 due to his contributions during the game.
1969: Mays moved to leadoff position, hits 600th home run
In 1969, Willie Mays was moved to the leadoff position. He injured his knee in a collision with catcher Randy Hundley on July 29, 1969. On September 22, 1969, he hit his 600th home run.
1971: Mays's Performance and Team Success in 1971
In 1971, Willie Mays, while primarily playing center field, also played 48 games at first base. He had a strong start to the year, including a notable game on May 31 against the Mets where he hit a game-tying home run and made key defensive plays. He finished the season with a .271 batting average, 18 home runs, and 61 RBI, leading the league in on-base percentage. The Giants won the NL West that year, marking Mays's return to the playoffs since 1962.
1971: Mays in the 1971 NL Championship Series and Clemente Award
In the 1971 NL Championship Series against the Pirates, Willie Mays contributed with a home run and three RBIs in the first two games. After the season, Mays was honored with the inaugural Roberto Clemente Award. The Giants would ultimately lose the series.
1971: 1971 NLCS Postseason Stats
Willie Mays participated in 33 postseason games, including the 1971 NLCS where he batted .248.
May 11, 1972: Mays Traded to the Mets on May 11, 1972
On May 11, 1972, Willie Mays was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and an undisclosed amount of money. His salary was maintained, and the Mets promised additional payments after his retirement.
1972: Mays's Debut with the Mets in 1972
In 1972, Willie Mays debuted with the New York Mets, hitting a home run in his first game against the Giants on May 14 and receiving a warm welcome from the fans. He played 69 games for the Mets that season, batting .267 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs.
1972: Mays' Difficult Start and Contract Negotiations in 1972
Willie Mays had a slow start to the 1972 season, batting .184 with 3 RBI in his first 19 games. Before the season, he negotiated a two-year contract with the Giants after his request for a longer-term agreement was not met. He also had disagreements with manager Charlie Fox.
August 17, 1973: Mays Hits Final Home Run on August 17, 1973
On August 17, 1973, Willie Mays hit his 660th and final home run against Don Gullett of the Reds. He officially announced his retirement on September 20, stating that 1973 would be his last season.
October 16, 1973: Mays's Last At-Bat in Game 3 of the World Series on October 16, 1973
On October 16, 1973, Willie Mays had his final at-bat in Game 3 of the World Series, pinch-hitting and grounding into a force play. The Mets would lose the series in seven games. He also helped restore order after fans threw trash at Pete Rose.
1973: Challenges and All-Star Selection in 1973
In 1973, Willie Mays faced challenges, including arriving late to spring training and disagreements with manager Yogi Berra. His performance declined, but he made the All-Star team due to special intervention. Despite the challenges, the Mets won the NL East.
1973: Retirement after the World Series
In 1973, Willie Mays retired after the New York Mets reached the World Series.
1973: Contract Considerations in 1973
The Mets agreed to keep Willie May's salary at $165,000 a year for 1972 and 1973, promising to pay Mays $50,000 a year for 10 years after he retired.
1973: 1973 World Series Appearance
Willie Mays participated in 33 postseason games, including the 1973 World Series where he batted .248.
2000: Pac Bell Park Opens
In 2000, Willie Mays helped muster enthusiasm for building Pac Bell Park, which opened that year.
2015: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2015, Willie Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, honoring his contributions to baseball and American culture.
