Baseball legend and Hall of Famer, Willie Mays is dead, the San Francisco Giants and the Mays Family have announced.
He was 93 years old.
Nicknamed the “Say Hey Kid”, the center fielder was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer.
Mays’ family and the San Francisco Giants jointly took to X to make this announcement on Tuesday night, saying the Baseballer died earlier in the afternoon in the Bay Area.
“My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” Willie’s son, Michael Mays said in a statement released by the club.
Michael said his father died in the presence of his family and wished to thank his fans for their years of support.
“I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93,” the team posted.
Despite having not played professional sports for over 50 years, Willie Mays added 10 more hits to his career record earlier this month, after deciding to incorporate statistics from the Negro League.
His record now stands at 3,293 hits, including the 10 he hit for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948.
On Monday, Mays said he would not be able to attend a game in his honour scheduled for Thursday.
“I’m not able to get to Birmingham this year but will follow the game back here in the Bay Area,” Mays said in a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
“My heart will be with all of you who are honouring the Negro League ballplayers, who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons.
“It’ll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”
Mays was born and raised in Westfield, Alabama, and began his professional baseball career while still in high school in 1948.
He joined the New York Giants in 1950, and in 1951 hit 20 home runs for the team as a 20-year-old.
In 1972 he was traded to the New York Mets at the age of 41 where he played for two more seasons before retiring.
A statement from Major League Baseball (MLB) said it was “heartbroken” over the death of “one of the most exciting all-around players in the history of our sport”.
Mays was twice declared the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and won the World Series with the Giants in 1954.
In addition to his two MVP awards, he also finished in the top 10 runner-ups for MVP 10 other times.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also released a statement describing his impact on the game.
“His incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable.
“We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field,” he wrote.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a statement to people who grew up in the city, “Some things just go without question… Willie Mays is the best there ever was”.
California Governor Gavin Newsom also praised Mays as “more than just a baseball icon”.
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