| Willy Mays was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, | | | | minor league team in Iowa. In the 1951 season |
| Alabama. His father William Howard Mays Sr. | | | | Mays' outstanding performance won him a position |
| played baseball for a semi professional called the | | | | on the triple A team the Minneapolis Millers. Leo |
| Birmingham Industrial League and Willy's mother | | | | Durocher was manager of the New York Giants |
| Ann was a track star in high school. At a very | | | | team at the time and was impressed with Mays' |
| young age Willy was playing catch with his father | | | | performance. He gave Willy Mays the center field |
| and learning the basics of the game. Young Mays | | | | position and made him the number 3 batter in the |
| played baseball constantly and would sit in the | | | | Giants lineup. Mays went on to hit 20 home runs |
| dugout at his father's games and learning the art | | | | that season with a.274 batting average. He was |
| of playing baseball. It wasn't long after that Willy | | | | named the National Leagues Rookie of the Year |
| at the age of 13 began playing for the Gray Sox, | | | | for the 1951 season. |
| a semi professional team. Soon after this gifted | | | | Willy Mays' professional career began in 1950 at |
| baseball player was playing center field for the | | | | the age 19 and came to an end in 1973 at 42 yrs |
| Black Baron and getting paid $250 a month. | | | | old. Willy's record speaks for itself with 2 MVP |
| In 1950 Willy Mays caught the attention of a | | | | awards, 24 All Star games, 660 career home |
| scout from the New York Giants baseball team. | | | | runs and in 1999 he was named second in the |
| Mays was offered a $4000 signing bonus and | | | | 100 greatest baseball players of all times by The |
| $250 per month salary to play on the Giants | | | | Sports News. |