There is no questioning what Willie Mays meant to major league baseball. The San Francisco Giants legend was one of the greatest players ever to set foot on the diamond, a five tool player whose skillset was literally unlike anything that had ever been seen in the majors before. Mays transcended the game, a true legend in the sport.
Mays was recognized for his talents again on Thursday. He was named as the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.
As announced today on @MLBNetwork, we are honored to recognize Willie Mays as the recipient of our inaugural "Lifetime Achievement Award" for significant contributions to the national game. https://t.co/50YrNHbhRI pic.twitter.com/2IcoL2LfJO
— Baseball Digest (@BaseballDigest) April 22, 2021
Willie Mays more than his numbers with San Francisco Giants
This is another accolade in a career that had been filled with them. He produced a lifetime .302/.384/.557 batting line, hitting 660 homers and stealing 338 bases. In addition to being the founding member of the 300 homer/300 steals club, Mays was also the tenth player to reach 3000 hits in the majors.
Mays was certainly recognized for his prowess on the diamond. He was a 24 time All Star, winning the 1951 Rookie of the Year award. He was also a two time MVP and 12 time Gold Glove winner, one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the game.
To Mays, it was never about the personal awards. He was more concerned with winning, especially in getting past the Dodgers during their fierce rivalry. Mays did reach the postseason five times in his career, and was a part of four World Series. However, he only won one title, coming in 1954 – a series remembered by The Catch.
But this one is special. It honors not just his great career, but what he meant to the game. He was considered the most dominant player of his time, someone that could change the outcome of the game by his presence. Mays was a key figure in New York when the Giants were in Harlem, playing stickball with local kids and serving as an idol and role model in an area that had a large black population. To those kids, Mays was one of them, someone that they could aspire to become.
San Francisco Giants legend Willie Mays has earned one more award for his impressive career. He was the right person to be named the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.