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Giants, Mets history: The 10 greatest games played by Willie Mays

By Bill Felber

NEW YORK - CIRCA 1967: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1967 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Mays played for the Giants from 1951-72. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1967: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1967 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Mays played for the Giants from 1951-72. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 18: Hall of Fame player Willie Mays sits during San Francisco Giants 2014 World Series Ring ceremony before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on April 18, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ben Margot – Pool/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 18: Hall of Fame player Willie Mays sits during San Francisco Giants 2014 World Series Ring ceremony before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on April 18, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ben Margot – Pool/Getty Images) /

7. May 24, 1954, Giants 5, Phillies 4. The Giants stood fourth in a taut pennant race they would eventually win when they met the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. Mays’ fourth-inning hit produced New York’s first run, but the Giants still trailed 4-1 when he led off the seventh with a home run.

In the eighth, New York now trailing 4-3, Murry Dickson retired the first two Giants before Don Mueller doubled to deepest center. That brought up Mays, who shot a Dickson offering into the left field seats for what would prove to be a game-winning home run. Win Probability Added: 0.658.

6. July 4, 1958, Giants 6, Cubs 5. In the first game of a holiday doubleheader at Candlestick, Mays failed to produce in his first three at-bats, striking out once. The Cubs carried a 5-1 advantage into that ninth inning.

Then a succession of three walks interspersed with two hits produced three runs and left the Giants with runners at second and third as Mays stepped in for a fourth shot with two out. This time, he dropped a single into center field, sending both runners home with the tying and winning runs. Win Probability Added: 0.659.

5.  June 29, 1961, Giants 8, Phillies 7. On a rainy Thursday afternoon at Connie Mack Stadium, Mays homered in the first to give San Francisco a quick 2-0 lead. It didn’t last; the Phillies scored four times in their half of the first and withstood a virtual one-man assault by Mays that included his second home run in the third inning as well as a sixth-inning single that set up another run.

With the game tied at 7-7, Mays led off the 10th against Frank Sullivan. He touched off a blast deep into the left field seats for his third home run of the gloomy afternoon, and when the Phillies failed to score in their half of the 10th, it gave the Giants a victory. Win Probability Added: 0.663.

4. April 27, 1971, Giants 6, Braves 5. At Fulton County Stadium, the Giants trailed 2-0 when Mays came up with Chris Speier and Bobby Bonds on base. His double into right scored both of them and tied the game.

It was still tied at 4-4 when Mays singled in the seventh, sending Speier, who had singled, to third. From there, Speier scored on Willie McCovey’s fly ball to put San Francisco in front by a run. Finally with the game tied 5-5, two on and two out  in the 10th, Mays singled to send Speier home with what would become the winning run. Win Probability Added: 0.698.

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