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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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The consensus is widely held that Willie Mays is the greatest living baseball player. Active between 1951 and 1973, Mays (turning 92 today) hit 660 home runs for the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets.

He won the 1954 batting title (.354), won three home run titles and four stolen base titles, and was a two-time National League Most Valuable Player. He was on every All-Star team between 1954 and 1972.

To celebrate Willie Mays, on his birthday and every day, this is a look at the 10 most impactful performances of his remarkable MLB career

Our standard of measurement is Win Probability Added, a stat that calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome. For that reason, it emphasizes late-inning, game-turning accomplishments. It judges the player’s contribution within the broader context of winning the game.

A note: One Mays game not included on this list is his famous four-homer game against the Milwaukee Braves on April 30, 1961. Mays drove in eight runs that day. However, because the Giants won so easily (the final score was 14-4), Mays’ contribution to victory as measured by WPA only added up to 0.367, not enough to break into his personal top 10.

Here are the 10 most impactful games of baseball’s greatest living legend.

10. May 24, 1962, Giants 7, Phillies 4. The Giants were battling the rival Dodgers for National League leadership in a race that would ultimately be decided in a playoff. At Candlestick Park, Mays’ first-inning double set up the Giants’ first run, and when he led off the sixth with a home run off Cal McLish it gave San Francisco a 2-1 lead.

But the Phillies scored three times in the top of the seventh, holding a 4-3 lead when Mays came up again, this time with Tom Haller on base. Again he touched McLish for a home run, this one sailing deep into the seats beyond the left field fence. That homer gave the Giants a lead they would not relinquish. Win Probability Added: 0.642.

9. Sept. 24, 1968, Giants 5, Astros 4. The Giants opened a three-game mid-week series at the Astrodome with a first inning Mays home run. But they trailed 4-3 when he came up again in the eighth, this time with two out and runners at second and third.

As feared a slugger at Mays was, the last thing the Astros probably expected was a bunt. But that’s what Mays delivered. It caught Astros third baseman Doug Rader so flat-footed that not only did Mays reach and Jim Davenport score from third, but Dave Marshall came all the way around from second to score the go-ahead run. Win Probability Added: 0.654

8. July 17, 1973, Mets 8, Braves 7. Mays was 42 years old and a part-timer in his final season when the Mets visited Fulton County Stadium. New York entered the game 12 games under .500 and in last place, but this game would launch a stretch run that would carry the Mets to a surprising division title and a World Series berth.

Through eight innings, Atlanta led 7-1 when the Mets launched one of the season’s biggest comebacks. Two home runs netted four runs, and New York trailed only 7-6 when Mets manager Yogi Berra called on Mays to pinch hit for Wayne Garrett with two out and runners at second and third. His home run days were largely behind him, but Mays could still produce a pivotal single, which he did, scoring Jim Beauchamp and Ted Martinez with the tying and go-ahead runs. Win Probability Added: 0.656.

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.

FLUSHING, NY – 1965: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 (left) and firstbaseman Willie McCovey #44 (right) of the San Francisco Giants flank rookie outfielder Ron Swoboda #14 of the New York Mets as they pose for a portrait prior to a game in 1965 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
FLUSHING, NY – 1965: Outfielder Willie Mays #24 (left) and firstbaseman Willie McCovey #44 (right) of the San Francisco Giants flank rookie outfielder Ron Swoboda #14 of the New York Mets as they pose for a portrait prior to a game in 1965 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York. (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

3. July 1 and Aug. 10, 1956. Giants 7, Pirates 6. At Forbes Field, Mays’ fifth inning single scored Ed Bressoud to give New York a brief 3-2 lead in the second game of a doubleheader. But the Pirates rallied for four in the bottom of the fifth, and they still led 5-4 when Mays came up with the bases full and two out in the top of the eighth. He doubled to center, clearing the bases and giving New York a 7-6 lead.

And there the matter sat for more than a month. Due to a Pennsylvania Sunday curfew law, the game had to be suspended. When it was resumed and completed on Aug. 10, the Giants completed the victory. Win Probability Added: 0.739.

2. June 12, 1957, Giants 4, Cubs 3. The Cubs seized a quick 3-0 lead in this Wednesday afternoon game played at the Polo Grounds. But the Giants tied the game in the sixth when Daryl Spencer walked, Red Schoendienst reached on a two-out error, and Mays blasted a Bob Rush pitch into the left-center field seats.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the ninth when Schoendienst singled and Mays followed with a walk. Ozzie Virgil grounded into a fielder’s choice, Schoendienst forced at third. Then, after Gail Harris was retired on a shallow fly ball, Mays took off for third on a steal attempt. When Cubs catcher Cal Neeman threw wildly past third baseman Ernie Banks, Mays continued home with the winning run. Win Probability Added: 0.837.

1. May 26, 1962, Giants 7, Mets 6. Earlier we looked at Mays’ heroics during a 7-4 May 24 victory over the Phillies. Two days later, the Mets followed Philadelphia into Candlestick, the Giants still clinging to a small lead on the Dodgers. New York led 3-2 when Mays came to bat in the third, but his triple set up the tying run when Orlando Cepeda’s infield ground out scored him.

The Giants trailed again, this time 5-4, when Mays opened the bottom of the eighth with a game-tying home run into the left field seats. Finally in the 10th, after Felix Mantilla had homered to put New York on top, Mays followed Harvey Kuenn’s base hit with his second home run of the game, a game-winner that easily cleared the fence in deep left-center. Win Probability Added: 1.204.

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