Who was Willie Mays?

RETIRED baseball player Willie Mays was widely considered one of the most noteworthy athletes in the league's history.

Tragically, he passed away on June 18, 2024, at the age of 93.

Who was Willie Mays?

Born on May 6, 1931, Willie Mays was an American baseball player from Westfield, Alabama.

Baseball fans often referred to him by the nicknames "The Say Hey Kid" and "Buck."

In 1948, he was drafted by the Negro American League as a player for the Birmingham Black Barons.

On May 24, 1951, the MLB selected Willie to play centerfield for the New York Giants, who have since rebranded as the San Francisco Giants.

He stuck with the SF Giants for 20 years until he was traded to the opposite coast.

In May 1972, the team traded him to the New York Mets in exchange for late pitcher Charlie Williams.

On September 20, 1973, Willie retired from the MLB and announced that year's baseball season was his last.

His retirement from the league followed a career that spanned 21 total seasons.

Over the years, the famed centerfielder's legacy was recognized consistently through later decades and was even the subject of HBO's 2022 documentary, Say Hey, Willie Mays!

What was Willie Mays' cause of death?

The Giants confirmed Mays' death in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on June 18.

"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 MLB team .

While his death might've been confirmed, a cause was not provided.