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I Never Get Tired of Writing About Willie!

Willie Mays Name “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s!

Fifty-six years ago yesterday, on January 17, 1970, The Sporting News named the Giants’ great center fielder, Willie Mays, as its “Player of the Decade” for the 1960s, narrowly beating out two other great contenders, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente.

Let’s take a look at what Willie accomplished from 1960-1969:

For each year of the decade, he hit for an average of .298.3; while averaging 35 home runs, 100.3 RBIs, 163 hits, 105 runs scored, a .375.5 on-base percentage, a .553 slugging average, and 157 OPS+. He also stole 120 bases. I count Willie leading the league in 23 individual categories over the decade, including WAR six times. In addition, he won nine consecutive Gold Gloves for his defensive play in centerfield.

In the middle of the decade, 1965, he had arguably the best season of his career. In winning his second MVP award, Willie put up these numbers: a .317 batting average, and led the league in all the following categories: home runs (52),  RBIs (112), runs (118), hits (177), on-base percentage (.398), slugging average (.645), OPS (1.043), OPS+ (185), and total bases (300). He struck out only 71 times in 638 plate appearances.  Overall, I’d say Willie had a pretty good year!

I Never Get Tired of Talking About Willie!

For those of us weaned on baseball in the 50s and 60s, we never seem to get enough of Willie Mays. Of course, the reason is simple: To those of us who saw him play, he was an absolute dynamo, possibly the greatest all-around player we had ever seen. As a Cub fan back then, I can tell you that the Cubs of that era were no match for the Giants whenever Willie and his Giant teammates rolled into town.

This week, while glancing through the This Day in Baseball History website, I stumbled onto this little gem. Back on January 15, 1964 – 62 years ago – Willie, already the highest player in baseball, signed the contract offered to him by the Giants for the unheard-of sum of $105,000.

The Giants Got Their Money’s Worth!

I’d have to say the Giants got their money’s worth. He responded with another terrific year, hitting .296, with 47 home runs, and 111 RBIs. Of course, this begs the question: Just how much would Willie be worth in today’s market? It’s always fun to look over the salaries of players like Willie and compare those numbers to the mega-millions thrown around like manhole covers in today’s game. Consider that the Cubs recently signed a player who hit .216 last year to a one-year contract worth $17 million.

So to start off this little essay about Willie, let’s recall his career stats, with the question always in mind, was he the best ever?

Willie’s Great Career

Over his 22 years in the majors (1951-1973), Willie hit .302 with 3,283 hits (11th all-time), 1903 RBIs (12th all-time), 660 home runs (sixth all-time), a .557 slugging percentage, a lifetime .384 on-base percentage, and 338 stolen bases. Willie hit over 35 homers in 10 seasons, hit 40 homers six times, and won five slugging crowns. He’s one of the few players with 300 steals and 500 home runs. His defensive skills won him 12 Gold Gloves (the award wasn’t even started until he was six years into his career).

Willie is one of only five National League players to have had eight consecutive 100 RBI seasons. In addition, he won four stolen base and three triples titles, six top-three finishes in National League batting races, and he played in a whopping 24 All-Star games, tied for the most ever. He won two MVP Awards and was a two-time All-Star game MVP. His lifetime total of 7,095 outfield putouts remains the major league record. 

Willie Howard Mays was so athletically advanced by age 14 that he was competing with the men on his father’s steel mill team. He played semipro ball at age 16 and was on the Birmingham Black Barons by 1947. He was one of the last players – and likely the best – to come from the Negro Leagues. In 1950, the Giants signed him and sent him to the minors. In 1951 he was batting .477 with the Minneapolis Millers when he got the call to go up to the Giants…thanks to Leo Durocher.

Was Willie the Greatest Ever?

When Willie retired, he held all-time records for games, putouts, and chances for center fielders. His career statistics and longevity in the pre-PED era have led to a growing opinion that Mays was possibly the greatest all-around baseball player in the history of the game. In 1970, The Sporting News named Willie as the 1960s “Player of the Decade.” He placed second on The Sporting News’s list of the “100 Greatest Baseball Players.” He was a near-unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame in 1979. His number 24 has been retired by the Giants.

Was Willie the greatest ever? You’ll get no argument from me!

Gary Livacari 

Photo Credits: All from Google search

Information: Excerpts edited from Willie Mays Wikipedia page; stats from Baseball Reference.com

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