Anchor Struck

Happy Juneteenth, and it’s fitting in a way that we also celebrate the life of Willie Mays, a pioneer in integrating professional sports. Willie started playing baseball with the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro American League when he was still in high school. Upon graduation, the New York Giants signed him and the legend began. He is seventh in runs scored in major league baseball history, tenth in RBIs, 12th in hits and sixth in home runs. Three of those ahead of him in homers played during the juicing era, including Willie’s godson Barry Bonds.

Willie could do it all. Go to You Tube and check out “The Catch”, which he made in the 1954 World Series. Running full speed, he snagged a fly over his shoulder just short of the wall. He was Rookie of the Year in 1951 and an All-Star 24 times, a classic five-tool player.

Although he didn’t make public comments about the racial strife of the day, he was loyal to his fans. When the Giants had a homestand, Willie would often go to Harlem and play stickball with the kids. He was known for hitting “five sewers” shots, the distance of six consecutive manhole covers.

I had the privilege of seeing him play when I was living in St. Louis in 1965. He went one for four.