Mark Stryker Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 (edited) The Say Hey Kid turns 81 today. One of my greatest childhood heroes, even though at 48 I'm still too young to remember him in his prime. I did see him hit his third to last home run, No. 658, in July 1973 when the Mets played the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Say Hey! Edited May 6, 2012 by Mark Stryker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 You know the saying "The great ones make it look easy"? Willie Mays made everything look easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 I did see him hit his third to last home run, No. 558, in July 1973 when the Mets played the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Let the record show that you meant to say 658. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stryker Posted May 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 I did see him hit his third to last home run, No. 558, in July 1973 when the Mets played the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Let the record show that you meant to say 658. Oops. A clear typo! Thanks for noticing. I've corrected the original. Also in that game, he made a couple of basket catches out in center. The internet tells me he hit that HR off Ross Grimsley and it was in the top of the 7th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 My favorite baseball player. Happy birthday, Mr. Mays! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Has there ever been a player who was more fun to watch? Just seeing that film of him recklessly darting around the bases, arms waving, hat flying off his head...the sheer joy he took in doing something as well as anyone ever has done it. Talk about your five tool player. They broke the mold after they made Willie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 I always counted it one of my great youthful memories that I saw Mays hit a home run in person, and make a min-Vick Wertz catch, all the same game (of course, anyone looked great against the Padres in those days). What a player he must have been in his prime; I'm still trying to forget his World Series hand-off though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 I saw Mays play against the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium when I was young, one of the few baseball games I ever went to. Happy Birthday Willie! (I have a whole family of Williams, but no one is called Willie!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McG Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 (edited) I had the honor and privilege of seeing Willie Mays play several times at the 'Stick. He was, in fact, as good as they say he was. Happy Birthday, Willie! Edited May 7, 2012 by GoodSpeak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulstation1 Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 I don't like the Say Hey Kid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Willie Mays was literally the first big league player I saw in the flesh. The very first. I would be like the first chick you ever getting naked with being J-Lo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 I think I saw him hit #656 (with the Mets) in San Diego on 6-16-73. If not that game, I'm pretty certain I saw another game in that series. [being 39 years ago, the memory is pretty fuzzy] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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