This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/12/2012.
Willie Mays was nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid” and many consider him to be the greatest all-around player of all time. Mays won two MVP awards during his big league career and tied a record with twenty-four appearances in the All-Star Game. He ended his career with 660 career home runs. In 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking living player. He finished his career with a record 22 extra-inning home runs and is one of four NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons. Other accolades include a World Championship in 1954, a twelve time Gold Glove Award winner, 1951 Rookie of the Year and voted the All-Star Game MVP twice. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. This is likely the last uniform worn by Hall of Famer Willie Mays as a San Francisco Giant as the Giants started the season wearing flannels and then switched to knits. Mays was traded to the Mets 19 games into the '72 season and never wore a knit as a Giant. Inside the rear collar is a grey flannel strip tag with “Mays” embroidered in black chain stitch. Across the front is “SAN FRANCISCO”. Player number “24” appears on back. All numbers and letters are done in black on orange tackle twill. On the inner front waistband of the matching pants is the “Spalding” manufacturer’s tag with adjacent “72” year label. On the rear inner waistband is a strip tag with “Mays 24-32-25” embroidered in black chain stitch indicating player name, number, pants size and inseam, respectively. Adjacent written in pencil are seamstress notes, “W 33” Take In Legs + Tighten Elastic”. The uniform was presented to us as game-used and in our opinion, shows appropriate use.
Mays Birthday Photo: May 6, 1972 • Veterans Memorial Stadium • Philadelphia, PA. Just five games before the trade.