Giants Celebrate Mays’ Life and Legacy in Star Power-Filled Ceremony originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Vacancies began to be filled shortly after 3pm on Monday afternoon. A dozen rows were set up behind and around the home plate at Oracle Park and, in a bright sun, were filled by Hall of Famers, Giants executives, former coaches, former players, members of the media, mayors and even even a president.
Three hours later, as the sun began to set, all participants were covered in shadow. But center field remained in the sun, and number 24, installed at second base, remained well lit. Barry Bonds looked at the number and the outfield where he once played and summed up a moving ceremony.
“Thanks, Willie,” he said, choking up. “Thanks.”
Three weeks later Willie Mays passed away, a large crowd gathered at Oracle Park for what was called a public celebration of his life. It was truly a celebration, full of exciting stories but also many funny anecdotes. It was a fitting goodbye to a man who played and lived with great joy.
The event drew nearly 4,500 fans to Oracle Park and, to no one’s surprise, the biggest star in franchise history brought perhaps the greatest collection of star power the stadium has ever seen.
Former President Bill Clinton entered shortly before the ceremony began and sat between Larry Baer and Willie Brown, one of three former San Francisco mayors who attended. Clinton was a surprise guest speaker and was introduced by Jon Miller as a friend of Mays.
Clinton recalled how as a child in Arkansas he loved the St. Louis Cardinals, but his true passion was listening to national games on the radio, which allowed him to listen to The Catch. Later, after leaving the White House, he became friends with Mays and often played golf with him.
“Willie Mays gave me the chance to realize what true greatness is,” Clinton said. “It is a curious combination of intelligence, dedication, the will to win and a fundamental humility to believe that effort is the prize, a gift that he leaves us all and that I hope we can all share and value.”
Clinton said that Hank Aaron once told him that Mays was the best player he had ever seen, and that was the theme of almost every speech. There was no one who played like Mays, who left a legacy that goes far beyond his Hall of Fame numbers.
Felipe Alou, a former teammate of Mays, explained how his skills were the greatest he had seen in 68 years as a player, coach and manager. Another teammate, Joe Amalfitano, said he would have liked to have seen Mays play at Oracle Park.
“Right-center field, with him playing center, could have been called Death Valley,” he said.
Commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre represented Major League Baseball, and the Giants were represented by dozens of former players, including recently retired Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez. Reggie Jackson, Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart and Ricky Henderson were among the former MLB stars who also attended, along with the families of Giants Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry.
The program ended with a speech by Michael Mays, Willie’s son. He thanked attendees and led a prayer, and spoke passionately about his father’s work in the community, especially with children.
“I know most of you came here to say goodbye and closure, but not so much,” said Michael Mays. “His presence is visible everywhere. I am filled with pride for the continued demonstration of love for him.”
