24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

by Willie Mays, John Shea, Bob Costas (Introduction)

The legendary Willie Mays shares the inspirations and influences responsible for guiding him on and off the field in this reflective and inspirational memoir.

"It's because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for President." --President Barack Obama

Widely regarded as the greatest all-around player in baseball history because of his unparalleled hitting, defense and baserunning, the beloved Willie Mays offers people of all ages his lifetime of experience meeting challenges with positivity, integrity and triumph in 24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid.

Presented in 24 chapters to correspond with his universally recognized uniform number, Willie's memoir provides more than the story of his role in America's pastime. This is the story of a man who values family and community, engages in charitable causes especially involving children and follows a philosophy that encourages hope, hard work and the fulfillment of dreams.

"I was very lucky when I was a child. My family took care of me and made sure I was in early at night. I didn't get in trouble. My father made sure that I didn't do the wrong thing. I've always had a special place in my heart for children and their well-being, and John Shea and I got the idea that we should do something for the kids and the fathers and the mothers, and that's why this book is being published. We want to reach out to all generations and backgrounds. Hopefully, these stories and lessons will inspire people in a positive way." --Willie Mays

Genres: Sports, Baseball, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook, History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 12, 2020

About the author

William Howard "Willie" Mays, Jr. was a retired American baseball player who played the majority of his career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. Many consider him to be the greatest all-around player of all time.

Mays won two MVP awards and tied a record with 24 appearances in the All-Star Game. He ended his career with 660 career home runs, third at the time of his retirement, and currently fourth all-time. In 1999, Mays placed second on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, making him the highest-ranking living player at that time. Later that year, he was also elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Mays was the only Major League player to have hit a home run in every inning from the 1st through the 16th. He finished his career with a record 22 extra-inning home runs. Mays was one of five NL players to have eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons, along with Mel Ott, Sammy Sosa, Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols. Mays hit 50 or more home runs in both 1955 and 1965. This time span represents the longest stretch between 50 plus home run seasons for any player in Major League Baseball history.

Mays' first Major League manager, Leo Durocher, said of Mays: "He could do the five things you have to do to be a superstar: hit, hit with power, run, throw, and field. And he had that other ingredient that turns a superstar into a super superstar. He lit up the room when he came in. He was a joy to be around."

Upon his Hall of Fame induction, Mays was asked who was the best player that he had seen during his career. Mays replied, "I thought I was." Ted Williams once said "They invented the All-Star Game for Willie Mays."

Reviews

[Brina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Birthday to the Say Hey Kid, 90 years young today May 6, 1921.

On this the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Negro Leagues, I made it a point to continue on from last year’s exploration of race relations in baseball. I have stated many times that Jackie Robinson is one of my American heroes. As a result, I have read extensively on the 1940s and 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers teams, and at this point I could probably list the era’s starting lineup. What of the other half of the storied rivalry, the Giants? Reading as much as I have on the Dodgers, my exposure to the rivalry has been one sided. Willie Mays was the face of the Giants as much if not more so than Robinson was for the Dodgers. He is a living legend, so when I found out that Mays with the help of a collaborator had published a new memoir, I knew that it would have to be on my summer reading lineup.

Willie Howard Mays, Jr was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. His mother was for the most part nonexistent from his life as he was raised by his father Willie Howard Mays, Sr with the help of two aunts. Mays learned from his father how to catch a baseball and field every position on the diamond from an early age. With the establishment of the Negro Leagues and a powerhouse team in nearby Birmingham, Mays’ father was grooming his son for a future other than the mills. He saw in his son an incredible talent and had him play against kids older than him from the time he was five. Mays was so gifted that the Birmingham Black Barons signed him albeit not professionally before he graduated from high school. Mays got to play against the Kansas City Monarchs and the Homestead Grays in the last ever Negro League World Series in 1948 at age seventeen. By then, Robinson had integrated Major League Baseball, and Mays’ father knew that his son had a future in the majors after he finished high school. After multiple teams passed on him due to both quotas and because as a teenager he could not hit Satchel Paige’s curve, Mays signed with the New York Giants in 1950, with that shifting the balance of power in New York’s baseball rivalry.

My mom has told me that everyone she knew growing up either liked the Yankees or the Dodgers. She did not know many Giants fans and had no idea where their ball park, the Polo Grounds, was located. The storied Polo Grounds were located in Harlem nearly to the Bronx. When Mays joined the team as rookie in 1951, the Giants set him up in a first floor apartment at Nicholas Place. Less than ten minutes from the ball park, the location allowed him to play legendary Harlem stickball games against kids up until game time. He would not leave for the ball park until giving away his glove or bat or autographs and buying a round of ice cream for all the kids in the game. Harlem kids loved Mays, and with tv taking off on a national level, many kids from out of town loved him too. This included five year olds George W Bush and Bill Clinton who followed Mays’ career from the beginning, and a young Bob Costas whose early memories of watching Mays lead to a career of announcing and creating sports for generations of Americans to follow.

After a now infamous 0-12 start to his career, Mays became a superstar almost instantly, setting the stage for the Giants vs Dodgers playoff in 1951 for the right to play the Yankees in the World Series. A rookie on the 1951 team, Mays was not the star of the team, but, along with Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson, was part of the first all black outfield in major league history. The Giants lost that year but Mays’ career took off and by the time the Giants went back to the World Series in 1954, he was a bonafide star. All stars and legends need a signature moment, and Mays’ came in the 1954 series. Known as “The Catch” , Mays improbable catch of Vic Wertz’ long fly ball in game one of the Series propelled the Giants to a sweep of the Indians. Coming early in Mays’ career, this Catch moved him to the upper echelon of American sports stars. Little did Mays know, 1954 would be his only World Series victory; yet, with anything in life, there was no looking back. Mays, along with Hank Aaron, was to become the face of the National League for the next twenty years, influencing future generations of African American kids that there was a future for them as baseball players. These kids grew up believing that they could make “The Catch” too.

After the 1957 season, the Giants joined the Dodgers in relocating to California, their rivalry becoming Los Angeles vs San Francisco beginning in 1958, staying heated and competitive to this day. The Dodgers had the upper hand, winning World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965, with the Giants only appearing once in 1962 and losing to the Yankees in seven games. Mays believes that if he had the final at bat, the Giants would have won. That year stung more than Mays’ other series defeats because the 1960s Giants were his teams as he was in the middle of a run of eighteen straight all star appearances, the most in major league history. What set Mays apart besides the home runs and flair that he played with was his ability to read the pitcher and set up a defense before plays happened. He was a rare five tool athlete that has become rarer today in this age of one sport athletes and specialists. Had Mays been born twenty years later or in a more middle class home, he might have been a football star instead as football was actually his best sport followed by basketball. Baseball presented the best opportunities as that is how Mays ended up as a Black Baron and then a Giant. He has encouraged younger players including his godson Barry Bonds to attend college, an avenue denied to him, to increase one’s life opportunities after one’s playing days are over. Although forever known as the Say Hey Kid for his attitude on the field, Mays had the foresight to know that no one could play a kid’s game forever.

Usually I read celebrity memoirs in between denser readers as a means to relax. I always go into these memoirs not knowing what to expect especially in this case as the primary author is approaching his ninetieth birthday. John Shea collaborated with Mays for the course of over five years, conducting extensive interviews with both Mays, surviving teammates and family members, rivals, former U.S. presidents, and other people who Mays’ had touched over the course of his life. The text is in two different colors so the reader can see where Mays is giving his heartfelt advice to new generations of ball players and where Shea is continuing his story. Shea had referred to previous Mays’ biographies but wanted this memoir to be from a unique perspective that both told Mays story and utilized his perspective as a living legend to bestow lessons to younger people who still have life ahead of them. Today’s kids might not know who Willie Mays was, but their parents and grandparents do, and the end result is that if Willie Mays comes into a room, kids still bask in the aura of the man who is forever known as the Say Hey Kid.

In 2013, Willie Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to United States society, by an African American president no less who credits Negro League alumni as Mays for giving him an opportunity to become President. Mays even got to ride to the 2015 All Star game aboard Air Force one as he and Hank Aaron were lauded as the living legends that they are. Even as an octogenarian Mays garnered as much attention as the ballplayers of today. There is only one Say Hey Kid and only one Catch that is forever etched in fans’ memories in the form of the brief highlight that is played every year in World Series videos. From interactions with kids and playing games of stick ball, Willie Mays remains forever young as the Say Hey Kid. He looks as though he could live forever, inspiring new generations of kids and ballplayers to go in the direction of their dreams.

4.5 stars

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Willie Mays did the impossible on the baseball field and John Shea has done the impossible by writing a boring book about the greatest baseball player of all time. Shea did his work, interviewing 200 people and spending a lot of time with Willie but this a very slow and boring read. The conceit of the book is 24 topics (to match Willie's uniform number) so each chapter is distinct and more of a magazine article than part of a unified book. As a result, there is no flow and Shea often repeats interviews and facts even though we read then in a previous chapter. There are a few good chapters, including the ones on Willie's time in the Negro League and his first year with the Giants organization, but overall this is a swing and a miss. For a far superior look at Willie's life, read "Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend" by James S. Hirsch.

[Stephanie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baseball makes me happy! I love baseball! I love the Giants! I love Willy Mays! This book will bring you the foundation of what baseball means.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Make a difference by teaching kids how to respect people of all backgrounds and races. Set an example so they can set an example." (Willie Mays)

"24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid" is a very interesting book on Willie Mays. The book is divided over twenty four chapters, the same number Mays wore is entire baseball playing career. Each chapter is based on a "life lesson," such as “Life and Baseball Aren’t Fair: The Story of a Game of Inches” and “Never Give Up: The Story of a 16-Inning Classic.” What I like was that if you skipped a chapter you could go back and read it and you would not lose the train of thought of the book. Each chapter is not tied to a chronological progression, the reader could pick or choose from the table of contents. Each chapter Willie Mays makes some brief comments, and the author John Shea fleshed them out with anecdotes from fellow players, friends and even ex-presidents. Black and white photos are plentiful throughout the book which help to enhance it greatly. You learn about May's great catch in game one of the 1954 World Series. The friendships between Mays, McCovey, Aaron, Bonds... His chapters on batting, hitting, fielding, running bases are for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Even though he teaches us life lessons in each chapter the book is more than a biography there is something for everyone to read in this book. If you love the game you will love the book.

[Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how one looks at his career – traditional statistics, analytics and advanced statistics or for those who saw him, the eye test – Willie Mays is certainly one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In this book co-authored with John Shea, Mays shares thoughts on a wide range of baseball topics with personal passages mingled in with Shea's writing during each chapter.

It's no coincidence that the book has 24 chapters to match the uniform number he wore for his two major league teams, the New York/San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. The title may lead a reader to believe that there isn't much baseball in the book and instead is advice and lessons – that is not the case at all. Mays uses his baseball experiences to provide the lessons that he espouses at the end of each chapter. It isn't just about his exploits on the field as many of the stories are told after his playing days ended and some of the better chapters are during this section of the book, such as how happy he was when the Giants won three World Series championships in five years during the 2010's.

One chapter that stood out for me in the latter parts of the book was the chapter they wrote about Barry Bonds. Of course, being that Mays is the godfather of Barry and was very friendly with his father Bobby, one might expect this chapter to be less critical than many other writings have been of the polarizing Barry Bonds. What I found particularly interesting is how he has done what he could for Barry out of respect for his friend. When Bobby was near death, that was his request to Mays – to take care of Barry and Mays has kept that promise.

Since Mays played in the Negro Leagues before joining the Giants organization, there is a section on his time there and like many other writings about that league, it is filled with interesting stories and at the same time paints a disturbing picture of the racism faced by these players. That continues into his time in the major leagues, but in typical Willie Mays fashion, he exudes class and grace when talking about this time.

The same can be said for any other time one might believe that Mays might be upset. This would include the loss to the Yankees in the 1962 World Series and the suspension from baseball he and Mickey Mantle were given by Bowie Kuhn when the two of them were working for Bally's in Atlantic City. Also, speaking of Mantle, he is included in another chapter that alone makes the book a must-read: the debate that took New York City by storm in the 1950's – who was the better center fielder, Willie, Mickey or the Duke (Snider).

Any reader, no matter their level of interest in baseball, who knows about Willie Mays, should pick up this book as it is wonderful collection of stories written in an unconventional style about a one-of-a-kind baseball legend.

https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...

[Bookreporter.com Biography & Memoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been many books written about Willie Mays, but the Hall of Fame ballplayer wanted something different.

According to John Shea, Mays’ collaborator on 24 and an award-winning national baseball writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, his subject said, “I’d like to see this book in classrooms.” Shea goes on to say, “We wanted to write a Willie Mays book unlike any other. No bibliography. No borrowing from old magazines, documentaries, or microfiche. None of the same quotes that have been handed down from book to book.”

Mission accomplished.

Not coincidentally, the book is divided into the same number of chapters as Mays’ uniform, each based on a “life lesson,” such as “Life and Baseball Aren’t Fair: The Story of a Game of Inches” and “Never Give Up: The Story of a 16-Inning Classic.” The formula follows a simple pattern: Mays makes some brief comments, and Shea fleshes them out with anecdotes from fellow players, friends and even ex-presidents.

Notwithstanding the current political situation, the further we get away from Jackie Robinson’s breaking the Major League color line in 1947, the more younger readers might have trouble understanding the difficulties faced by Black and Latino players. Throughout the years, Mays has been relatively circumspect when discussing his experiences with racism. He continues that trend here, save for his recollections of trying to buy a house in a fancy neighborhood in San Francisco. He’d rather focus on the positive.

The book offers tidbits heretofore unrevealed to the casual baseball reader. Mays claims that “The Catch,” his defensive gem in the 1954 World Series that is considered one of the greatest plays of all time and is constantly replayed, wasn’t even his best outfield work. One chapter is devoted to incorporating modern analytics to show just where he falls on the list of greats, as if we didn’t already know.

24 comes across as a throwback to biographies and memoirs in the days before Jim Bouton’s BALL FOUR, published in 1970. There is no gossip, animosity or the dishing of dirt that we have come to expect --- and even demand --- since then. Instead, Mays is gentle and generous when discussing his relationships with Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider, the two other legendary New York outfielders (the Yankees and the Dodgers, respectively), as well as with teammates and opponents.

In 2015, Mays received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, this country’s highest civilian honor. It was bestowed by Barack Obama, who credited Number 24’s experience and accomplishments with instilling within him the confidence to pursue his destiny as the first African American chief executive.

Mantle and Snider are gone now, leaving Willie Mays as the sole survivor of baby-boomer baseball legends. He’s still giving the fans something to cheer about.

Reviewed by Ron Kaplan

[Ryan Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really really good story showing the life of Willie Mays and from his point of view and other point of views. This book shows what Willie had to go through with the color barrier and how he is one of the big parts even though Jackie Robinson was the main guy. Willie Mays is one the best baseball players ever.

[Dacy Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to gear up for baseball season. Willie Mays has lived an incredible life and has shown through his actions how to be a great role model and pioneer for those who have come after him. This book gets 4 stars instead of 5 from me because of some historical inaccuracies.

[Kevin Pacelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sometimes wary of co-authored autobiographies, because I question how much of the subject’s voice I’m really hearing, but that was not the case here. John Shea interweaves his own voice with Mays’ in a way that really works well. The result is an informative and inspirational look at the career of the Say Hey Kid. Some of the most interesting chapters were the ones about his life after retirement - including his friendship with Barack Obama and his relationship with Barry Bonds. Highly recommend it to any baseball fan.

[Joe J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a very good listen on the run and I learned a lot about Willie, his life and his philosophy. He is a very interesting and admirable person. My only issue with the book is the way the same stories were recounted numerous times. I think that the author was determined to have 24 lessons to match Mays' number to the point where it had six of seven additional chapters that were unnecessary. A lot of good interesting information was presented and I learned a lot. I think people that are fans of baseball and sports will enjoy this tremendously.

[Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once again enjoyed reading about the life and philosophy of my childhood hero. Willie Mays has proven to be a solid human being through all of his experiences in life and over many years. I am grateful for his example of poise and grace in all situations, whether winning or losing, in baseball or in life.

[Kimberly Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Willie Mays is an incredible person and historic baseball player...but I got tired of this book pretty early in. It was just the same thing over and over again. Somebody different explaining why he is the best. I was hoping for more stories from him. Oh well.

[Noah Goats · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I write this, spring training is being delayed due to an MLB lockout (if Mays was an owner or the head of the players union, this would never have happened). My daughter and I are making plans for what we will do if the season is delayed. We are going to have to watch the local college team and minor league squad (minus members of the 40 man roster). She even plans to watch her high school team (even though they never win, and when they lose it's with scores like 27-0). I don't think those boys have ever had a girl show up to watch. Maybe it will inspire them to score a run. I'm also going to have to read a baseball book or two, and I've started with this one.

In 1963 Juan Marichal pitched a sixteen inning shutout against Warren Spahn and the Milwaukee Braves. Both Marichal and Spahn pitched THE ENTIRE GAME. Marichal threw 227 pitches and Spahn (who was 42 at the time) threw 201. Mays ended the game for the Giants by smashing a home run over the left field fence (Spahn was one of the greats, but Mays had a knack for homering off of him). In the modern game, this would never happen. These days pitchers can sometimes be pulled out of a game where they've thrown 100 or so pitches even if they have a no hitter going. I guess its good for the health of the pitchers, but the game was better in some ways in the old days. This is just one of the stories told in this book.

24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid, is an entertaining little book about Willie Mays. It's not a biography; it's more like a series of essays covering aspects of Mays's character and career. It goes over his relationships with the other great players of the day: Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, and Hank Aaron. There's a chapter devoted to The Catch, of course. The book also dives into what made Mays such a good player, his excellence with all five tools, and the way modern sabermetrics bolster the argument that he was the greatest player of all time. It discusses his career in the negro leagues, and then the abrupt transition to an until then all-white minor league before quickly going on to the Giants as a big part of the first group that followed in Jackie Robinson's footsteps and integrated baseball. While Willie was never on the forefront of the battle for civil rights, he showed how absurd and evil racism was by always projecting excellence and goodness.

The book also discusses Mays's relationship with his prickly and problematic godson, Barry Bonds, and his continued presence in the Giants clubhouse where he has been an inspiration and a valued teacher for decades. As this book makes clear, Mays was not only physically gifted, he was as smart and aggressive a player as Ty Cobb (without being evil) and he has tried to pass on his knowledge and his attitude to later generations of Giants.

[Bruce Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for any young baseball player; it's full of great tips on fielding, running the base paths, hitting. Willie was exceptional and peerless at all five tools (hitting, hitting for power, fielding, throwing, and running).

The bio also has a lot of great quotes, primarily on resilience and keeping a positive attitude. Growing up in the Jim Crow south, Mays grew to be an icon on the East and West coasts, and a friend of three presidents (Clinton, Bush, and Obama, in that order). Mays' childhood might have been considered cash poor by today's standards, and he certainly had to deal with racism, yet he admits to "lacking nothing" as a boy, being gifted with food, clothes, loving adults, and always a nearby ball field and fellow players.

What else do you need?

[John Pehle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a positive and upbeat book about a living legend, perhaps the greatest player of all time. As literature, "24" is not particularly well written and, at times, it is overly repetitious. For a fan of Willie's era in baseball, it is a wonderful reminiscence of the period from the early 50's to the early 70's. The stories remind you of Giant greats, like McCovey and Marichal, and not-so-greats who populated what was surely a Golden Era in MLB. There are tales of relationships with Mickey Mantle, various "unknowns", and several recent presidents. There are some terrific pictures that would have enhanced the book if they had been of better quality. Any student of the game would probably appreciate the anecdotes from various games through the years and the direct quotes from Mays about his approach to the game. Finally, this book goes out of its way to let us know that Willie Mays was a good person who, during his career and after, tried to look after others and help them be their best. I finished feeling that I would enjoy a chat with Willie Mays.

[Ryan Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially wanted to give this a 3 star rating. Mainly because the book is listed as an autobiography but as reading it it reads nothing like an autobiography and also a lot of stories are repeated a couple of times such as the story of Willie Mays trying to purchase a home in San Fransico. But after reading the acknowledgements John Shea explained that Willie Mays wanted this book to be read in schools. To be a book that could fit in any category from autobiography, biography, educational, self help amongst others. After reading that I actually could agree it could fit in any of those categories. It is really well written and gave me a little bit of a new appreciation in it of Barry Bonds from Willie’s perspective and Barry also gives a bit of an insite into a few things in the book as well.

[Neil David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first attempt at reading a sports biography and, I must say, I very much enjoyed it. I love how this book feels like you’re sitting next to the great Willie Mays himself as he recalls stories from his time in the Negro Leagues, the New York (and later San Francisco) Giants, and various other points in his life. There really was no one like the Say Hey Kid, and I don’t think there ever will be. 🧡🖤

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible biography that includes Willie Mays' own words throughout. 24 chapters on different aspects and events of Mays' career and life. It's a trip down memory lane -- to how baseball was played decades ago, how much a part of our culture the game was, and how Willie Mays was an wonderful ambassador for the sport and for humanity.

[Paul Mashack · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Wliie Mays' passing this past summer, I wanted to honor the Say Hey Kid by reading a biography on him. Looking through some options, this book appeared to be the best on him. But this isn't a typical biography (or even autobiography). A lot of the book is in Mays' own spoken words as he recalls many events and people he's met throughout his legendary career.

What makes it different than most books is the co-auther, John Shea, did not rely on any archived sources, such as newspapers, magazines, YouTube, etc. All the quotes came directly from hundreds of interviews he conducted personally, who all had a connection to Mays.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by Willie Mays and borrowed from the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Given everything, I expected more from this mix of sports writing and social history.

[Brett Van Gaasbeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very light and vague look into the life and career of one of the greatest baseball players in history. I kind of expected more detail and reaction from "The Say Hey Kid" in his own autobiography, but it was not really all that detailed. It was fine, but I expected more.

[Dan R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Joe Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book, storytelling got a bit repetitive towards the end

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many wonderful stories from Mays’ life and career all told in one book. The personal stories are what makes this sing, I enjoyed reading it.

[Jennifer Bernauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching up on my summer reads/listened. I felt compelled to listen to this as a tribute to Willie M after his death this summer. What a treat. Journalist John Shea does a great job to really show all the joy Mays brought to baseball. A fave player of so many - including my Dad. As a serious Giant fan this is a must.
Loved Mays didn’t care about records
Loved story of his mitt with the catch. Loved how he wanted to help kids
Interesting little factoids about his career that I had no idea of.

We were lucky to have him alive for so long and also part of the Giants org for so long. Lovely tribute exhibit on king street this season.

[C. Patrick G. Erker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The definition of a puff-piece. But a feel-good puff-piece, which isn't a bad thing to consume in these challenging times. I listened to the book on audiobook through SFPL and the Libby app, which was a good experience. The audiobook version included an interview between the author and Mays, which was a good touch. Mays was undoubtedly one of baseball's truly all-time greats, although with only one title as a player, and none in San Francisco (he won with the Giants when they were still back East), his record isn't flawless. He also seems to be a good man, well-liked by fans old and young, rich and poor, famous and not. Shea interviewed multiple presidents for the book, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, all of whom had glowing things to say about the "Say hey" kid.

I would have liked for the book to have tackled some touchy subjects. Why didn't Mays ever choose to have kids of his own, given his affinity for and rapport with them? On the question of race, I'd have loved to get more insights from Mays given the barriers he broke. Though the book addresses race quite a bit, it felt a bit white-washed and corporate.

I'm not a Giants fan. I love the Cardinals and my wife's family are Dodgers fans. But Willie Mays is a national treasure worthy of the celebration found in this book. It's worth understanding the nature of the book, however, before digging in.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4.5 and that’s mainly because the author was a little redundant. All of the direct quotes from Willie himself and his compatriots were great. This book makes me love Willie Mays even more. The Say Hey Kid is pure class and an incredible athlete.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the counterarguments to the past being better than the present, which is true in many respects, is the stupidity of nicknames like the "Say Hey Kid" for Willie Mays, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. This book is a somewhat strange book, being fairly disjoined combinations of quotes from Willie Mays about a wide variety of subjects with additional explanation from the co-author. Sometimes this works well, such as when the book talks about the career of Mays, his rise up from a life of poverty in the South through his baseball skills which allowed him to enter the Negro leagues as a teenager and participate in the last Negro League World Series as a young man. The most compelling part of this book is the baseball, and as someone who knows of him as a great player rather than having known of his career in detail, there was a lot about the man and his career that I learned. That is not say that I thought this was a perfect book by any means, but at the same time this was certainly a very informative book about the man and his continued influence, both for good and for ill, on the game of baseball to this day.

This book is a bit more than 300 pages long and is divided into two dozen chapters with rather scattered contents. The book begins with a foreword by Bob Costas and chapters that discuss how Mays set an example with his play (1), and discussion of the baseball career of Mays' father (2). This is followed by chapters on Mays' time with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues (3) and his goal of breaking down barriers (4). Later chapters talk about honoring mentors (5) and peers (8), Mays' elegant style (6), his famous catch (7), the handicap of Mays' home parks (9) on home run totals, and the story of a four homer day where Mays suffered from food poisoning (10). Other chapters discuss baseball as a game of inches (11), a lengthy sixteen inning game (12), Mays' all star pride (13), a supposed rivalry (14), Mays' late career return to New York (15), Mays' relationship with Hank Aaron (16), Mays' anti-racism (17), and later chapters that deal lamentably with political matters (18), versatility (19), the mental game (20), Mays' life beyond baseball (21), Barry Bonds (22), San Francisco's success in the 2010's (23), and Mays' relationship with fans (24), after which the book ends with acknowledgements and an index.

It is worthwhile, given that there is so much good that can be said about Mays as a player and as a positive example in how to play the game with creativity and flair, that this book definitely reveals some less than praiseworthy aspects of Mays' life and influence on baseball. For example, the book is rather scarce on details about what it is that led to Mays' divorce from his first wife in the 1950's, except to note that it caused Mays a lot of stress (obviously). Given that a large part of Mays' reputation is built on his clean image, there is obviously more than meets the eye here, especially given Mays' own broken family background with his parents never having been together. Then there are contradictions related to Mays' work with casino companies relating to hypocrisy regarding gambling and its influence on baseball, the credit that Mays is given for player pensions when the book simultaneously argues that the job as a host for Bally's was necessary because he wasn't getting a pension, and also Mays' supposed influence on Bonds given his involvement in the Balco steroid scandal. If Mays was so influetical, surely he could have done something more.

[H. Rubin]

A first rate life story of even a great ballplayer requires, in most cases, a fine, professional writer. If you add to that a player who is a skillful storyteller with a marvelous memory, you have an engaging account. That is exactly what’s happened here.

Shea covers some of the known and some of the unknown for many fans in Willie’s life. For instance, why did two comparable great center fielders, live in one case a shortened and the other a lengthened life. Mickey Mantle as is well known gave in to the temptation to imbibe alcohol in excess. Willie, which I did not know, didn’t smoke or drink. Willie just turned 89 three months ago and Mickey died at 63. Additionally the basket catch is described as an efficient means of getting to the throwing position earlier, i.e. functional as well as flamboyant. Who knew?

The work beautifully describes Willie’s focus on the team’s accomplishments as opposed to his own stats. He mentored many of his fellow players, including after retirement, his talented Godson, Barry Bonds.

Not only per Shea was Mays a five tool player, but, his instincts and knowledge of the game were yet a sixth tool. He was arguably the greatest all-around player who ever lived.

The book uses a wonderful tool for Willie’s stories and commentary. His words are bold faced. It heightens our engagement in the book and deepens our appreciation of the man.

If you experienced the great joy of following Willie’s career closely, I suggest you share his joys by reading this book. Even if you have not, it’s an absorbing read for any avid baseball fan.

It is also meaningful for those with an interest in the history of American race relations. His experience, at times trying based only on the color of his skin, spans four decades as a ballplayer. Willie after all came from the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues in the first wave of players to do so.

Finally, Willie’s joy in others and our national pastime exude from every chapter of the book. They enrich our understanding of both the game and his life.

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[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a diehard baseball fan, it was a fantastic walk down memory lane - reliving baseball stories from the 50's, 60's and 70's (some before I was born or even aware of). Co-author, John Shea, did a lot of work to not only interview Willie Mays but about 200 others - friends, teammates and admirers. Just as I felt after reading the Baseball 100, I gained an even greater appreciation for the greatness of Willie Mays. He is indeed the best all around baseball player in the history of the game in my mind.

I did get to see Willie play once in person, June 6, 1970 in Chicago against the Chicago Cubs. He went 2 for 4, drove in a run and scored on a 3 run HR by Willie McCovey. Giants won 5-3, despite a 3-4 day by Ron Santo, one of my favorites.

Each of the 24 chapters (in honor of Willie's #24) talks about an event or aspect of his life. While they were all good - I especially enjoyed:

Willie's reminiscence of playing in the Negro Leagues on the Birmingham Black Barons (Chapter 3). That team in 1948 could've held its own with any major league team at the time.

His recollection of "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series (and more importantly, the throw - Chap. 7)

His talk of friendship with Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider - all three hall of fame center fielders who played at the same time in New York.

While not strictly a biography or autobiography - Willie's personality and outlook on life shine through all of the narrative of his playing days, statistics and stories. He is genuine, kind, friendly and showed himself to be a peacemaker in some difficult situations.

I especially enjoyed the audio book bonus interview between John and Willie at the end of the book.

This is an absolute must read for any baseball fan. Thank you, John and Willie for a great book.