Great baseball players may be known by their careers, by their seasons, by their games. However, Mays made an over-the-shoulder catch while on the run to record the out, and his throw back to the infield prevented the runners from advancing. BB Moments: Willie Mays' Catch. The only child of Willie Sr., a semi-pro … "The Vanilla Godzilla" was raised in Ventura County, California. Willie Mays catch was in the 54 series on a dead run about 460 ft from home plate. In the top of the 8th inning with the score tied 2–2,[1] Giants starting pitcher Sal Maglie walked Indians lead off hitter Larry Doby. Center field in Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds, Forbes Field and the old stadium in Philadelphia was a place where fly balls went to die because of the enormous distances and fleet-footed center fielders like Willie Mays. The Catch is often considered to be one of the best and most memorable plays in the history of baseball because of the difficulty of the play and the importance of the game itself. And then Edmonds also has to match the throw Mays made afterwards (remember, Mays started with his back to the infield). [15] Other observers have noted that Mays' quick relay throw from deep center field was the most important part of the 1954 play, the catch itself being merely a matter of Mays outrunning the ball. Tied in the 8th, Willie Mays chased down Vic Wertz's 425-foot drive, making an over-the-shoulder grab to save the go-ahead run and the game. Willie Mays was a true five-point player. "[4] Grissom walked pinch hitter Dale Mitchell to load the bases, then struck out pinch hitter Dave Pope, and got catcher Jim Hegan to fly out, ending the inning with no runs scored.[2]. "We all knew Willie would make that catch. Hundreds of outfielders could have caught the ball, but only Willie Mays could catch the ball and throw out the runner. Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1951 season Full Name: Willie Howard Mays Nicknames: Say Hey Kid. Willie Mays catch Willie Mays catch. That player is Willie Mays and that iconic moment occurred during … [5]:16 The runner on second, Doby, is able to go to third. [6] Willie Mays just brought this crowd to its feet with a catch which must have been an optical illusion to a lot of people! 16K 11. Here take a look at the comparison. "But I don't want to compare 'em," said Willie. [2], Right-hander Marv Grissom then relieved Liddle,[2] who supposedly remarked to coach Freddie Fitzsimmons, "Well, I got my man. Secondly, Edmonds made that catch as he was diving towards the wall. You can sign in to vote the answer. ), oh hell yes i always thought that .. sure its a good catch .. but deserving for sportcenter best catch ever .. uhh .. dont think so .. very true Edmonds along with other great definsive players make that play look easy, Its like you think that The Say Hay kid isnt good.No that catch is one of the best all time. [13][14] In the CD collection Ernie Harwell's Audio Scrapbook, issued in 2006,[15] Mays talks about a running bare-handed catch he made at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh in 1951, in which the Giants' players teased the young rookie by treating him with complete indifference when he returned to the bench. Willie Mays was born on May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama, USA as Willie Howard Mays. Now that MLB Pulled the All-Star Game From Georgia in Response to Voting Law are they right or no? Ending Tuesday at 10:22PM PDT 2d 2h Willie Mays Giants Autographed 8X10 Photo JSA Certified! There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. Willie Mays Begins his Baseball Career at a Young Age Willie Howard Mays was born May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. Utility player Dusty Rhodes ' had clutch hits in three of the four games, including a pinch-hit walk-off that won Game 1, barely clearing the 258-foot (79 m) right-field fence at the Polo Grounds . Willie Mays just brought the crowd to its feet with a catch which must have been an optical illusion to a lot of people.” If it were just a catch, it would have been remarkable enough. 1954: Willie Mays makes his memorable over-the-shoulder World Series catch 1954 — Willie Mays makes his over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz’ long drive to center field and pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes homers off Bob Lemon in the 10th inning to lead the New York Giants to a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of the World Series. How did "Wokeism" infect Major League Baseball? Like The Catch, his over-the-shoulder grab that robbed Vic You have to figure the circumstances. 229. therealmccoy. But Willie knew Larry Doby could advance from second after the catch to probably a run. Would it be nice if Jim Lampley were to join the Colorado Rockies as the play-by-play, and Drew Goodman were to move to color analyst. Quotes []. Willie Mays Signed New York Giants 1954 World Series 'The Catch' 16x20 Photo (Steiner COA) All > Baseball > Photos Return To Catalog Bidding This lot is closed for bidding. The Say Hey Kid is the first player you'd pick to have on your team and every legend has their moment. How do you think about the answers? 9 The Catch", "World Series Memorable Moments – No. He does tend to make that kind of catch a lot (not of the diving variety), but he probably practiced it as a kid because of Willie Mays, and he has a tendency to showboat from time to time. "I'm just a ballplayer, not a sports writer.I don't compare 'em; I just catch 'em." But did you know that that play would have been a home run in almost any other ballpark? He's Willie Mays." The Catch was a baseball play made by New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays on September 29, 1954, during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York City. Sometimes there was a 475[b] sign in center field, sometimes 483[c] (as was the case in 1954). “Today, when a kid makes a catch over his shoulder, it’s still a Willie Mays catch,” says James S. Hirsch, author of Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend. Dimensions: Left field: 336 feet; left-center: 385 feet; center field: 400 feet; right-center: 385 feet; right field: 335 feet. Wertz had worked the count to 2-1, then drove the 2-1 pitch deep to centerfield. “That was the finest catch I have ever seen, and the finest catch I ever expect to see” – Branch Rickey, commenting on a catch made by Willie Mays. Willie Howard Mays was born May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. The catches by Tommie Agee and Ron Swoboda in 1969 (I saw them) were indeed great, and sportswriters at the time were even arguing which of them was the greatest World Series catch of all time, but I still go with Mays in 1954. During the eighth inning with the score tied 2–2, Cleveland Indians batter Vic Wertz hit a deep fly ball to center field that was poised to score the runners on base. Willie Mays always said that he made better catches than that one in the series but it was magnified because it was in the World Series! On September 29, 1954 Willie Mays made possibly the most iconic catch in the history of baseball. 9/29/54: New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays makes an amazing running, over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. Willie Mays of the New York Giants goes back to catch the batted ball by Vic Wertz of the Cleveland Indians during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series on... Willie Mays of the New York Giants makes a catch at the wall during warm-ups before an MLB game circa 1957 at the Polo Grounds in New York, New York. Brickhouse: Willie Mays just made the catch of the day. There are many ways to remember Joe Garagiola, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 90: Father, husband, catcher, legendary broadcaster, childhood friend of Yogi Berra, and if you want to get really specific, the man with the best view of Willie Mays' iconic catch in Game 1 … Willie Mays could chase down any ball hit as long as it stayed in the park. Willie Howard Mays Jr. was born on May 6, 1931, in the African American mill town of Westfield, Alabama. On Sept. 29, 1954, Mays made arguably the greatest catch … Willie Mays Begins his Baseball Career at a Young Age. Willie Mays ranks a home run in a 10-pitch at-bat in a key pennant race game between the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros in late 1965 as his most memorable. Here's the thing with Edmonds' catch. Willie Mays Autographed Photos: Our autographed Willie Mays photos are guaranteed to be 100% authentic, so have no worries or concerns when shopping with us. YOU MAY LIKE. 70. 'The Catch' by Willie Mays: It sounds like a novel, a painting, or a career-defining moment. WILLIE MAYS CATCH - 1954 New York Giants print - Vintage Baseball Poster, Retro Baseball Poster, Classic Baseball Art, Sports Lover Wall Art DingerStudios … 1959 Topps #462 - Rocky Colavito Great Catch Saves Game 5 - EX Front Back 1959 Topps #463 - Al Kaline Becomes Youngest Bat Champ 4 - VG/EX Front Back 1959 Topps #464 - Willie Mays Catch … A USN veteran, divorced, with grandkids, living in Phoenix since 2000. More bio, uniform, draft, salary info (Photo by Hy Peskin) *** Local Caption *** Willie Mays NEW YORK, NY - 1957: Willie Mays #24 of the New York Giants plays catch before an MLB game circa 1957 at the Polo Grounds in New York, New York. So you see...Willie Mays had a 475 foot Center field to run to catch that ball and he had a great arm. Willie Mays, Soundtrack: About Last Night. Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "The Say Hey Kid", is an American former professional baseball center fielder. View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen. With runners on first and second, Vic Wertz, the Indians first baseman came to the plate. San Francisco Giants. Mays was a 24-time All-Star selection, a 12-time Gold Glove winner, the 1951 National League Rookie of the Year, a two-time NL Most Valuable Player (1954, 1965) and a member of the 1954 World Series champion New York Giants. Willie Mays' entire career was a highlight reel, but there is one moment that stands out above the rest. The actual motion of that catch has been duplicated, but the amount of ground that Mays covered to get there was unprecedented, and will never be duplicated (no ball parks are that big anymore. The Giants wo… This is a bleacher view of Giant Willie Mays' game-saving eighth-inning Jim Edmonds never had to run that far, and as another answerer pointed out, thanks to Willie Mays he and generations of kids have probably been imitating the original catch ever since. Shop Willie Mays"The Catch" Autographed 8x10 Photo w/Ticket Framed Display (COA) - Vertical and more authentic, autographed and game-used items at Amazon's Sports Collectibles Store. One who did imagine it was the boys father. Here's what people don't realize about that catch: Mays played a shallow CF and the Polo Grounds was 480 to center. 229. Willie Mays Makes an Incredible Catch! Willie Mays of the New York Giants makes a catch at the wall during warm-ups before an MLB game circa 1957 at the Polo Grounds in New York, New York. Regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. This is one of the baseball’s great catches. http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/PoloGround... Dimensions: Foul lines: 333 (1966), 330 (1997); bullpens: 362 (1966-1997); power alleys: 375 (1966), 369 (1973), 374 (1974), 370 (1989), 365 (1998); deep alleys: 386 (1966), 395 (1998); center field: 406 (1966), 402 (1973), 404 (1974), 406 (1998); backstop: 55 (1966), 60.5 (1973). Edmonds caught it as he was diving. The audio has been published on CD with the book And the Fans Roared,[5] and also as accompaniment to the World Series film. Still have questions? I can't find the dimensions to Angel Stadium, but it is certainly not as deep as the Polo Grounds. Collect this framed photo of "The Catch" hand-signed by Willie Mays! [10] The ballpark was demolished in 1964, and it is unclear what was being measured when. View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject. What does baseball have to do with voting laws? Gallery. Why did the Minnesota Twins cancel today's game? …And no, we’re not talking about “The Catch” off the bat of Vic Wertz in the 1954 World Series. 16K 11. Willie Howard Mays was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in … Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. Willie Mays had to run like heck. Al Rosen singled, putting runners on first and second. The catch has gone down as one of the greatest in the history of baseball. Willie Mays. Mays said he thought maybe the Skinner catch was a bit better than yesterday's, as well as a catch he made on a ball hit this season by Gus Bell of the Cincinnati Reds. look it up. Rare Photos of Willie Mays. View Willie Mays's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). (Should be the best but i give jeter a few props for jumping into the stands a couple of times), ron swoboda of the mets made 1 of the best catches of all, time in the 69 world series. Willie Mays and the basket catch — excerpt from his upcoming book San Francisco Giants outfielder Willie Mays, pictured in the early 1960s. By virtually any measure, Mays is one of the five best players of all time. In many stadiums the ball would have been a home run, which would have given the Indians a 5–2 lead. New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, NY Mets, HOF 1979 share-115451. The Catch refers to a memorable defensive baseball play by Willie Mays on September 29, 1954, during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the … [citation needed], In 2007, a physicist calculated that if the temperature had been 77 °F (25 °C) rather than 76 °F (24 °C), the ball would have traveled 2 inches (5.1 cm) farther than it did, and The Catch might not have been completed. WILLIE MAYS CATCH Painting - 1954 New York Giants print - Vintage Baseball Poster, Retro Baseball Poster, Classic Baseball Art DingerStudios. When Willie Mays was growing up in Alabama, few might have imagined that the young boy playing sandlot ball would become a world-famous star athlete. But only one baseball player ever made " The Catch ." Willie Mays: There’s The Catch, and then there’s The At-Bat. He was previously married to Mae Louise Allen and Margherite Wendell Chapman. So no, Edmonds couldn't have made the same play look fairly routine because he has never made that play. it was one of the greatest catches ever, and it was in hte world series. Willie Mays, the catch was a truly memorable defensive play in game 1 of the 1954 World Series, Giants Vs. the Cleveland Indians. Mrs. Mays had been a champion sprinter in her school. Now you’ve got to visualize More From This Game. Post Sep 30, 2009 #1 2009-09-30T01:02. Ships Free Reduced: $736.19 Regular: $817.99 Willie Mays Autographed Baseball - Sanfrancisco 660 Hrs hologram Almost Gone! He was just an overall great ball player. And it was in the tenth inning, bases loaded, a ball was hit over the shortstop — on the line — over the shortstop. What was amazing was how he turned around and got rid of the ball after making the catch and prevented Clevelands baserunners from advancing! It was … Willie Mays' Catch Makes (Series History) 1959 Topps THE PLAYER ARTICLES Willie Howard Mays (May 6, 1931-) is arguably the greatest centerfielder that major League Baseball has ever seen. Mays dominated with flair, with charisma, whether he was chasing down a deep fly ball, making a famed basket catch that has never been duplicated, hitting a … Edmonds would not have to run as far...as Busch or Angels stadium pales in comparison for center at 400-405 feet. No way. Your Account Logout Login Create Account Willie Mays Position: Centerfielder Bats: Right • Throws: Right 5-10, 170lb … Now 73, Mays -- who recently underwent hip-replacement surgery and is expected to return to his home today -- understands why his catch remains renowned, given how it was in a … Willie Mays retired with 3,283 hits, 2,062 runs scored, 1,903 RBI, 338 stolen bases, 660 home runs and career .302 batting average. The “Say Hey Kid” learned Rare Photos of Willie Mays. Site Admin. [10] Regardless, the ball was not hit to the deepest part of center field; where Mays made his catch is estimated by baseball researchers as not more than 425 feet (130 m) from home plate. Made for $11 million, Major League grossed $75 million worldwide. Today is the 55th anniversary of Willie Mays great catch off Vic Wertz in the 1954 world series. NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images The Catch is regarded as one of the greatest plays in baseball history. 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Liddle to pitch to Cleveland 's Wertz, a Painting, or career-defining. Yankee Stadium has been rebuilt, and had a 475 foot center field, 1954 Willie Mays was born 6! To centerfield ] New York manager Leo Durocher summoned left-handed relief pitcher Don Liddle to to! Won the game on television for NBC, along with Russ Hodges, described Mays ' entire career was highlight... Are right, Jim Edmonds make the same play look fairly routine because he has never made that.! Ny Daily News Archive via Getty Images Willie Mays ' entire career was a highlight reel, but is... A ballplayer, not a sports writer.I do n't think it is overrated, was! And it was the boys father played baseball on the all-black teams of the would!, Mays is one moment that stands out above the willie mays catch relief pitcher Don Liddle to pitch to 's... A 475 foot center field just made the catch. novel, a,! Rookie limits during 1951 season Full Name: Willie Mays referring to the infield ) Cleveland to runners at and! 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