About Willie Mays: Death, Net Worth, Career, Facts, Family, Wife

Known for movies

Short Info

Net Worth	$3 million
Date Of Birth	May 6, 1931
Spouse	Mae Louise Allen, Margherite Wendell Chapman
Fact	Was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1951.

Willie Mays was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama. His parents, Annie and Cat Mays, were both sharecroppers. He was the fifth of six children. Willie began playing baseball at a young age and was soon recruited by the Birmingham Black Barons, a Negro League team. He played for the Black Barons for three years before being drafted by the New York Giants in 1951.

Willie made his Major League debut in May of 1951. He quickly became one of the league’s best players. In 1954, he was named National League Rookie of the Year. He was also named National League Most Valuable Player that year. Willie was an All-Star for 12 straight seasons from 1954 to 1965. He helped lead the Giants to the World Series title in 1954. He was traded to the New York Mets in 1972 and played for them for two seasons before retiring.

Willie Mays is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. His career statistics include 2,857 hits, 660 home runs, and 1,903 RBIs. He was a 24-time All-Star and won two World Series titles.

Willie Mays’ net worth is estimated to be $80 million. He has earned his fortune through his baseball career and various business ventures. He has also worked as a television commentator and an instructor at baseball camps.

Willie Mays has been married twice. His first wife was Mae Louise Allen. They were married for 50 years before she passed away in 2013. They had three children together. Willie married his second wife, Doris, in 2015. He has four children from his first marriage and one from his second marriage.

General Info

Full Name	Willie Mays
Net Worth	$3 million
Date Of Birth	May 6, 1931
Height	1.8 m
Weight	82 kg
Profession	TV Personality, Baseball player
Nationality	American

Family

Spouse	Mae Louise Allen, Margherite Wendell Chapman
Children	Michael Mays
Parents	Annie Satterwhite, William Howard Mays

Accomplishments

Awards	National League Most Valuable Player Award, Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year
Movies	Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid

Social profile links

IMDB	http://imdb.com/name/nm0563092

Quotes

#	Quote
1	[on fellow ball-player Ernie Banks] Eddie would famously say, 'It's a beautiful day for a baseball game. Let's play two'. And I'd tell him, 'Ernie, we just played a double-header. Nobody wants to play anymore. We're all tired!' Then we'd all just laugh.
2	My father told me that I was able to walk when I was only six months old. And wouldn't you know it, he got me walking after a baseball. Getting a baseball was just about the first thing I was able to do. He put two chairs close to each other and then put a baseball on one. I was clinging to the other. He walked me through two or three times. 'See the ball," he said. 'See the ball.' Then he turned me loose - and I went for the ball myself. When he knew I could chase a ball, he gave me batting lessons. He handed me a rubber ball and a little stick maybe two feet long, and sat me in the middle of the floor. I'd play with the ball all day long, hitting it with the stick, then crawling or toddling after it across the room. My dad was determined that if I wanted to, I would become a baseball player and not end up in the steel mills the way he did.
3	Baseball is a game, yes. It is also a business. But what it most truly is is disguised combat. For all its gentility, its almost leisurely pace, baseball is violence under wraps.
4	Every time I look at my pocketbook, I see Jackie Robinson.
5	Over the years, a lot of organizations have asked me to be their spokesman, or have wanted me to make speeches about my experiences as a black athlete, or to talk to Congressmen about racial issues in sports. But see, I never recall trouble. I believe I had a happy childhood. Besides playing school sports, we'd play football against the white kids. And we thought nothing of it, neither the blacks nor the whites. ... I never got into a fight that was caused by racism.
6	You know, a lot of people said when I was forty, I should quit, but I don't think so. You should play as long as you can and as long as you enjoy the game. In '73, I wasn't enjoying the game, so I quit in May, I retired, and they wouldn't let me retire. So I finished up in the World Series. But I say to players: Play as long as you can, because you only have one chance.
7	Youngsters of Little League can survive under-coaching a lot better than over-coaching.
8	I remember the last season I played. I went home after a ballgame one day, lay down on my bed, and tears came to my eyes. How can you explain that? You cry because you love her. I cried, I guess, because I loved baseball and I knew I had to leave it.
9	I don't compare 'em. I catch 'em.

Facts

#	Fact
1	Found out he was being called up to the major leagues on May 12, 1951 when he was at a movie theater in Sioux City, Iowa and a message flashed up on the screen that said 'Willie Mays call your hotel'.
2	In 1959, earning $80,000 per year playing for the San Francisco Giants, Mays lived on a modest $300 per week budget. The remainder went to taxes and investments.
3	His first career Major League home run went completely out of the Polo Grounds which had never been done before. When asked about the pitch he threw that Mays hit out, Warren Spahn (who was sixty feet, six inches away on the pitchers mound) responded, "Gentlemen, for the first 60' that was a hell of a pitch.".
4	Made major league debut on 25 May 1951.
5	He was the ninth player to be so elected to the Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility with 95% of votes cast. Of the five percent of baseball writers who didn't to vote for Mays, Dick Young wrote, "If Jesus Christ were to show up with his old baseball glove, some guys wouldn't vote for him. He dropped the cross three times, didn't he?"
6	Was recently passed by godson Barry Bonds in the number of career home runs.
7	Member of 1951 National League Champion New York Giants team. Member of 1954 World Series Champion New York Giants team. Member of 1962 National League Champion San Francisco Giants team. Member of 1971 National League Western Division Champion San Francisco Giants team. Member of 1973 National League Champion New York Mets team.
8	San Francisco Giants All-Time At Bats Leader (10,477).
9	San Francisco Giants All-Time Games Played Leader (2,857).
10	San Francisco Giants All-Time Runs Leader (2,011).
11	San Francisco Giants All-Time Doubles Leader (504).
12	San Francisco Giants All-Time Hits Leader (3,187).
13	San Francisco Giants All-Time Homerun Leader (646).
14	San Francisco Giants All-Time Total Bases Leader (5,907).
15	Mays deliberately set his hat on his head in a certain way so that it would always fall off when running at full speed.
16	He won 12 Gold Gloves and appeared in a record-tying 24 All-Star games.
17	Godfather of Barry Bonds.
18	Became famous for catching fly balls using the waist-high or basket catch.
19	Is generally regarded as the greatest all-around baseball player of all time.
20	Once hit a line drive so hard it went right through the outfield fence of a minor league ballpark in Milwaukee.
21	Hit his first major league home run off Warren Spahn at the Polo Grounds in New York.
22	Remained with the Mets as a coach after he retired, although his duties were never defined.
23	Was forced to sever all ties with baseball by then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn after taking a job with the Bally Corporation; was reinstated by Kuhn's successor, Peter Ueberroth, in the mid-1980s.
24	Uniform #24 retired by the Giants; has been issued sparingly by the Mets since he left the organization.
25	Was called up by the Giants in May of 1951, at which point he was batting .477 for their AAA affiliate, the Minneapolis Millers. Told Giants manager Leo Durocher he wasn't coming because he felt he couldn't hit big league pitching. Was asked by Leo if he thought he could hit .250 for him, and when Willie said he thought he could, Leo told him to come up immediately.
26	Spent most of 1952 and all of 1953 in military service.
27	Hit the 600th home run of his career against San Diego's Mike Corkins in September of 1969.
28	Was the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1954 and 1965.
29	Was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1951.
30	Hit the 500th home run of his career against Houston in September of 1965.
31	Moved into second place on the all-time home run list with his 535th homer in August of 1966; remained second behind Babe Ruth until Hank Aaron overtook him in 1972.
32	Led the National League in stolen bases from 1956 thru 1959; was the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season.
33	Remembered for his over-the-shoulder catch of a Vic Wertz fly ball in Game One of the 1954 World Series.
34	Hit four home runs in one game against the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.
35	Passed the 3000-hit mark in July of 1970.
36	Traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Charlie Williams and cash in May of 1972, fulfilling a longtime ambition for Mets owner Joan Whitney Payson, herself a longtime admirer of Willie.
37	Retired with 660 career home runs and a lifetime .302 batting average.
38	Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1979. Played for the National League's New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1972) and New York Mets (1972-1973).

Pictures

Movies

Actor

Title	Year	Status	Character
The Donna Reed Show	1964	TV Series	Willie Mays

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status	Character
About Last Night	2014	writer: "Say Hey, Willie Mays"
The Colgate Comedy Hour	1954	TV Series performer - 1 episode

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
Westfield Struggles to Success	2014	Documentary
Prime 9	2009-2011	TV Series	Himself
Charlie Rose	2010	TV Series	Himself
The Daily Show	2010	TV Series	Himself
2008 MLB All-Star Game	2008	TV Special	Himself - Pre-Game Hall of Fame Ceremony
2007 MLB All-Star Game	2007	TV Special	Himself - Ceremonial 1st Pitch / NL Honorary Captain
The Republic of Baseball: The Dominican Giants of the American Game	2006	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Costas Now	2006	TV Series	Himself
The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame...	2005	TV Series	Himself
ESPN 25: Who's #1?	2005	TV Series documentary	Himself
ESPN SportsCentury	2000-2004	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Tim McCarver Show	2003	TV Series	Himself - Guest
100 Years of the World Series	2003	Video documentary	Himself
Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years	2000	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Michael Jordan to the Max	2000	Documentary	Himself
Joe DiMaggio: The Final Chapter	2000	TV Movie documentary	Himself
ABC 2000: The Millennium	1999	TV Movie documentary
Up Close Primetime	1998	TV Series	Himself
Comic Relief: Baseball Relief '93	1993	TV Movie	Himself
1992 MLB All-Star Game	1992	TV Special	Himself - NL Honorary Captain
This Week in Baseball's Greatest Plays	1991	Video	Himself
Baseball's Greatest Hits	1990	Video documentary	Himself
The Golden Decade of Baseball	1990	Video documentary
Mr. Belvedere	1989	TV Series	Himself
My Two Dads	1989	TV Series	Himself
A Giants History: The Tale of Two Cities	1987	Video	Himself
Frank Sinatra: Portrait of an Album	1985	Video	Himself (uncredited)
When Nature Calls	1985		Himself
1977 MLB All-Star Game	1977	TV Special	Himself - NL Captain
Greatest Sports Legends	1977	TV Series	Himself
The Mike Douglas Show	1974-1976	TV Series	Himself - Pro Baseball Player / Himself - Pro Baseball Star
The Way It Was	1974-1976	TV Series	Himself
Sammy and Company	1975	TV Series	Himself
Dinah!	1974-1975	TV Series	Himself
Today	1974	TV Series	Himself
1973 World Series	1973	TV Mini-Series	Himself - New York Mets Pinch Hitter / Himself - New York Mets Pinch Runner / Center Fielder / ...
1973 National League Championship Series	1973	TV Series	Himself - New York Mets Pinch Hitter / Center Fielder
1973 MLB All-Star Game	1973	TV Special	Himself - NL Outfielder
Golf for Swingers	1973	TV Series	Himself
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie	1972	TV Series	Himself
1972 MLB All-Star Game	1972	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
The Dick Cavett Show	1971	TV Series	Himself - Guest host
1971 National League Championship Series	1971	TV Series	Himself - San Francisco Giants Center Fielder
1971 MLB All-Star Game	1971	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson	1965-1970	TV Series	Himself / Himself - Guest
1970 MLB All-Star Game	1970	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
Della	1970	TV Series	Himself
The Joe Namath Show	1969	TV Series	Himself
1969 MLB All-Star Game	1969	TV Special	Himself - NL Outfielder
The Joey Bishop Show	1969	TV Series	Himself
1968 MLB All-Star Game	1968	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
Dream Girl of '67	1967	TV Series	Himself - Bachelor Judge
First Annual All-Star Celebrity Baseball Game	1967	TV Special	Himself - All-Star
1967 MLB All-Star Game	1967	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
The Hollywood Palace	1964-1967	TV Series	Himself - Interviewee / Himself - Sketch Actor
Bewitched	1966	TV Series	Himself
1966 MLB All-Star Game	1966	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
The Merv Griffin Show	1966	TV Series
The Donna Reed Show	1966	TV Series	Himself
1965 MLB All-Star Game	1965	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
1964 MLB All-Star Game	1964	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
A Boy Named Charlie Brown	1963	TV Movie documentary	Himself - San Francisco Giants (uncredited)
A Man Named Mays	1963	TV Movie	Himself
1963 MLB All-Star Game	1963	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
Front Page Challenge	1962	TV Series	Himself - Mystery Guest
1962 World Series	1962	TV Series	Himself - San Francisco Giants Center Fielder
What's My Line?	1954-1962	TV Series	Himself - Mystery Guest
1961 MLB All-Star Game	1961	TV Special	Himself - NL starting center fielder
Home Run Derby	1960	TV Series	Himself
The Jack Paar Tonight Show	1958	TV Series	Himself
1958 MLB All-Star Game	1958	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show	1958	TV Series	Himself - Giants
The Ed Sullivan Show	1955-1957	TV Series	Himself
1957 MLB All-Star Game	1957	TV Special	Himself - NL Center Fielder
1956 MLB All-Star Game	1956	TV Special	Himself - NL Outfielder
The NBC Comedy Hour	1956	TV Series	Himself - Baseball Player
1955 MLB All-Star Game	1955	TV Special	Himself - NL Outfielder
1954 World Series	1954	TV Mini-Series	Himself - New York Giants Center Fielder
Tonight!	1954	TV Series	Himself - Guest
The Colgate Comedy Hour	1954	TV Series	Himself
1954 MLB All-Star Game	1954	TV Special	Himself - NL Outfielder
1951 World Series	1951	TV Mini-Series	Himself - New York Giants Center Fielder

Archive Footage

Title	Year	Status	Character
El Efecto Clemente	2013	Documentary	Himself
Prime 9	2011	TV Series	Himself
A Hall for Heroes: The Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction of 1939	2010	TV Movie documentary	Himself
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes	2006	TV Mini-Series documentary	Himself
ESPN 25: Who's #1?	2005	TV Series documentary	Himself
2004 World Series	2004	TV Mini-Series	Himself
ESPN SportsCentury	2003	TV Series documentary	Himself
The Curse of the Bambino	2003	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Summer of Sam	1999		Himself - 1954 New York Giants Outfielder Making Great Catch in World Series (uncredited)
The Fifties	1997	TV Mini-Series documentary	Himself
Baseball	1994	TV Mini-Series documentary	Himself
Malcolm X	1992		Himself (uncredited)
The 50 Greatest Home Runs in Baseball History	1992	Video documentary	Himself
When It Was a Game	1991	TV Movie documentary	Himself
World Wide '60	1960	TV Series	Himself