On this day in Alabama history: Willie Mays was born

May 6, 1931

The world first said “Hey” to the “Say Hey Kid” on May 6, 1931. Born in the community of Westfield, Alabama, Mays was a multi-sport star for Fairfield Industrial High School near Birmingham. His professional career began sooner than his 1950 graduation, as he played Negro Leagues baseball for clubs in Chattanooga and Birmingham. Several major league franchises started bidding for his services, and he ended up with the New York Giants’ farm team in Trenton, New Jersey.

He didn’t stay there for long, getting the call-up to the Giants in May 1951, the first of his 22 seasons in the majors. He finished his career with the New York Mets, with a lifetime batting average of .302, and more than 3,200 base hits. He remains fifth on the all-time MLB home run list with 660.

Read more at Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Willie Mays, 1952. (Bowman, Heritage Auctions, Wikipedia)

Willie Mays drags in Vic Wertz’s drive, 1954 World Series. (Wikipedia)

Willie Mays, standing, with his arm around the shoulders of Roy Campanella, 1961. (Photograph by William C. Greene, World Telegram & Sun; Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division)

U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former professional baseball player Willie Mays during an East Room ceremony Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, D.C. Seventeen recipients received the nation’s highest civilian honor. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

For more on Alabama’s Bicentennial, visit Alabama 200.