Michael Mays, the son of Willie Mays, was set to throw out the first pitch Wednesday for game two of the Subway Series — just over a week after his Hall of Fame father died at 93.
Prior to the game, Mays was given the chance to reflect on his father’s coast-to-coast, 23-year career that he got to witness firsthand, including many times from just a few feet away inside the dugout as a 14-year-old Mets ball boy.
“It was all epic,” he said of watching Willie in New York for a one-and-a-half year span that included a World Series run in 1973 after 21 years with the Giants. “Those Mets, to me, were as fun as the ’69 Mets. That team was hilarious to me. Showmen. And his relevance in that year [1973], a lot of people talk about ‘fading Willie Mays’ but if you really look at it, he drove the team he just came to to the World Series.”
“Willie Mays became Willie Mays in New York,” he added.
On June 18, a moment of silence was held for Mays at all ballparks.
Citi Field, which has his retired No. 24 hanging in the park, also held an additional moment of silence following the first pitch.
“He’s always been the truth. I think that’s all he’s ever been concerned about is being honest. In his game, in his life,” Mays said. “If you watched him, if you talked to him, you knew that that was the truth. And, for me, as I’m going around these days trying to channel my inner Willie, that’s what I’m feeling from the fans and all these people. I watched him through this. I watched him freeze time.
“You know, have 20 minutes to be somewhere, stop and engage everybody but we are still on time. I wish it was more like that today. I wish the guys would try it and understand it doesn’t take anything to stop and actually engage a fan.”
With the Mets, Mays earned his 24th and final All-Star nomination and held an overall .238 average with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs.
Off the field, Michael hopes to carry on Willie’s legacy by providing opportunities for underprivileged children to play baseball.
“His legacy is to uplift those that need it the most,” Michael said.