SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Heidhues 6.20.2024
I was truly fortunate to watch Willie Mays play many times. Originally at Seals Stadium, the Giants home in 1958 and 1959. Then at Candlestick Park for many seasons. Even seeing Willie Mays play the Cubs twice at Wrigley Field in Chicago during the summer of 1963.
At the time I didn’t think much about it. Willie Mays was the best and the leader of the team.
Now that Willie is no longer with us I can reflect on how lucky I was to watch this baseball icon in action.
In 1962 The Giants won the National League pennant. Having to beat the LA Dodgers in a three game playoff to seal the deal. That season was memorialized in a 38 minute LP with announcers Russ Hodge and Lon Simmons providing the hi-lites.
Perhaps the ultimate 1962 hi-lite is the brawl between the Giants and New York Mets in May 1962. It’s here on the hi-lite tape. I was at Candlestick Park that day and witnessed the fight.
Willie Mays, with the reputation for being such a low key diplomatic player, was right there in the midst of the “fracas.” A word Giants announcer Russ Hodges used to describe the brawl.
Top photo: President Barack Obama awards Willie Mays the Presidential Medal of Freedom – 2015
Lee's Perspective 