They're celebrating Willie Mays' birthday at the Giants-Dodgers game

[Oeditpus Rex]

A week late, but...

He's 75 years old, and he looks like he could suit up and go two for four tonight. Both singles, but, hey — he's 75.

God, what wouldn't I give to see him and Willie McCovey in the lineup one more time.

Happy birthday, Buck.

[havocmom]

1. ::sigh::

Ah, those were the days... :toast: to Buck and all those who bleed Dodger blue

[Arkham House]

2. I saw Willie play in person only once...

...but it was quite an experience...I think it was August 5, 1964--either the 4th or 5th...Dad took me to the then-new Shea Stadium, I was only ten...my eyes were shining...it was so beautiful...Willie set out in '64 like a house on fire, was hitting well over .400 thru May...then went cold, and ended up at .296--but was still the best player in the NL that year...anyway: that night he hit two homers, and made a great catch in center field...I remember that game very well...and the Giants won, of course. 75?...cripes...can't believe it...

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. Funny thing about that .296

He had the exact same average in '56 — the exact same. Both years, he had 171 hits in 578 at-bats.

My first big-league experience was a doubleheader at Candlestick in '65 — Giants and Astros. Mays hit two that day, and Bob Shaw, the Giants' starter in the first game, hit one. (Much later, I learned that Shaw was one of the biggest hound dogs ever to play the game.)

Thing about Mays was, he didn't have to do anything with the bat to send you home marveling about something he did. Could've been a catch or a throw, or even just the way he ran the bases, but when he was in the lineup there was a pretty good chance he'd have you jumping out of your seat for one reason or another. The only other guy I can think of you could say that about was Roberto Clemente.