X

Willie Mays Patch Photo Revealed for Giants' Uniforms After MLB Icon's Death

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVJune 19, 2024

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 18: An image of Willie Mays is displayed on the video board while everyone observed a moment of silence during the sixth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Giants 5-2. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants revealed Wednesday the patch they will wear on their jerseys to honor legendary outfielder and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays following his death.

In remembrance of the "Say Hey Kid," the patches will feature Mays' last name and his iconic No. 24 jersey number:

SFGiants @SFGiants

In honor of Willie <a href="https://t.co/WuCEjhVyVV">pic.twitter.com/WuCEjhVyVV</a>

The Giants announced Tuesday that Mays died peacefully at the age of 93:

SFGiants @SFGiants

It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93. <a href="https://t.co/Qk4NySCFZQ">pic.twitter.com/Qk4NySCFZQ</a>

Mays is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and he spent 21 of his 23 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Giants.

In addition to his time with the Giants, Mays spent parts of two seasons as a member of the New York Mets and one year with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League.

Over the course of 3,005 regular-season games and 33 postseason games, Mays was a 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, two-time National League MVP, one-time batting champion, one-time World Series champion and the 1951 NL Rookie of the Year.

Mays was also a career .301 hitter with 660 home runs, 1,909 RBI, 3,293 hits, 2,068 runs scored and 339 stolen bases.

He ranks sixth on the MLB all-time home run list, seventh in runs scored, 12th in runs scored and 13th in hits, and he is considered arguably the most complete player in baseball history thanks to his speed on the basepaths and defensive prowess in center field to go along with his hitting excellence.

Mays was originally supposed to attend a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, this Thursday, but he announced Monday that he would not be able to attend.

Since Mays was a Giants legend and his first major professional season was played for the Black Barons at Rickwood Field, plans were in place for Mays to be honored at the game.

While Mays' historic career will still be celebrated Thursday, it will also be a posthumous celebration of his life.