Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays died on Tuesday afternoon on the age of 93.
Tributes poured in all through the baseball world and those that knew him properly, however there aren’t too many who’ve each of these titles.
Barry Bonds is in that uncommon fraternity. He is Mays’ godson, as Bonds’ father, Bobby, was a longtime teammate of Mays.
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San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, left, laughs with godfather and Giants legend Willie Mays as Mays was launched in the course of the Giants Opening Day in opposition to the San Diego Padres on April 5, 2002 in San Francisco. (JOHN G. MABANGLO/AFP through Getty Images)
The dwelling run king posted an ode to his godfather, a fellow San Francisco Giants legend, on Instagram.
“I’m past devastated and overcome with emotion. I’ve no phrases to explain what you imply to me- you helped form me to be who I’m at this time,” Bonds wrote. “Thank you for being my Godfather and at all times being there. Give my dad a hug for me. Rest in peace Willie, I really like you eternally. #SayHey.”
Barry Bonds, #25 of the San Francisco Giants, hugs his godfather Willie Mays at a ceremony honoring his 660th profession dwelling run earlier than his recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers at SBC Park on April 16, 2004 in San Francisco. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
BARRY BONDS, DESPITE COMPLICATED LEGACY, TO BE INDUCTED INTO PIRATES HALL OF FAME
Mays was one of many best ballplayers to ever grace a baseball diamond, starting in 1951 as a 20-year-old making his debut enjoying for the New York Giants. He would go on to be a 24-time All-Star, two-time MVP, 12-time Gold Glover, two-time All-Star Game MVP, Rookie of the Year and 1954 World Series champion in an illustrious profession that led to a simple Hall of Fame induction.
Mays was recognized for his potential to wow crowds with thunderous dwelling runs, slick baserunning and miraculous performs in middle discipline. One of probably the most iconic performs ever in MLB got here in that 1954 World Series and was eternally known as “The Catch.”
In his illustrious profession, he hit .301 with 660 profession dwelling runs. He is certainly one of simply 4 gamers ever to have 3,000 hits with no less than 600 of them being dwelling runs (Hank Aaron, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez).
He ended his profession with the New York Mets in 1973, the place his No. 24 can also be retired.
Barry Bonds, left, shares amusing with Willie Mays throughout a San Francisco Giants fiftieth Anniversary celebration earlier than the sport between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on Aug. 9, 2008 in San Francisco. (Max Morse/Getty Images)
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Mays, who spent most of 1952 and all of 1953 serving within the Army, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama in 2015.
MLB is about to play a regular-season recreation on Thursday on the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the place Mays started his skilled baseball profession within the Negro League with the Black Barons, between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
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