Who Is Mae Louise Allen, and Her Connection to Wilt Chamberlain? Everything You Need to Know About Willie Mays’ Wife

Even though on-field Willie Mays was one of the most iconic and entertaining players, off-field, too, he was one of the most dedicated humans. The tragic passing of the San Francisco Giants’ Greatest player (and perhaps Baseball’s all-time great as well) has brought together the whole sporting world. It isn’t every day that one sees the sheer outpour of love that Mays is receiving right now. However, amidst this, there’s one story that needs to be told – the story of Willie Mays and his late wife Mae Louise Allen Mays. 

Though Mays was married before, one could say Mae Louise was the love of his life. According to his book “Say Hey – The Autobiography of Willie Mays” he had started talking to Louise in 1961. However, the interesting part is that he’d known her since 1951. So how did the two meet? And how did Mae Louise impact Mays’ life?

Willie Mays meets Mae Louise with the help of basketball legend

Willie Mays shared that he was in Small’s Paradise in Harlem in 1961. It was the day when he had hit four homers in one game against the Braves in Milwaukee. At that time, Small’s Paradise was owned by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. And it was there that Chamberlain gave Mays Mae Louise’s phone number. 

“You don’t know me, but I’m Willie Mays,” he said. “And I’m Martha Washington,” she replied. And just like that a connection had been built. When they met, Mae Louise was a graduate student at Howard University (she had a master’s in social work). Eventually, the two began dating each other. In Willie Mays’ words he “enjoyed being with her.” The two dated for a year but in 1962 had a hiccup when talks of marriage were being made.

Willie Mays had just gotten divorced and wasn’t ready to commit, so, he walked away. However, it became an on-again-off-again relationship for several years until Willie Mays decided to pop the question. The two married in November 1971 and stayed together till Mae Louise’s final breath.

Mae Louise Allen’s contribution and later life 

According to The Sun, Mae Louise Allen has been described as a “pioneer in getting single adoptions started in San Francisco.” She exclusively worked for children’s welfare and was one of the leading voices in support of adoptions. Other than that, Mae Louise and Willie Mays were a loving couple who spent their days with each other. 

“I was honored to know Mae and to witness how Willie loved and cared for her,” Giants’ president Larry Baer said in 2013 – the year of her passing. Willie Mays spent 16 years taking care of his wife after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1997. Despite these struggles, their love never stopped and Willie remained by her side when she passed away on April 19, 2013. 

Author Hirsch, the writer of Willie Mays’ biography shared that Mae Louise Allen’s “grace and beauty touched the soul of a legend.” (Per The Almanac) Hirsch had dedicated the book to Mae. In the end, despite their initial on-and-off again romance, the couple’s journey proved to be a long one.