“Say Hey Kid” bids adieu to the world. One of the most iconic faces in American sports, Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday, June 18 due to heart failure. One of the best five-tool players, nay the greatest, Mays’ extraordinary talent and unique style defined an era of baseball. From ‘The Catch’ in Game One of the 1954 World Series or playing stickball with kids in Harlem, Mays was always a familiar name in the world of the diamond. And his passing has left a void not just among baseball fans but across the entire sports community.

Former tennis player Martina Navratilova took to X to share the iconic catch vs Cleveland. “Unreal each and every time I see this,” she captioned. The way he races at top gear toward the center field of the Polo Grounds and collects the fast-traveling ball, and somehow impossibly throws it back to home plate, all the while his hat flying. Even decades later, it continues to dominate unforgettable moments in MLB history.

Former pro-Billie Jean King also expressed grief over the death of the star and recalled some fond memories. “The great Willie Mays has passed away. It was a privilege to know him. We were both honored by @MLB in 2010 with the Beacon Award, given to civil rights pioneers. He was such a kind soul, who gifted my brother Randy a new glove and a television during his rookie year with the @SFGiants. My deepest condolences to his family. He will be missed.” Mays is known for his vocal statements about the civil rights movements of 1966. 

Although Willie Mays started playing in an era after the laws of segregation were broken in baseball (Thank you Dodgers and Jackie Robinson), discrimination in his early days was not uncommon. Mays struggled to buy a house in the primarily white Sherwood Forest neighborhood after the neighbors complained about a Black family in their community. And yet, he persevered through it to become synonymous with the sport.

Mays moved across bases at the speed of light and was extraordinarily good at everything he did. It’s almost a crime that the legend only claimed one World Series trophy despite the three he participated in. And yet, he will always be remembered as the man who popularized the sport not just in NY and San Fran, but across the country.

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff’s coach also shared condolences. Brad Gilbert took to his social media platform and wrote, “Rip 🪦 Willie 🙏” . Mays’ demise has upset several from all across the sports community. 

Upset Over Willie Mays’ Demise extends beyond the sports community

San Francisco Giants President Larry Baer expressed his grief and highlighted how he got acquainted with the sport. “I fell in love with baseball because of Willie, plain and simple. My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick with my dad, watching Willie patrol centerfield with grace and the ultimate athleticism.” Larry Baer’s respect for the Americans has remained immense. 

Soon after his demise, Baer attended an event where a mural dedicated to Mays was unveiled. The mural was finished on Tuesday, “almost with the last brush stroke,” said Jason Yeadon, the senior creative director at MLB.

MLB Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark also expressed his sorrow highlighting the achievements of the late baseball player. “From his professional debut with the Birmingham Black Barons at age 17 through his 24 All-Star Games to his Hall of Fame induction in 1979, Willie’s skill on the field and impact off it elevated him to a stature that was larger than life.” Mays was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1979. Meanwhile, his accolades extend beyond sports. 

Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by the then-US President Barack Obama. He too, gave condolences to Mays, as the duo shared cordial relations. “Willie Mays wasn’t just a singular athlete, blessed with an unmatched combination of grace, skill, and power. He was also a wonderfully warm and generous person – and an inspiration to an entire generation.”

The demise of William Mays is not just a shock to his kiths and kins but to every enthusiast of the sport. Such a scenario is pretty understandable as well, since players like Mays come and rule the world with their grace, seldom.