The sports world has been hit by the heartbreaking news of baseball legend Willie Mays passing away at 93 after congestive heart failure. “The Say Hey Kid” had earlier said he wouldn’t be able to attend the San Francisco Giants vs St. Louis Cardinals set to be held on Thursday at Rickwood Field in Alabama.

The Giants-Cardinals MLB game was planned in honor of Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues. Mays started his career with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League and transitioned to playing in the MLB later. The San Francisco Giants paid their respects to Mays on X, and Patrick Mahomes followed in their footsteps.

The MLB Giants’ paid their tribute to the legend saying, “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,” and Patrick Mahomes couldn’t hold back as well. Sharing the SF Giants’ post on X, Mahomes wrote, “RIP to a true legend #HeyKid.” Mays’ death might have come as a shock to Mahomes, just like many others, because baseball was a major part of the Kansas City Chiefs QB since his childhood.

Patrick Mahomes wasn’t the only one saddened by the loss of the baseball Hall of Famer. The Kansas City Chiefs’ sworn rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders, also paid their respects.

“The Raiders family mourns the passing of Giants legend Willie Mays, an iconic figure in baseball and throughout sports. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with the Mays family at this time,” they wrote on X.

May was born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama and his flair for playing baseball came from his father, His semi-pro father, Cat Mays, would often take him to games to help him teach a thing or two. The World Series winner would sit and watch his dad play from the dugout and become the highest-paid player in the league someday.

Willie Mays left his mark on decades of generations to come

When other kids his age were busy enjoying their teenage, Mays was playing professional baseball in the Negro League with the Birmingham Black Barons. He was just 16 at the time and started playing in 1948! As soon as he got done with high school, he joined the Giants in 1950. Mays even became Rookie of the Year in 1951! Mays’ 660 home runs, 525 doubles and 338 stole bases are the highlight of his career.

After playing 23 major league seasons and winning a World Series Championship, Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979 in his first year of eligibility. It would take hours and hours of revisiting films to fully understand the impact that Mays had on the game. His first manager, Leo Durocher, didn’t have to struggle a lot adjusting with Mays, rather it was the opposite. “I never taught him anything,” said Durocher at one point. “He taught me. Willie is the greatest player I ever saw. No doubt in my mind.”

Out of all the countless accolades in his career, a particular highlight is still etched in fans’ brains, decades later, to this day. It was the day when Mays made “The Catch,” which was perhaps one of the greatest catches MLB has ever seen. Picture this: it was Game 1 against Cleveland, and Vic Wertz was the batter. Wertz hit, but only to be out-fashioned by Mays. It was his no-looker catch that got the stadium riled up. His antics not only made him one of the most celebrated players, but also the highest paid. In 1963, Mays became the first player to have secured a six-figure contract worth $100,000/year, which was the first $100k contract in the sport’s history.

After hearing the news of Mays passing away, MLB legend Barry Bonds was “devastated” and his message is something that would resonate with everyone who followed the sport. “I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion. I have no words to describe what you mean to me- you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me.Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever. #SayHey.”

As tributes continue to pour in, one cannot deny the impact that Willie Mays had on those who followed baseball during his lifetime. Even after his death, his legacy will continue to inspire many to take up baseball in an attempt to emulate what the legend did for the sport.