Willie Mays
A Legend born in the Negro Leagues
“I always enjoyed playing ball, and it didn’t matter to me whether I played with white kids or black. I never understood why an issue was made of who I played with, and I never felt comfortable growing up, telling other people how to act…”
— Willie Mayes in “Say Hey!” Cover Article in the San Francisco Examiner
FROM RICKWOOD TO Cooperstown
Willie Mays and the Journey That Began in the Negro Leagues
Before the World Series catches and the Hall of Fame, Willie Mays was a teenage outfielder with the Birmingham Black Barons, playing in front of packed crowds at Rickwood Field while still in high school. Born in Westfield, Alabama, in 1931, Mays grew up surrounded by baseball: his father, Cat Mays, played semi-pro for a local iron plant. His community knew the game not just as sport, but as ceremony, livelihood, and spectacle.
Mays joined the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948 at just 17 years old. His time in the Negro Leagues was short but dazzling. He played in the final Negro League World Series and drew the attention of Major League scouts almost immediately. In 1950, he signed with the New York Giants organization, playing briefly in the minor leagues before joining the MLB team and becoming one of the most iconic figures in baseball history. But Mays never forgot where he came from. He carried the legacy of the Negro Leagues into every stadium he played in.
The materials in this collection help paint a fuller picture of the Say Hey Kid’s early years – not just as a budding star, but as a young man shaped by the rituals of Negro League baseball. Photos, publications, and contracts reveal the behind the scenes hustle of traveling teams and player negotiations. These documents ground Mays’ myth in the everyday labor, love, and logistics that made the Negro Leagues a powerful institution.
In this collection, Mays is more than a legend; he’s a bridge between generations, between segregated leagues and integrated fame. His story embodies the talent and resilience that made the Negro Leagues not just necessary, but unforgettable. He paved the way for so many young people in baseball until he passed away on June 18, 2024 at 93 years old.
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