Willie Mays’ passing at age 93 on June 18 touched off an emotional outpouring of memories, superlatives and love for the Hall of Famer. Baseball’s prototypical center fielder made a distinctive and powerful mark on the game, starting with his otherworldly numbers. And, oh, man, did Mays put up numbers: 3,293 hits, 660 homers, 339 steals, 2,068 runs, 1,909 RBI, a .301 batting average, a .557 slugging percentage and so much more—all over a glorious 23-year career.
Mays was the first to be called a “five-tool player.” The phrase, often attributed to Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey, reflects a player’s excellence at hitting for average, hitting for power, running, fielding, and throwing. Mays’ wide range of feats on the diamond—and accompanying accolades—speak to that “five-tool” tag.
But neither stats…
