Born Westfield, Alabama
When awarding Willie Mays the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom, Barack Obama noted, “We have never seen an all-around, five-tool player quite like Willie before—and we haven’t seen one since.” Mays, who excelled in all five aspects of baseball (hitting for average, hitting for power, fielding, throwing, and baserunning), began his career with the Negro American League’s Birmingham Black Barons. In 1950, the New York Giants purchased his contract, and he went on to spend most of his career with the team—first in New York and then in San Francisco. He retired in 1973, playing for the New York Mets. As a 24-time All-Star and two-time National League MVP, Mays hit 660 home runs and recorded a career batting average of .301.
In 1964, Mays became the first African American to captain a major league team. This photograph was taken that year, when the San Francisco Giants were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers.
NOTE: The portrait will be on view on the museum's first floor from June 21 through July 29.
