Thirty-Four (Nope, 33) Years Ago

[Guest Edgy DC]

Willie Mays hung 'em up.

[Farmer Ted]

Scott Peterson was born. I think OJ did it.

[HahnSolo]

Don't you mean 33 years ago? Willie did play (allegedly) in the 1973 series.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Editing...

In my mind, it's alreay 2007.

[stevejrogers]

Why is it that images never STAY on Google, especially from SI.com archives? I've seen some beauts of Mays in the aforementioned 1973 series, his last, but none can be googled at this time!

Ah well...

[Guest cooby]

That's a good one there, though Steve. I can still hear him arguing in my head

[RealityChuck]

HahnSolo wrote: Willie did play (allegedly) in the 1973 series.

What "allegedly"? He drove in the run that put them ahead in game 2, and scored what proved to be the game winner.

And despite the fact he was 42, he was a better player than Don Hahn.

[Zvon]

I loved Willie.
I was so thrilled he came back to play in NY with the Mets.
It really cemented my love for the Mets because now here was Willie in blue and orange-a living legend( to me the best player to ever play the game, bar none).

And I wanted him out there in '73, to play for the Mets in the '73 World Series his last year, the final games of his awsum career.

But.......in game 7 of the October Classic vs. the A's, if Mays makes this catch (pictured below)- things may have turned out quite differently.
When he missed that, I wasnt pissed.
I was sad.
That was a Willie catch to make on the big stage.
Afew short years earlier, he makes that grab.


Pictures from CORBIS- edited into one picture by me, Zvon, afew years ago.

I have a great Mays/Met collection of photos.
If anyones interested Ill post some, but Id need to see interest because Ill have to support them myself.
I know I must be nearing the end of my space at Photobucket. Both accounts,lol.

Id really like to share em tho--twist my arm and Ill post em.

[Elster88]

You guys saw Willie Mays play? You're old.

Did you ever see a Jack Dempsey fight?

[Guest Edgy DC]

D'ye' think Hahn would've had it?

The downside of World Series day games is the most legendary centefielder of the century has to fight the sun like a mortal.

[Zvon]

Elster88 wrote: You guys saw Willie Mays play? You're old.

lol (@Dempsy)

Yes, i saw Willie play,and if that makes me old then Im one happy old coot.

I even walked/jumped along side him on his way from the Diamond Club entrance to his pink car. He always parked it right out there.
Tags read SAYHEY.

[Elster88]

If I had a time machine the first thing I'd go back and do is go see Star Wars in theaters in '77. Then I'd go see games 6 and 7 at Shea. Then 1969. Mays would be in the top 10 probably.

[Zvon]

Edgy DC wrote: D'ye' think Hahn would've had it? The downside of World Series day games is the most legendary centefielder of the century has to fight the sun like a mortal.

Hahn might have, but your point is well made.
If I remember right Willie got a bad jump on the ball-either froze or went back a step. Took not the most direct route and lunged feutally at it.
I just remember the sinking feeling I had when the ball got by him.

Still, no one else I would have rather had out there.
It was Willie Mays.

[Zvon]

Elster88 wrote: If I had a time machine the first thing I'd go back and do is go see Star Wars in theaters in '77. Then I'd go see games 6 and 7 at Shea. Then 1969. Mays would be in the top 10 probably.

lol--I was so excited about Star Wars I drove up to north Jersey to see it because it was still a week until it was to premiere down where I lived.
Man, in those days south Jersey was really the stix.
Man, has it grown.

[RealityChuck]

Elster88 wrote: You guys saw Willie Mays play? You're old.

Sure I saw Willie play -- even when he was good. Hell, I remember one comedian in the mid-60s doing a joke newscast: "In sports news, the Giants traded Willie Mays to the New York Mets -- for the entire New York Mets team."

[Guest cooby]

]If anyones interested Ill post some, but Id need to see interest because Ill have to support them myself

I'd like to see some, but only if you can

[Elster88]

RealityChuck wrote: "In sports news, the Giants traded Willie Mays to the New York Mets -- for the entire New York Mets team."

That's a good one.

[stevejrogers]

Zvon wrote: ="Elster88"]You guys saw Willie Mays play? You're old. lol (@Dempsy) Yes, i saw Willie play,and if that makes me old then Im one happy old coot. I even walked/jumped along side him on his way from the Diamond Club entrance to his pink car. He always parked it right out there. Tags read SAYHEY.

Apropos of nothing but I watched the HBO special on the Cubs and there was a part on Jack Brickhouse and his Hey HEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYY! homer call.

Probably would have been a John Sterling template if Mays played for the Cubs (or if Brickhouse broadcasted for the Giants)

"HEY HEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYY! ITS A HOMER FOR SAY HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYY WILLIE MAYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSS!"