Willie Mays throughout his days of playing baseball well was celebrated far
playing baseball well was celebrated far
playing baseball well was celebrated far and wide and those who saw him tell of
and wide and those who saw him tell of
and wide and those who saw him tell of how the pitchers facing him would try to
how the pitchers facing him would try to
how the pitchers facing him would try to knock him down but will eat smile shake
knock him down but will eat smile shake
knock him down but will eat smile shake his head and all about the town the
his head and all about the town the
his head and all about the town the people who knew Willie they would grin a
people who knew Willie they would grin a
people who knew Willie they would grin a little bit because they knew he’d get
little bit because they knew he’d get
little bit because they knew he’d get right up and get himself a hit I grew up
right up and get himself a hit I grew up
right up and get himself a hit I grew up in northern New Jersey and Willie Mays
in northern New Jersey and Willie Mays
in northern New Jersey and Willie Mays was my hero and he was so much my hero
was my hero and he was so much my hero
was my hero and he was so much my hero that when the family that lived next
that when the family that lived next
that when the family that lived next door to my mom and dad’s house put their
door to my mom and dad’s house put their
door to my mom and dad’s house put their house up for sale their name was
house up for sale their name was
house up for sale their name was bringing a man and his wife named
bringing a man and his wife named
bringing a man and his wife named brennan and they put the house up for
brennan and they put the house up for
brennan and they put the house up for sale and i had read since I read
sale and i had read since I read
sale and i had read since I read everything about Willie Mays that he and
everything about Willie Mays that he and
everything about Willie Mays that he and his wife were looking for a new home and
his wife were looking for a new home and
his wife were looking for a new home and I suggested to my folks that there was
I suggested to my folks that there was
I suggested to my folks that there was no particular reason why they shouldn’t
no particular reason why they shouldn’t
no particular reason why they shouldn’t by the burnings house because it was
by the burnings house because it was
by the burnings house because it was pretty close to to the Polo Grounds it’s
pretty close to to the Polo Grounds it’s
pretty close to to the Polo Grounds it’s an easy shot into New York through the
an easy shot into New York through the
an easy shot into New York through the lincoln tunnel and it was a perfectly
lincoln tunnel and it was a perfectly
lincoln tunnel and it was a perfectly nice brick house and and besides we had
nice brick house and and besides we had
nice brick house and and besides we had a backyard and Willie could teach me how
a backyard and Willie could teach me how
a backyard and Willie could teach me how to play center field so that when he was
to play center field so that when he was
to play center field so that when he was finished with the Giants I would step
finished with the Giants I would step
finished with the Giants I would step right in and it seemed like a pretty
right in and it seemed like a pretty
right in and it seemed like a pretty good idea to me the idea was flawed in a
good idea to me the idea was flawed in a
good idea to me the idea was flawed in a number of ways one of course was that I
number of ways one of course was that I
number of ways one of course was that I lived in a completely segregated
lived in a completely segregated
lived in a completely segregated neighborhood and Willie Mays wouldn’t
neighborhood and Willie Mays wouldn’t
neighborhood and Willie Mays wouldn’t have been allowed to buy the house next
have been allowed to buy the house next
have been allowed to buy the house next door but that never occurred to me isn’t
door but that never occurred to me isn’t
door but that never occurred to me isn’t that great a kids don’t make those
that great a kids don’t make those
that great a kids don’t make those distinctions and I thought I was about
distinctions and I thought I was about
distinctions and I thought I was about six or seven years old and it was time
six or seven years old and it was time
six or seven years old and it was time to get ready for Halloween and I I said
to get ready for Halloween and I I said
to get ready for Halloween and I I said well there’s only one choice I’m going
well there’s only one choice I’m going
well there’s only one choice I’m going to go as Willie Mays
to go as Willie Mays
to go as Willie Mays and and either my father or my mother I
and and either my father or my mother I
and and either my father or my mother I don’t remember which thought well if
don’t remember which thought well if
don’t remember which thought well if we’re going to do Willie Mays we might
we’re going to do Willie Mays we might
we’re going to do Willie Mays we might as well go the whole route and so they
as well go the whole route and so they
as well go the whole route and so they burnt some cork and they blackened my
burnt some cork and they blackened my
burnt some cork and they blackened my face and I wore my Willie Mays number 24
face and I wore my Willie Mays number 24
face and I wore my Willie Mays number 24 Giants uniform and I went to the
Giants uniform and I went to the
Giants uniform and I went to the northeast elementary school and thereby
northeast elementary school and thereby
northeast elementary school and thereby integrated it I also went door-to-door
integrated it I also went door-to-door
integrated it I also went door-to-door in the neighborhood and the house on the
in the neighborhood and the house on the
in the neighborhood and the house on the other side of the US that the Brennan’s
other side of the US that the Brennan’s
other side of the US that the Brennan’s were on one side the Cochran’s were on
were on one side the Cochran’s were on
were on one side the Cochran’s were on the other and the Cochran’s had a maid
the other and the Cochran’s had a maid
the other and the Cochran’s had a maid named Lenny and I thought be a good idea
named Lenny and I thought be a good idea
named Lenny and I thought be a good idea to go to the Cochran’s house to show
to go to the Cochran’s house to show
to go to the Cochran’s house to show Lenny my Willie Mays costume and
Lenny my Willie Mays costume and
Lenny my Willie Mays costume and fortunately Lenny had a sense of humor
fortunately Lenny had a sense of humor
fortunately Lenny had a sense of humor and she laughed so hard she almost fell
and she laughed so hard she almost fell
and she laughed so hard she almost fell down you didn’t want to make him mad if
down you didn’t want to make him mad if
down you didn’t want to make him mad if you were on the mound he dust himself
you were on the mound he dust himself
you were on the mound he dust himself off smile and then he’d turn your pitch
off smile and then he’d turn your pitch
off smile and then he’d turn your pitch around then trot around the bases as it
around then trot around the bases as it
around then trot around the bases as it left the old ballpark and every Giants
left the old ballpark and every Giants
left the old ballpark and every Giants fan would cheer as happy as a lark oh he
fan would cheer as happy as a lark oh he
fan would cheer as happy as a lark oh he could hit no doubt of that and he could
could hit no doubt of that and he could
could hit no doubt of that and he could run as well he’d leave his hat behind
run as well he’d leave his hat behind
run as well he’d leave his hat behind sometimes and those who watched could
sometimes and those who watched could
sometimes and those who watched could tell that any ball hit toward him he
tell that any ball hit toward him he
tell that any ball hit toward him he could catch it on the fly one writer
could catch it on the fly one writer
could catch it on the fly one writer said his glove was where the triples
said his glove was where the triples
said his glove was where the triples went to die and once against the Indians
went to die and once against the Indians
went to die and once against the Indians in 1954 he ran in centerfield until he
in 1954 he ran in centerfield until he
in 1954 he ran in centerfield until he couldn’t anymore and stuck his glove
couldn’t anymore and stuck his glove
couldn’t anymore and stuck his glove into the air and caught the long flyball
into the air and caught the long flyball
into the air and caught the long flyball that no one but him could have caught
that no one but him could have caught
that no one but him could have caught and that was not quite all he turned and
and that was not quite all he turned and
and that was not quite all he turned and lost his cap of course to make his
lost his cap of course to make his
lost his cap of course to make his mighty throw and all the runners on the
mighty throw and all the runners on the
mighty throw and all the runners on the bases had nowhere to go for any
bases had nowhere to go for any
bases had nowhere to go for any Cleveland fans the telling of this story
Cleveland fans the telling of this story
Cleveland fans the telling of this story hurts the guy who hit the ball and saw
hurts the guy who hit the ball and saw
hurts the guy who hit the ball and saw it caught that was Vic Wertz but that
it caught that was Vic Wertz but that
it caught that was Vic Wertz but that was not the only day upon which Willie
was not the only day upon which Willie
was not the only day upon which Willie Mays made one of his amazing catches his
Mays made one of his amazing catches his
Mays made one of his amazing catches his amazing plays he caught balls in
amazing plays he caught balls in
amazing plays he caught balls in Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee and in brooklyn in LA he caught them in
and in brooklyn in LA he caught them in
and in brooklyn in LA he caught them in the dead of night and on each sunlit day
the dead of night and on each sunlit day
the dead of night and on each sunlit day this is a piece i wrote a years ago when
this is a piece i wrote a years ago when
this is a piece i wrote a years ago when two young women came to see me and said
two young women came to see me and said
two young women came to see me and said we really like your poetry and i said i
we really like your poetry and i said i
we really like your poetry and i said i don’t write poetry I rest doggerel there
don’t write poetry I rest doggerel there
don’t write poetry I rest doggerel there may be a line of poetry in there
may be a line of poetry in there
may be a line of poetry in there somewhere but it’s it’s pretty well
somewhere but it’s it’s pretty well
somewhere but it’s it’s pretty well hidden and they said no he liked it we’d
hidden and they said no he liked it we’d
hidden and they said no he liked it we’d like to have a book come out of your
like to have a book come out of your
like to have a book come out of your stuff and I said gee that’d be nice and
stuff and I said gee that’d be nice and
stuff and I said gee that’d be nice and so I wrote two pieces on spec on
so I wrote two pieces on spec on
so I wrote two pieces on spec on speculation this was one of them and
speculation this was one of them and
speculation this was one of them and then I didn’t hear from them for about a
then I didn’t hear from them for about a
then I didn’t hear from them for about a year and I called one of them and she
year and I called one of them and she
year and I called one of them and she said well it didn’t work and so but I
said well it didn’t work and so but I
said well it didn’t work and so but I had this and I thought what the heck and
had this and I thought what the heck and
had this and I thought what the heck and so I I think I put it on the air and
so I I think I put it on the air and
so I I think I put it on the air and eventually it came out in a book and and
eventually it came out in a book and and
eventually it came out in a book and and and then at somewhere along this process
and then at somewhere along this process
and then at somewhere along this process of my distant connection to Willie Mays
of my distant connection to Willie Mays
of my distant connection to Willie Mays my friend jim hirsh wrote a wonderful
my friend jim hirsh wrote a wonderful
my friend jim hirsh wrote a wonderful biography of Willie and it was a tough
biography of Willie and it was a tough
biography of Willie and it was a tough project for Jim and it speaks to his
project for Jim and it speaks to his
project for Jim and it speaks to his perseverance because Willie Mays didn’t
perseverance because Willie Mays didn’t
perseverance because Willie Mays didn’t want to participate in the creation of a
want to participate in the creation of a
want to participate in the creation of a book about himself and Jim just kept
book about himself and Jim just kept
book about himself and Jim just kept banging away at it and finally he got
banging away at it and finally he got
banging away at it and finally he got Willie to agree to see him and work with
Willie to agree to see him and work with
Willie to agree to see him and work with him and and and he produced a terrific
him and and and he produced a terrific
him and and and he produced a terrific book and in the process of doing that he
book and in the process of doing that he
book and in the process of doing that he met a woman named Renee who was Willie’s
met a woman named Renee who was Willie’s
met a woman named Renee who was Willie’s assistant and caretaker Willie’s about
assistant and caretaker Willie’s about
assistant and caretaker Willie’s about 85 years old now and he is very nearly
85 years old now and he is very nearly
85 years old now and he is very nearly blind and so Renee helps him with pretty
blind and so Renee helps him with pretty
blind and so Renee helps him with pretty much everything that that he has to do
much everything that that he has to do
much everything that that he has to do and Jim put the episode about my
and Jim put the episode about my
and Jim put the episode about my halloween costume in his biography of
halloween costume in his biography of
halloween costume in his biography of Willie Mays and I think Renee thought
Willie Mays and I think Renee thought
Willie Mays and I think Renee thought that was pretty funny when she read it
that was pretty funny when she read it
that was pretty funny when she read it and Jim took advantage of that
and Jim took advantage of that
and Jim took advantage of that connection and he gave Renee this book
connection and he gave Renee this book
connection and he gave Renee this book with the page folded down with the the
with the page folded down with the the
with the page folded down with the the piece about Willie Mays and
piece about Willie Mays and
piece about Willie Mays and god bless her she read it to him st when
god bless her she read it to him st when
god bless her she read it to him st when I heard that that it happened I said Jim
I heard that that it happened I said Jim
I heard that that it happened I said Jim I gotta talk to this woman I got to find
I gotta talk to this woman I got to find
I gotta talk to this woman I got to find out what happened because Willie Mays
out what happened because Willie Mays
out what happened because Willie Mays gave me so much when I was growing up
gave me so much when I was growing up
gave me so much when I was growing up just by being Willie Mays just by doing
just by being Willie Mays just by doing
just by being Willie Mays just by doing what he did it was fantastic and he said
what he did it was fantastic and he said
what he did it was fantastic and he said all right well I’ll put you in touch
all right well I’ll put you in touch
all right well I’ll put you in touch with Renee and and he gave me her email
with Renee and and he gave me her email
with Renee and and he gave me her email address and i emailed her and I said I
address and i emailed her and I said I
address and i emailed her and I said I understand you read my daughter all
understand you read my daughter all
understand you read my daughter all about Willie Mays to Willie how did it
about Willie Mays to Willie how did it
about Willie Mays to Willie how did it go and she said well I read it to him
go and she said well I read it to him
go and she said well I read it to him and I got to the end and he said keep
and I got to the end and he said keep
and I got to the end and he said keep going and I said I can’t there isn’t any
going and I said I can’t there isn’t any
going and I said I can’t there isn’t any more and he said oh well then read it
more and he said oh well then read it
more and he said oh well then read it again
and she said so I read it to him again
and she said so I read it to him again and he got this cheshire cat grin and I
and he got this cheshire cat grin and I
and he got this cheshire cat grin and I thought I don’t have to do anything else
thought I don’t have to do anything else
thought I don’t have to do anything else I gave something back to Willie Mays and
I gave something back to Willie Mays and
I gave something back to Willie Mays and he grinned how could anything be better
he grinned how could anything be better
he grinned how could anything be better than that and I had this little
than that and I had this little
than that and I had this little connection with Renee as a result so we
connection with Renee as a result so we
connection with Renee as a result so we sent some emails back and forth and she
sent some emails back and forth and she
sent some emails back and forth and she even sent me back some doggerel the one
even sent me back some doggerel the one
even sent me back some doggerel the one thing it Willie said about the the
thing it Willie said about the the
thing it Willie said about the the doggerel was he said them he didn’t
doggerel was he said them he didn’t
doggerel was he said them he didn’t mention another catch that I made that
mention another catch that I made that
mention another catch that I made that was even better than the one in the
was even better than the one in the
was even better than the one in the nineteen fifty four World Series I made
nineteen fifty four World Series I made
nineteen fifty four World Series I made it off Carl Furillo and so I thought we
it off Carl Furillo and so I thought we
it off Carl Furillo and so I thought we got something here when Willie hit a
got something here when Willie hit a
got something here when Willie hit a single and only got two first just when
single and only got two first just when
single and only got two first just when the pitchers looked toward home he’d
the pitchers looked toward home he’d
the pitchers looked toward home he’d show a mighty burst of speed and then
show a mighty burst of speed and then
show a mighty burst of speed and then when they looked around and they’d see
when they looked around and they’d see
when they looked around and they’d see an empty space for Willie who had been
an empty space for Willie who had been
an empty space for Willie who had been on first would be on second base was
on first would be on second base was
on first would be on second base was willie mays an all-star he was almost
willie mays an all-star he was almost
willie mays an all-star he was almost always there he’s also in the Hall of
always there he’s also in the Hall of
always there he’s also in the Hall of Fame and should you ever care to visit
Fame and should you ever care to visit
Fame and should you ever care to visit that museum full of hitters who were
that museum full of hitters who were
that museum full of hitters who were great and pitchers fast or crafty who
great and pitchers fast or crafty who
great and pitchers fast or crafty who threw sinkers that sunk late and
threw sinkers that sunk late and
threw sinkers that sunk late and managers who knew the tricks of winning
managers who knew the tricks of winning
managers who knew the tricks of winning baseball games and others so
baseball games and others so
baseball games and others so accomplished that you’d surely know
accomplished that you’d surely know
accomplished that you’d surely know their names if i were to recite them hey
their names if i were to recite them hey
their names if i were to recite them hey perhaps i’ll try a few babe ruth and
perhaps i’ll try a few babe ruth and
perhaps i’ll try a few babe ruth and walter johnson and sai yeung chlamydia
walter johnson and sai yeung chlamydia
walter johnson and sai yeung chlamydia to Ty Cobb of course in Sandy Koufax
to Ty Cobb of course in Sandy Koufax
to Ty Cobb of course in Sandy Koufax also Satchel Paige who pitched until
also Satchel Paige who pitched until
also Satchel Paige who pitched until he’d reached a ripe ish oldish sort of
he’d reached a ripe ish oldish sort of
he’d reached a ripe ish oldish sort of age will Willie is among these guys for
age will Willie is among these guys for
age will Willie is among these guys for he has earned his place and so the
he has earned his place and so the
he has earned his place and so the plaques in Cooperstown portray his
plaques in Cooperstown portray his
plaques in Cooperstown portray his well-known face I couldn’t let it go I
well-known face I couldn’t let it go I
well-known face I couldn’t let it go I had to ask Renee if maybe Willie would
had to ask Renee if maybe Willie would
had to ask Renee if maybe Willie would be willing to be on the radio show that
be willing to be on the radio show that
be willing to be on the radio show that I do only a game and she said gee I
I do only a game and she said gee I
I do only a game and she said gee I don’t know i’ll ask him I’ll see but
don’t know i’ll ask him I’ll see but
don’t know i’ll ask him I’ll see but he’s he’s kind of reluctant to do that
he’s he’s kind of reluctant to do that
he’s he’s kind of reluctant to do that sort of thing and it turns out that over
sort of thing and it turns out that over
sort of thing and it turns out that over the years Willie has been stung a number
the years Willie has been stung a number
the years Willie has been stung a number of times by people who have
of times by people who have
of times by people who have tried to get him to do things and then
tried to get him to do things and then
tried to get him to do things and then ripped him off and promised him you know
ripped him off and promised him you know
ripped him off and promised him you know some sort of financial reward and not
some sort of financial reward and not
some sort of financial reward and not come through so he’s pretty reluctant to
come through so he’s pretty reluctant to
come through so he’s pretty reluctant to do that kind of thing and eventually
do that kind of thing and eventually
do that kind of thing and eventually Renee got back to me and she said if I
Renee got back to me and she said if I
Renee got back to me and she said if I give you will ease phone numbers he’s
give you will ease phone numbers he’s
give you will ease phone numbers he’s agreed to talk to you if I give you will
agreed to talk to you if I give you will
agreed to talk to you if I give you will ease phone number will you promise to
ease phone number will you promise to
ease phone number will you promise to burn it right after you call him and I
burn it right after you call him and I
burn it right after you call him and I said absolutely but I didn’t and so I
said absolutely but I didn’t and so I
said absolutely but I didn’t and so I called him and there was Willie Mays on
called him and there was Willie Mays on
called him and there was Willie Mays on the other side of the line and I said
the other side of the line and I said
the other side of the line and I said how you doing he said I’m doing all
how you doing he said I’m doing all
how you doing he said I’m doing all right he said where are you I said in
right he said where are you I said in
right he said where are you I said in Boston he said I thought you grew up in
Boston he said I thought you grew up in
Boston he said I thought you grew up in New Jersey Renee told me you grew up in
New Jersey Renee told me you grew up in
New Jersey Renee told me you grew up in New Jersey and I said yeah I did I did I
New Jersey and I said yeah I did I did I
New Jersey and I said yeah I did I did I moved up to Boston about 3540 years ago
moved up to Boston about 3540 years ago
moved up to Boston about 3540 years ago but I did grow up in New Jersey and he
but I did grow up in New Jersey and he
but I did grow up in New Jersey and he said where and I said Montclair and he
said where and I said Montclair and he
said where and I said Montclair and he said that’s where Larry Doby lived and I
said that’s where Larry Doby lived and I
said that’s where Larry Doby lived and I said yeah Yogi Berra too and then we
said yeah Yogi Berra too and then we
said yeah Yogi Berra too and then we were off and we talked for a while and I
were off and we talked for a while and I
were off and we talked for a while and I asked him if he’d be willing to come on
asked him if he’d be willing to come on
asked him if he’d be willing to come on to only a game just a phone conversation
to only a game just a phone conversation
to only a game just a phone conversation and unfortunately he was not willing to
and unfortunately he was not willing to
and unfortunately he was not willing to do that and so that was pretty much the
do that and so that was pretty much the
do that and so that was pretty much the end of my actual connection with him
end of my actual connection with him
end of my actual connection with him although at least we did have a little
although at least we did have a little
although at least we did have a little fun with it and as I say I got that
fun with it and as I say I got that
fun with it and as I say I got that Cheshire cheshire cat grin and then last
Cheshire cheshire cat grin and then last
Cheshire cheshire cat grin and then last May Willie turned 85 and so I thought
May Willie turned 85 and so I thought
May Willie turned 85 and so I thought well I better commemorate that I got in
well I better commemorate that I got in
well I better commemorate that I got in touch with Renee again and I said if I
touch with Renee again and I said if I
touch with Renee again and I said if I send you something to celebrate Willie’s
send you something to celebrate Willie’s
send you something to celebrate Willie’s 85th birthday will you read that to him
85th birthday will you read that to him
85th birthday will you read that to him as well and she said sure absolutely and
as well and she said sure absolutely and
as well and she said sure absolutely and so I did and this is what i sent your
so I did and this is what i sent your
so I did and this is what i sent your older as we all are we’re not running as
older as we all are we’re not running as
older as we all are we’re not running as we did but
we did but
we did but will always be for me the ageless say
will always be for me the ageless say
will always be for me the ageless say hey kid I thank you for the joy you
hey kid I thank you for the joy you
hey kid I thank you for the joy you brought to one new jersey kid by doing
brought to one new jersey kid by doing
brought to one new jersey kid by doing with such skill and joy the wonders that
with such skill and joy the wonders that
with such skill and joy the wonders that you did happy birthday Willie Mays and I
you did happy birthday Willie Mays and I
you did happy birthday Willie Mays and I got in touch with Renee after and I said
got in touch with Renee after and I said
got in touch with Renee after and I said how’d it go and she said well it was a
how’d it go and she said well it was a
how’d it go and she said well it was a little shorter you got half a Cheshire
little shorter you got half a Cheshire
little shorter you got half a Cheshire Cat grin but that was pretty good the
Cat grin but that was pretty good the
Cat grin but that was pretty good the end of this piece goes like this his
end of this piece goes like this his
end of this piece goes like this his numbers are impressive and they justify
numbers are impressive and they justify
numbers are impressive and they justify his fame but what was more impressive
his fame but what was more impressive
his fame but what was more impressive was the way he played the game he looked
was the way he played the game he looked
was the way he played the game he looked as if he couldn’t wait to step up to the
as if he couldn’t wait to step up to the
as if he couldn’t wait to step up to the plate and even standing still he somehow
plate and even standing still he somehow
plate and even standing still he somehow looked completely great and if you
looked completely great and if you
looked completely great and if you looked at baseball games for several
looked at baseball games for several
looked at baseball games for several million days you might not see a player
million days you might not see a player
million days you might not see a player quite as good as Willie Mays thank
quite as good as Willie Mays thank
quite as good as Willie Mays thank [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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