Willie Mays: The city of San Francisco honored No. 24 on 2/24/24. (Getty Images )
Willie Mays: Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Hank Thompson were the outfielders who started for the Giants in the 1951 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Army rookie Willie Mays bids goodbye to his spiked baseball shoes and holds the military-issued footwear after reporting for duty in 1952. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays playing stickball with Harlem youths in the streets of upper Manhattan in 1954. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Friends and fans of Giants outfielder Willie Mays gave him a celebration at the Polo Grounds in an August 1954 game. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: The Catch. Willie Mays makes an over-the-shoulder of Vic Wertz's drive to the deepest part of the Polo Grounds during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays scores safely with a headfirst slide during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at the Polo Grounds during the 1950s. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays scales the right center field wall in an attempt to snare a drive by Philadelphia's Harry Anderson in the ninth inning at Connie Mack Stadium. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays poses with Ted Williams, left, and Stan Musial, center before the start of the second All Star Game in 1959 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays is flanked by Roger Maris, left, and Mickey Mantle before a 1961 exhibition game. (Underwood Archives/Getty Images)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays is flanked by Roberto Clemente, left, and Hank Aaron after the 1961 All-Star Game in San Francisco. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays responds to cheers from New York fans as the Giants return to the Polo Grounds. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays holds a ball signifying his 499th career home run on Aug. 27, 1963, at Candlestick Park against St. Louis pitcher Curt Simmons. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays slides safely into home against the New York Mets in a 1964 game at Shea Stadium. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Wille Mays: Willie Mays ties Mel Ott's National League record of 511 home runs during a 1966 game against the Houston Astros at the Astrodome. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: San Francisco Giants center fielder Willie Mays holds up the ball that he hit for his 3,000th major league hit against Montreal on July 18, 1970. Hall of Famer Stan Musial is next to Mays. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays returned to New York as a member of the Mets in 1972. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays, on his knees, pleads with Augie Donatelli after the home plate umpire called Bud Harrelson out at home on a close play during Game 2 of the 1973 World Series. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays gives some pointers to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw before Game 3 of the 1971 National League Championship Series. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays stands in front of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Boston on Oct. 1, 1974. (Boston Globe/Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Willie Mays: The Hall of Famer waves to the crowd during the pregame celebration in honor of his 90th birthday before a game between the Giants and Padres on May 7, 2021. (Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Willie Mays: The Willie Mays Gate at Oracle Park is decorated for the game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants on April 9, 2021. (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Willie Mays: There are 24 palm trees in Willie Mays Plaza in front of Oracle Park in San Francisco. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Willie Mays: Willie Mays not only had his number 24 retired by the Giants, but also by the New York Mets in 2022. (Newsday LLC/Newsday via Getty Images)
