The Giants are seizing a rare opportunity to pay tribute to one of their most cherished franchise legends.
On this day, February 4, also known as 2/4/24, San Francisco Mayor London Breed has officially designated it as “Willie Mays Day.” This is a fitting honor for the Hall of Fame center fielder who gained fame by sporting the iconic No. 24 during his illustrious career with the Giants.
In response to the proclamation, Willie Mays, now 92, expressed gratitude, stating, “I am honored by Mayor Breed’s proclamation and would like to thank the City of San Francisco and the Giants for this day.
The game of baseball has been great to me, and not only was I given the opportunity to play, but I was also given the opportunity to help kids all around the world. To me, this day means I am loved. This is as much my day as it is for everyone who loves the Game.”
As part of the celebration, several San Francisco landmarks, including City Hall, the Ferry Building, and Salesforce Tower, will be bathed in orange and black lights on Sunday. Oracle Park will also be aglow, featuring a decorative banner hanging from the 24 palm trees in Willie Mays Plaza to mark the occasion.
The concept of “Willie Mays Day” originated with Adam Swig, a Giants season-ticket holder and the founder and executive director of the California nonprofit Value Culture.
Swig noticed the approaching date of 2/4/24, closely associated with Mays, and reached out to Giants president and CEO Larry Baer, who collaborated with Mayor Breed to make “Willie Mays Day” a reality.
Reflecting on the significance of honoring Willie Mays, Baer commented, “I feel like I’m one of the millions of kids that played baseball in the backyard pretending I was Willie Mays in San Francisco.
Being able to continue to honor him and be part of the Giants family, especially this year when we’re going to Rickwood [Field], is really spectacular. To me, he will always be the greatest player ever. I think the majority of baseball fans that go back to watching him play probably feel that.”
Willie Mays’ legacy will take center stage on June 20 when the Giants square off against the Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala., the former home of the Negro League’s Birmingham Black Barons, where Mays played during his teenage years.
Additionally, the Giants plan to distribute 20,000 bobbleheads featuring Mays in his Black Barons uniform on May 31 to commemorate African American Heritage Day at Oracle Park.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred commended the San Francisco Giants and the City of San Francisco for their grand celebration, stating, “Our National Pastime always welcomes the opportunity to celebrate the game’s greatest living player, Willie Mays.” He further expressed anticipation for highlighting Mays’ legacy at the MLB at Rickwood Field Game on June 20.
As the oldest living Hall of Famer, Willie Mays spent 21 of his 23 Major League seasons with the Giants, serving as a significant link between the New York and San Francisco eras.
A two-time National League MVP, a 24-time All-Star, and a 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, Mays boasts a .301 batting average and ranks sixth on the all-time list with 660 career home runs.
Beyond his exceptional on-field accomplishments, Mays was known for his love of children. In 2021, in honor of his 90th birthday, the Giants Community Fund initiated the Willie Mays Scholars program, a need-based scholarship available to Black ninth and 11th graders in San Francisco, which is currently open for applications.
Larry Baer reflected on the enduring impact of Willie Mays, stating, “The imprimatur of Willie will always stick with anyone who watched him or met him. I feel blessed that it’s now been over 30 years since I’ve known him as a member of our front office. He’s an even better person than he was a player.”
