Giants hold tribute for franchise legend Willie Mays

Updated Jun. 24, 2024 10:24 p.m. ET

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants held a pregame ceremony on Monday commemorating the life of franchise legend Willie Mays.

The approximately 30-minute tribute was held in San Francisco’s first home game since the team’s beloved star died Tuesday at the age of 93.

“He won hearts on the East Coast, he won hearts on the West Coast, and everywhere in between,” Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said during the tribute.

The tribute featured a video showing highlights of the charismatic star’s career, along with Barack Obama presenting Mays the presidential medal of freedom in 2015.

The Giants planned additional tributes for the late Hall of Famer throughout the game.

Mays played 21 seasons with the Giants and the two-time MVP and 24-time All-Star remains the franchise’s all-time career leader in home runs (646), hits (3,187), extra-base hits (1,289), games played (2,857) and at-bats (10,477), among other categories.

All Giants players and coaches wore Mays’ number for Monday’s game.

“Obviously, we’d like to win some games, you know, five games ago, we felt like we were in pretty good shape and doing pretty well, and then all of a sudden you lose five in a row. But today’s gonna be an emotional day about 24, and we’ll leave it at that as far as his number and what he means that his team was organized in the city, the country.

“Everything.”

The commemoration follows a nationally televised game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday at Rickwood Field in Alabama, which MLB heralded “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues,” honoring the legacy of Mays, along with other impactful Black baseball stars.

“We’re honored to be here on tonight and I’m sure the pregame will be a special time for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Monday’s game.

“In that perspective, glad we could be here for part of the tribute.”

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