One is called the “Say hey kid,” and the other is called “Hammerin’ Hank.” “Say hey kid,” is better known as Willie Mays. Mays was born May 6, 1931 in Westfield, Alabama. Mays played for three different teams in his spectacular career. He played for the New York Giants until they moved to San Francisco and became the San Francisco Giants, and the New York Mets. There was nothing that Mays couldn’t do on the diamond. Mays is considered the greatest player to ever grace the diamond.The month of May was great to Mays, who was born in May and debuted in the National Baseball League on May 25, 1951, at just twenty years of age. Mays is what everyone called a prototype of a complete player because of his play on the field. Mays played with intelligence knowing when to hit for average or power depending on the situation, and his ability to field, throw and steal bases. In his debut season his spectacular play earned him National League Rookie of the Year, even though he started the season off slow.
Sport writers don’t really know what season was Mays’ greatest because each season was outstanding. Several do say if they can put their finger on one season it would be his sixth season, 1957. That season Mays had 20 or more doubles, triples, homers, and stolen bases. Others think his 1954 season was his best. That season his team won the world season primarily because of his play. In 1954 he led the league in batting, slugging, triples, and base stealing. Overall, Mays was two-time Most Valuable Player, and he also earned 12 golden gloves. Mays had 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, and a 302 batting average. Mays won four consecutive stolen-base titles from 1956 until 1959, which gave him a total of 338 stolen bases. Mays would have broken Babe Ruth’s home run record if it weren’t for injuries. Mays was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Another great legend on the diamond is Henry “Hammerin’Hank” Aaron. Hank Aaron was the last African American to play in the Negro League and National League. Aaron was born February 5, 1934 in Mobile, Alabama. Aaron played for the Boston Braves who bought his Negro American league contract from the Indianapolis Clowns. Later the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1954 playing mostly outfield.
Aaron started getting recognition in 1956 when he won the league batting championship with an average of .328 and in 1957 he led the Braves to a World Series Championship. This was the year Aaron was named MVP of the year. Aaron greatest moment came on April 8, 1974 when he made history and broke Babe Ruth’s home run record by hitting his 715th home run. Aaron’s overall career stats are 755 home runs, 1,477 extra-base hits, 2,297 runs batted in, 2,174 runs scored, and a lifetime batting average of .305. Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.