BREAKING: Baseball legend Willie Mays dead at 93

Baseball legend Willie Mays has passed away at the age of 93, the San Francisco Giants announced.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93" the team posted on X.

“Today we have lost a true legend," Giants chairman Greg Johnson added. “In the pantheon of baseball greats, Willie Mays’ combination of tremendous talent, keen intellect, showmanship, and boundless joy set him apart. A 24-time All-Star, the Say Hey Kid is the ultimate Forever Giant. He had a profound influence not only on the game of baseball, but on the fabric of America. He was an inspiration and a hero who will be forever remembered and deeply missed.” 

“I fell in love with baseball because of Willie, plain and simple. My childhood was defined by going to Candlestick with my Dad, watching Willie patrol center field with grace and the ultimate athleticism. Over the past 30 years, working with Willie, and seeing firsthand his zest for life and unbridled passion for giving to young players and kids, has been one of the joys of my life.” Giants CEO Larry Baer said.

MLB commisioner Rob Manfred released a statement:

"All of Major League Baseball is in mourning today as we are gathered at the very ballpark where a career and a legacy like no other began.  Willie Mays took his all-around brilliance from the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League to the historic Giants franchise.  From coast to coast in New York and San Francisco, Willie inspired generations of players and fans as the game grew and truly earned its place as our National Pastime. 

"Just as his career was ascending, Willie served his country in the U.S. Army in 1952 and 1953.  As the 1954 NL MVP, he led the Giants to victory in the World Series, in which he made one of the most memorable plays ever with 'The Catch' in the deep center field of the Polo Grounds.  All told, Willie was a two-time MVP, a 24-time All-Star, a 12-time Gold Glover, a selection as one of the game's Greatest Living Players in 2015, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom later that year.

"And yet his incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable.  We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field.  On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Willie's family, his friends across our game, Giants fans everywhere, and his countless admirers across the world.

"Thursday's game at historic Rickwood Field was designed to be a celebration of Willie Mays and his peers.  With sadness in our hearts, it will now also serve as a national remembrance of an American who will forever remain on the short list of the most impactful individuals our great game has ever known."

During his 23-year career as a player, Mays was primarily associated with the Giants, playing six seasons in New York and fifteen in San Francisco. He became a beloved superstar nationwide, hitting 660 home runs, participating in 24 All-Star games, and securing 12 Gold Gloves.