(20 Jun 2024)
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
San Francisco – 20 June 2024
1. Various fans stand in line and wait to sign condolence book for Willie Mays on the field at Oracle Park
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Liana Louie, Giants Fan:
"It was just so heartbreaking to lose him. We got a lot of time with him, but it’s still really hard to understand, especially when we’re in this time of reckoning. I was really hoping he got to watch the game today, but he gets a better seat in heaven today, watching down on all of the incredible stuff. At least he got to see those stats from the Negro Leagues come in to Major League Baseball, which is so significant to see representation."
3. Louie leaves flowers at Mays statue
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mele Pomale, Giants Fan:
"His greatness, his kindness, not just in baseball, but all-around person he was, you know? When he came in, he just lit up the room. He lit up anywhere that he was at. He touches your heart and your soul. That’s why I love him."
5. Various Willie Mays statue
6. Bob Hayes and daughter Lauren play catch on the field at the memorial
7. Hayes wipes tears away while Lauren signs condolence book
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Bob Hayes, Giants Fan:
"We’re just going to miss him a lot. Obviously every game we come to, we go to that statue and say hello. It’s a tradition. We always go through this entrance no matter what. So and I’m sure we’re going to continue to do that forever."
9. Close up of Mays statue face
STORYLINE:
San Francisco opened its ballpark, and its heart, for Willie Mays.
Oracle Park, home to the San Francisco Giants, hosted a condolence book signing for fans of Willie Mays, who died Tuesday at the age of 93.
Mays, known as "Say Hey Kid," had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer and was consider one of the all-time greats.
He was voted into the Hall in 1979, his first year of eligibility, and in 1999 followed only Babe Ruth on The Sporting News’ list of the game’s top stars.
He missed most of 1952 and all of 1953 because of military service, quite possibly costing him the chance to overtake Ruth’s career home run record of 714, an honor that first went to Henry Aaron, then Mays’ godson, Barry Bonds.
He was also known for his efforts off the field to improve his San Francisco Bay Area community.
Awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015, Mays left his fans with countless memories.
The Giants retired his uniform number, 24, and set their ballpark in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza.
Mays died two days before a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals to honor the Negro Leagues at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, where Mays started his career.
Fans in San Francisco were invited to watch the game on the Giants home field. The team let well wishers take photos in front of a giant number 24 sculpture.
Many fans placed flowers at the feet of the Willie Mays statue outside the ballpark’s main entrance.
Funeral arrangements are still being made by Mays’ family.
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