Stephen A. reflects on Willie Mays' importance to the game of baseball

Stephen A. reflects on Willie Mays' importance to the game of baseball | First Take

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Күн бұрын

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo and Tim Kurkjian join Molly Qerim to commemorate the life and legacy of 12-time Gold Glove winner and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays.
0:00 Tim Kurkjian reflects
3:30 Stephen A. on Mays' history in baseball
8:30 "In the presence of reverence" - Stephen A.
11:00 Chris Russo shares stories
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Пікірлер: 185

@ekim4363 Ай бұрын

God now has the CF for his team. Thanks for everything Willie.

@jacksonj3082 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays - through times of depression, WW2, civil rights - brought fathers and sons together

@stevenmeyer9674 Ай бұрын

Nice comment

@seanmcnally4818 Ай бұрын

Well said. We need First Take to talk about baseball more often.

@jamesnelson5618 Ай бұрын

@@seanmcnally4818so much For Other Team to discuss in baseball besides the Yankees and the Dodgers.

@jesusarteaga3563 Ай бұрын

best compliment for Mays, ever...

@filtrotp40 Ай бұрын

Thank God for Tim to do Mays' career justice. If it isn't about basketball, they have no clue.

@user-gq2cy4nb8p Ай бұрын

No offense but wrong. Mad dog is a master of baseball and shows appreciation to all the great players.

@popecj99 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays still has one of , if not the greatest catch of all time. The 1954 World Series Giants vs Indians. A play that will be talked about forever.

@seanmcnally4818 Ай бұрын

That team was a huge underdog to a Cleveland team that won 111 games. Giants swept them.

@bryanpotter3882 Ай бұрын

Willie mays is a legend rest in paradise Willie mays ❤

@jshorts3451 Ай бұрын

I really appreciate that First Take was willing to spend this much time to honor Willie Mays. Truly one of the titanic figures in American Sports, and deserves to receive this much coverage, even though his prime was 60 years ago and baseball is no longer THE sport that Americans watch. Stephen A clearly is a baseball fan and First Take should talk about MLB more, especially about its legends.

@I_ate_at_burger_king Ай бұрын

so many sports legends leaving us this year

@stevenmeyer9674 Ай бұрын

Willie was a six tool player. Besides the first five that we all talk about, Willie was probably the smartest player of all time.

@tigertank06 Ай бұрын

Better than Jackie Robinson?

@stevenmeyer9674 Ай бұрын

@@tigertank06 Jackie was a great player, but not even in the same class as Willie. his fame and greatness had little to do with his playing ability.

@ralphmuehlenbruch6762 Ай бұрын

@@tigertank06 Yupppppp!!!

@tigertank06 Ай бұрын

@@stevenmeyer9674 What about Yogi Berra? He was very influential too. I just watched a docu about him: very interesting person.

@paulmungai579 Ай бұрын

We will miss you 😭😭😭

@andrewbird57 Ай бұрын

I grew up in Nor Cal in the '60s. When I was 5 in 1962, my dad took me to my first MLB game at Candlestick. I remember him pointing out Willie Mays to me. I had the occasion to meet Willie Mays a couple of times many decades later when I was in my 50s.

@dabig25 Ай бұрын

Willie was The GOAT

@dionruffin3996 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays made the greatest baseball play of all time throwing the ball to home plate ⚾️

@KrazyCaN347 Ай бұрын

Rest up Willie 😢🤲🏾🤲🏾🤲🏾 my grandpa loves you

@arnoldstevenson4427 Ай бұрын

Vin Scully , Joe Buck , Ernie Cardwell. All said. Wille Mays.. was the Best they seen.. that's good enought for me..

@justinmathewson3692 Ай бұрын

You mean Jack Buck. Nobody cares what Joe Buck thinks

@tigertank06 Ай бұрын

Even better than Jackie Robinson?

@americangiant1003 Ай бұрын

@@justinmathewson3692Plus Joe Buck (I think he was born correct me guys 1969/70ish) so unless he was a genius at age 2-3 no way he saw Mr Mays live in real time via TV or going to a ballpark.

@thorntonwilliams3851 Ай бұрын

@@tigertank06Yes

@antihero5203 Ай бұрын

@@tigertank06Jackie Robinson was more of a groundbreaking-type player, still excellent, but not as great as Mays.

@drewdelucchi7992 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays was the greatest to ever do it. If he didn’t have to play his home games at polo grounds then candlestick, along with missing two years in his prime for the army, he would have had more home runs, hits, RBIs and it keeps going. Most importantly he was the say hey kid for a reason. He loved the game, loved fans, had fun, and wanted to make baseball fun for everyone.

@kevinmatthew1050 Ай бұрын

That's the craziest part that young kids and athletes don't understand today. All the old time greats like Mays and Williams and Dimaggio served years in the military. Crazy.

@seanmcnally4818 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays struck out 100+ times only once, in 1971 (age 40). He also had his only season of 100+ walks that same season.

@flame-sky7148 Ай бұрын

Yea, he led the league in On Base Percentage. The Giants finished 1st that year, but lost to that great Pirates team.

@danielroshunsmith6351 Ай бұрын

Peace and blessings to his friends and family, we'll miss you willie

@doomsday4037 Ай бұрын

The GREAT Willie Mays. & as far as putting Babe Ruth in the conversation… ruth played during segregation…Mr. Mays played in a era that wasn’t & played under great duress because of his ethnicity. That’s a major difference. Rest up, #24

@wobblertv8083 Ай бұрын

I agree completely. Pre segregation stats put them out with the trash ..Willie Mays is the greatest player of all time .👍

@JimboJazz Ай бұрын

Ruth played in beginning of dead ball era…There wasn’t night baseball then -no lights when it got late or overcast.The bats were not of the same quality..It’s difficult to compare eras-why can’t everyone just be great rather than arguing about who is best?

@spacedude1145 Ай бұрын

Ruth barnstormed regularly against negro league players. Look it up. He also hit 10 career HR against Walter Johnson who threw 90-97 MPH.

@vgus15 Ай бұрын

@doomsday4037 judt because ruth played in segregation doesn't mean he wasn't any good. Babe ruth is the best of all time

@angelmatos9143 Ай бұрын

As a fan very few athletes have given me that 'Super Human' feeling. As an 8-year-old living in Ft Wainwright Alaska, Dad & I would be next to the radio every first day of the season. My argument would be that Willie would bat 1000 that year. As soon as he missed an at bat I would argue he would achieve it the following year. It took me years to realize it was a stretch. 😂 But Willie & Roberto Clemente always seemed unreal to me.

@ralphalvarado4770 Ай бұрын

I was very fortunate to be home on leave to witness Willie's 600th Home run and then his 3,000th hit. I didn't plan it. You had to take leave when you could get it. My aunt was on the Giant's Boosters club and we got tickets. I saw him play many times as a young kid. The last time I saw him play was in the 1973 World Series. We gave him a standing ovation. I was lucky to grow up on the Bay Area. Willie was the greatest.

@calm1047 Ай бұрын

As a black kid in the early 70s, I remember a Willie Mays cartoon that came on Saturday morning. My baseball number was 24 in high school and college. 😊

@24Baseball Ай бұрын

what was the cartoon about? i was born in 95 sooo way out of my gen.

@feddi7693 Ай бұрын

What a legend💯 R.I.P. say hey kid willie mays

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567 Ай бұрын

1954 the greatest catch ever. 1961 he hits 4 homers in one game. Jon Miller (our Mark Twain of baseball) has a fitting memorial. SF 💐

@futurewarrior6969 Ай бұрын

Loved this segment

@johnkelly5202 Ай бұрын

Class act 🙏❤️ 😇

@Ant-Tee Ай бұрын

When Barry bonds was coming up on hitting record he mentioned how willie mays was best all around player in baseball that’s when I realized how good he was even though I grew up hearing about him

@falconeyes9668 Ай бұрын

I'm from the Bay Area, KNBR 680 is our local AM station broadcasting SF Giants games on radio. I was holding back tears driving home from work on Tuesday, June 18th listening to the news on the radio. Thank you all of baseball, all other 29 MLB teams helped up us mourn with our SF Giants. My grandfather on his death bed in the hospital in 2018 at the age of 95 told me how lucky he was to see and follow all of Willie Mays career starting as a rookie in 1951 in New York.😥SEY HEY to him up in heaven grandpa! ❤

@SperrySpringer Ай бұрын

This was some genuine convo , loved this vid🔥🐐

@jalalstephens7457 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays the Goat

@alexstrout9761 Ай бұрын

I love when Mad Dog talks about this, dude is so much fun to listen to on baseball history

@DannyVegasVIP Ай бұрын

One of the best of all time to do it! #RIPWillieMays

@mrbgladney71 Ай бұрын

REST N PEACE 2 ONE OF THE GREATEST BASEBALL PLAYERS 2 EVA TAKE 2 THE DIAMOND...EAS"T"EXAS RESPECT 🙏 🫡 MR MAYS A TRUE GAME CHANGER...LEGEND.

@flame-sky7148 Ай бұрын

Thanks for everybody's kind word on Mr. Mays. He did it all and then some.

@stanleysox6113 Ай бұрын

We love you willie mays you are the greatest

@rodrigogutierrez7874 Ай бұрын

Willie will always be a legend ,and legends never die

@terencewinters2154 Ай бұрын

The greatest . The catch and the throw .

@gualbertogarcia305 Ай бұрын

The GREAT Willie Mays “THE SAY HEY KID” Thanks for the MEMORIES.

@mastermace7770 Ай бұрын

The GOAT of baseball Willie Mays.

@Dante3X Ай бұрын

🙏🏾💯

@terencewinters2154 Ай бұрын

The polo grounds was a long canyon . 429 feet .

@TerryGoffigan-zj2se Ай бұрын

Growing up, I saw Willie Mays play. After outfield warm ups, he would throw the ball to the crowd of kids, and yes I proudly retrieved it one time. Unfortunately, my dog didn't appreciate the treasure we had and he decided it didn't need to exist. So much for that. Beyond that, people held their breath in anticipation of him hitting the ball out of the park every time he came up. Im not exaggerating when I say he was without peer even after teaming up with Willie McCovey. l also recall he was the only Giant that could consistently hit Sandy Koufax. He was the first player I ever saw hit 4 home runs in one game. In his prime, he would be a superstar today.I also remember when he signed a new contract ( and everyone was like wow so much money) for a whopping, $125,000, which was humongous at that time. I feel blessed to have watched no doubt one of the greatest players of all time.

@rj-vj8gr Ай бұрын

outstanding, my best to barry knowing how much he meant to u.

@trennedyblair836 Ай бұрын

Rest In Peace Willie Mays My Condolences 💐 Goes Out To His Entire Family And Friends

@haydenstevens7538 Ай бұрын

Greatest 5 tool player of all time. Rest in Peace Say Hey❤️❤️

@choward5430 Ай бұрын

I began following baseball at 6 years old in 1965, the year Willie was MVP. But it was because of my father who adored Willie Mays. When my father played wiffle ball with me, I would emulate Willie Mays! Each time the Giants were on TV, I watched him play. The first box score I looked for in the sports pages was the Giants to see what Mays did the night before. He is absolutely the greatest baseball player I've ever seen! Even when he struck out it was an event.

@Renegade-kf8fp Ай бұрын

Top 3 player of all time

@stevenmeyer9674 Ай бұрын

Top 1

@RyanAngelo90 Ай бұрын

Without a single doubt!

@user-qr9dn5ge1q Ай бұрын

@@stevenmeyer9674 Babe Ruth is the greatest baseball player ever

@seanmcnally4818 Ай бұрын

He's definitely up there. He won his 2 MVPs, 11 years apart in 1954 and 1965.

@tigertank06 Ай бұрын

Up there with Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth and Rickey Henderson.

@SperrySpringer Ай бұрын

🐐

@garrysaint-vil725 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays used to play just border line Washington heights and that when Dominican came in by then later on like in the 1960s

@davidmacwilliamson5570 Ай бұрын

That's right!!!!!

@garrysaint-vil725 Ай бұрын

Majority from the Caribbean started to come to New York or America in the 60s

@MarkDaugherty-xw1eq Ай бұрын

Willie so dame good. That the ⚾️ wouldn't get pass he. My opinion is he and Roberto Clements are the best 5 tool outfielder that seen. Over 60 + years

@stephens7905 Ай бұрын

Wow

@davidmacwilliamson5570 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays playing stick ball with kids

@feddi7693 Ай бұрын

So dope💯

@Sam-vh9zs Ай бұрын

Old school

@salvatoresultana4058 Ай бұрын

Rest in Peace to the greatest baseball player of all time

@davidtullis2810 Ай бұрын

When the Giants moved to San Francisco he had trouble finding a place to live because of his color

@justinmathewson3692 Ай бұрын

Wow. Fucked up world in which we live

@justinmathewson3692 Ай бұрын

Wow. Messed up world in which we live.

@georgehakimian5949 Ай бұрын

What is Smith talking about at 4:13? Muhammad Ali was the one that titled himself the greatest, it was him bragging about himself. Yes, Willie Mays was the best all-around baseball player that ever played the game. Willie Mays thought very highly of Joe Louis. I remember when Louis died in 1981 & Will Mays spoke about what Joe Louis meant to him. Yes, both Wille Mays & Joe Louis were the greatest in their sports.

@johnr8309 Ай бұрын

Retire number 24 baseball. Mays was the best. Mays was worthy.

@AnthonyJamielle34 Ай бұрын

Say Hey Kid Forever 🟠⚫⚾

@50000DSI Ай бұрын

~🦾💡⭐💫⚡⚡🦾Rest in Power ...to the Baseball Veteran-Legend: Willie Mays..... Never Goodbye, always Next time ...My Human-Bruther that i never met but whose story...i heard of.... 1LOVE

@fun2badult Ай бұрын

dude how the F do you become one of the greatest in the game of baseball and having had to go fight in the freaking war for 2 years too? This guy Willie sure sounds like an amazing player

@garrysaint-vil725 Ай бұрын

That catch my Willie mays is almost like catching a 🐟

@cag1763 Ай бұрын

I saw him beat the Mets with a double...ive never forgot...

@richardanderson3620 Ай бұрын

Willie Mays was NOT the greatest in his Baseball craft but he was ELITE in ALL he pursued in Life. Today's sports fans should STOP in haste labeling athletes the GOAT when the numbers and tasks say otherwise. REST well, #24, the say hey kid. Thanks to Willie Mays for making my nurturing so special by his Baseball legacy.

@StayTru101 Ай бұрын

Where would you rank him?

@zachstolpa6521 Ай бұрын

For the shortlist of players who can claim to be the greatest there is no questioning Willie mays claim to that.

@jarrettpierce5626 Ай бұрын

why do we wait til the greats have passed to remember their legacy?

@seanburrell8159 Ай бұрын

There are so many legends and things to talk about that you obviously can't get to everyone. And even then Willie Mays is consistently talked about when talking about the greats. Plus anytime someone makes an immaculate catch in a baseball game they will always show the catch he had in the World Series.

@jarrettpierce5626 Ай бұрын

@@seanburrell8159 Nah they could do a special on him, have him on, interview. we just wait til he passes then do this.

@George-gf5xs Ай бұрын

Say Hey Kid Rest In Peace, he never took a play off, he ran everything out every play.

@heismm23 Ай бұрын

IT IS TIME TO START DOING THE GOAT CONVO WITH BASEBALL LIKE WE DO WITH THE NBA

@heismm23 Ай бұрын

TOP 5: 1.RUTH 2. MAYS 3. GEHRIG 4. WILLIAMS 5. AARON

@michaelf.bender3718 Ай бұрын

How sad. We have lost 3 sports legends in the last few weeks. Bill Walton, Jerry West, and now Willie Mays.

@RaymondStone Ай бұрын

Does Mad Dog not have a black suit he could've worn with that SF Giants tie? 😅

@kk-sr1wl Ай бұрын

Only time we talk baseball.. we lost mays, aaron, west, bill russell... crazy

@gregcostello1518 Ай бұрын

Should be talked about a lot more especially now with its the only sport going on....but they won't unfortunately

@garrysaint-vil725 Ай бұрын

SAS family came in the 50s

@RichMansour Ай бұрын

Dead CF was 483 ft. What 511??

@jakedupree7268 Ай бұрын

It comes for a legend to die for them to talk about baseball sad

@lesliethurston353 Ай бұрын

Back in the days of chainlink fences

@geekUSA101 Ай бұрын

Stephen A is unqualified to speak on baseball 😂

@artax7438 Ай бұрын

😳Is it me or why did i think Willie Mays died like 10,15 years ago? and i'm a big baseball fan! Wow SMH ,anyways i'm in shock because my mind all these years was that he died. Wow i'm confused and sad. He was arguably the greatest.... Every kid, boy and girl should learn and know who he is and was.

@mordymitrani4187 Ай бұрын

Stephen A. Smith Never saw him play so shut your trapper about "imagining" what he faced Steve

@keithcarmona4338 Ай бұрын

They just don't make 'em like Willie anymore...

@register1430 Ай бұрын

More TOP shelf insights from Molly. Expensive words with no value.

@robertwilliamzeleny3987 Ай бұрын

People how will maybe was great bass game and just be things most people the catch Over short Take home run way

@jkidd697 Ай бұрын

bro does that say TWENTY FOUR time all star?

@CoachDarren Ай бұрын

Rest in peace to the great Willie Mays. And you can include race in this discussion because of the times Mays played in. But leave it up to Steven A Smith, Molly, and ESPN to push race at all cost. Molly ask Steven A as a black man what did Willie Mays represent to you? This question was so unnecessary First Take just can't stop pushing their Agenda. God Bless the Mays family. Rest in peace again to the great if not the greatest baseball player ever the say hey kid Willie Mays. 🙏

@davidmitnick868 Ай бұрын

JJ Reddick: "But Willie Mays played against plumbers and firemen. Your average minor league player would outperform Mays today"

@jamesnelson5618 Ай бұрын

Yep JJ Reddick is the Jim Halpert of ESPN.

@ShawnC.T. Ай бұрын

Barring injuries, I think Eric Davis would've been the next Willie Mays...🙏🏽🕊

@bkh0525 Ай бұрын

If he didn’t play in the Polo Grounds, he’d have over 700 HR’s!

@_EmmaGrace789 Ай бұрын

This has nothing to do with race no matter how much Molly and Stephen A. Myth want it to be.

@kingsmart5627 Ай бұрын

theyre just talking about the horrible things he had to endure. when the giants moved to San Fran he had trouble getting a place to stay just because of his race. you can't comprehend the hatred Willie and other black people had toj deal with back then

@rrmond Ай бұрын

FT doesn't deserve to talk about Willie

@jamesnelson5618 Ай бұрын

Is because they don't talk baseball that much.

@HellaFlushJdm Ай бұрын

@flamcity Ай бұрын

Candlestick Park stole over 100 homers from Willie…

@ThomasEsposito-pk5qx Ай бұрын

Just like Jackie Robinson's # 47 😢(another great) his # 24 should be retired by all teams

@davidfelizzatto6662 Ай бұрын

Takes Willie Mays to die for first take to donate a 5 min segment to baseball

@evand7390 Ай бұрын

Thought tim was smart and then calls Ruth a top 2 player ever…smh

@kelin6293 Ай бұрын

talk some baseball

@berrylee5000 Ай бұрын

Stephen a slammed his father in his book

@alexmacdonald9182 Ай бұрын

mike trout would play stickball with the kids

@gregcostello1518 Ай бұрын

Lol nah dude walked by llws kids on tv not realizing tv was still on him....today's athlete don't connect with today's fan....cause they filthy rich they don't relate with us....back then they did....dudes played their sport and in the offseason had another job...regular folk...now these dudes can't be bothered

@johnfarr2738 Ай бұрын

What a week, first Jerry West, now Willie Mays….someone do a welfare check on Sonny Jurganson please!

@TerryGoffigan-zj2se Ай бұрын

And Bill Walton, whom I played against in high school. I saw Jerry West in his prime and all I can say is he ran the fast break like no other, just beautiful. Bill Walton went 158 games between losses from hi School to his senior year in college.

@crazyunclegrant Ай бұрын

Ohtani ain't doing what he did. Offensively or defensively

@TerryGoffigan-zj2se Ай бұрын

Defensively, no. But offensively, yes. I saw Mays in his prime

@s.linastaffords6744 Ай бұрын

Stop love Jackie and Willie but BONDS is the best ever

@feddi7693 Ай бұрын

Maybe if he would of stayed clean

@d-train510 Ай бұрын

Whr you think he got his hitting skills from

@martinphillips7886 Ай бұрын

Thanks 🙏🏾 Bonds, Barry Bonds is the GOAT 🐐. Steroids or Not, he’s the GOAT 🐐

@jamesnelson5618 Ай бұрын

What about Hank Aaron?

@dav5oly Ай бұрын

Why they got to make it about race

@nate9798 Ай бұрын

ESPN is usually bad about that, but in this case they should talk about race. What a lot of these players went through in the 50s and 60s was 10000% racism.

@dav5oly Ай бұрын

@@nate9798 what did they go through that was racist? Willie mays was looked up to by everyone in the bay, White or black. Lot of revisionist history imo.

@kevindickerson9513 Ай бұрын

Because Steven a graduate from college with a degree in race baiting 😂😂😂😂😂

@GooniesNeverSayDie1980 Ай бұрын

I am more "concerned" that this is the first time ever Stephen A has mentioned that his daddy was going to be a pro baseball player in the US of A.🤨 Is this another story of Stephen A Myth's?🤔

@fcc950 Ай бұрын

@@dav5olyI don’t know maybe growing up in a time of segregation, the struggle for civil rights, being a black player in a predominately white league where support was rare to be found.