SAN FRANCISCO - The Kid from Hey Say is as popular as ever.
The San Francisco Giants honored Willie Mays on his 80th birthday Friday night in a ceremony worthy of a baseball legend, complete with a letter from the President Barack Obama celebration and a video tribute that included everyone from Commissioner Bud Selig to singer Tony Bennett.
Mays led on a trolley of field golf centre hump and received a roaring standing ovation in a packed room of more than 42 000 AT & T Park. At one point in the timeline, Mays was her face of wiping and pulling down his old giant Cap.
"I'm so happy," said Mays, wearing a black coat on a sharp grey suit, white shirt and orange tie on a cold night by the Bay. "When you have people like you guys to come and cheer for me, it is just a wonderful, wonderful feeling."
The video appears on the dashboard before Center field the first game of a series of three games against the Colorado Rockies has highlighted the career of Hall of Famer. It also includes greeting of anniversary of Hank Aaron, Bill Cosby, and former President Bill Clinton.
Home Run King Barry Bonds, Godson of the Mays, had a separate video played after the fifth channel thanking Mays for his advice over the years. Links, fresh off a federal perjury trial in which a jury recognized guilty to a charge of obstruction of justice, said that he was "an honour for me and my family, to be part of your life."
Others also had memories to share.
"After my childhood watching you on TV, it was my idea of what a baseball player might be. And became one of the greatest thrills of my presidency to meet with you and become your friend, Clinton has.
There were orange, black and white balloons that dotted the ballpark on a mayor of San Francisco day Edwin Lee said "Willie Mays day." Fans wearing hats anniversary and some even printed jersey No. 24 old the Mays coming out.
Hall of Fame, Willie McCovey, Gaylord Perry and Orlando Cepeda with some of his teammates from the Mays dating back to the Negro Leagues were present. They have honored praise from the Mays--660 home runs, selections of 24 times All-Star Game and 12 price may be the best fielder ever - gold glove but also a man who is always liked, the incarnation of the so-called Golden Era of baseball.
"If they had a Nobel Prize for baseball, Willie would have won," said the color of longtime Giants announcer Lon Simmons.
The first 20,000 fans to arrive also received a statue of the replica of one that is located outside of the waterfront ballpark, Willie Mays Plaza. The children of Willie Mays Boys and Girls Club were on hand for the festivities.
Earlier in the clubhouse, Mays eat a layered vanilla birthday cake with white frosting which was presented by the team. He has served in speaking of Mike Murphy clubhouse Manager's Office - what else? -baseball past and present.
"It really is very beneficial for all the guys, myself, to have someone of his stature - could be the greatest player of all time - stroll in our cottage and talk baseball with the guys," said giant Manager Brucy Bochy. "He has a great way to him."
Mays remained part of Giants well after his career.
It is a habitué of the clubhouse, both in the park AT & T and the formation of spring - never shy to offer some words of no-nonsense youth and veterans alike, even if the Hall of Famer moves a little slower these days.
"He is a legend and have him around here and to speak with him, just store to be in the presence of greatness, it is awesome, said San Francisco Aaron Rowand, who played field centre Friday evening."
In January, Mays travelled back at the Polo Grounds in New York in the trophy of Giants World Series tour. Then, he spoke to a room full of schoolchildren in the place began his big league career.
San Francisco captured first the title of world series of the city with a remarkable race last fall. It was the first for the Giants since Mays leads to the title of champion in 1954 in New York.
Mays was also a cornerstone during the world series last fall parade in San Francisco and among former Giants presented with champions rings stars during homestand first of the club in April.
Mays signed a table in the clubhouse this spring in Scottsdale Stadium, where it is still an annual trip, four years after link beats the record for home run by Aaron in August 2007.
Of course, the Mays legacy goes beyond giants.
Rockies Manager Jim Tracy was only 7 years old when his father took him at Crosley Field in Cincinnati to see the Reds play Mays and the Giants. Tracy he called one of the best memories of his childhood.
"I spent the greater part of the game he gazes", said Tracy. "I've seen balls hit.". I can't say that I have seen all that the hit because I didn't research it. I gazes was no. 24. "I was really".
Tracy also had the chance to meet Mays, while he was a coach of bench under Manager Felipe Alou - who was also present for the celebration of the anniversary of birth - in Montreal and has been as much in awe then, saying: "I was a man sitting there in a wheelchair is going, ' this is Willie.". This is Willie Mays. ""
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