Willie Mays probably wasn’t universally liked by the people in Cleveland in the fifties.
The 1954 Cleveland Guardians had won a then-American League record 111 games and reached the World Series as the heavy favorites to win.
They were facing the New York Giants, who had a kid with just a couple of years of MLB experience already turning heads: his name was Willie Mays.
The Giants shocked the world and took home the trophy by sweeping Cleveland, in large part thanks to Mays.
In addition to boasting a .802 OPS in the World Series, Mays made “The Catch”, a famous running play in which the center fielder secured a long drive with his back to the infield.
Perhaps now more than ever, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt understands how much people in Cleveland wanted to win that Fall Classic, or have another trophy in their cabinet.
However, Vogt and his family hold Mays in high regard.
It’s impossible not to like the “Say Hey Kid”, especially when he is the idol of your father.
Guardians insider Zack Meisel explains the story.
“Willie Mays was a hero to Stephen Vogt’s family. Vogt’s grandfather was a Giants fan and watched Mays from the start. Mays was Vogt’s dad’s idol. Stephen signed with/ the Giants in 2019 and took a picture with/ Mays that spring. The framed photo sits on a shelf in Vogt’s dad’s office,” Meisel wrote.
Willie Mays was a hero to Stephen Vogt's family. Vogt’s grandfather was a Giants fan and watched Mays from the start. Mays was Vogt’s dad’s idol. Stephen signed w/ the Giants in 2019 and took a picture w/ Mays that spring. The framed photo sits on a shelf in Vogt’s dad’s office.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) June 19, 2024
Vogt, as nearly every baseball fan in the world, is devastated by the news of Mays’ passing.
He was one of the reasons his family loves the game so much.
Mays was, truly, a baseball role model for his grandfather, his father, and Vogt himself.
His spirit will live on among those who loved, respected, and admired him.
Vogt is proudly one of those people.
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