The Black Baron

Willie Mays’ career began at Rickwood Field, home of the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. In the summer of 1948, the 17-year-old high schooler signed his first professional contract to play for the Black Barons. But this was the beginning of a journey that would reach well beyond Birmingham. With Jackie Robinson having broken the major leagues’ color barrier only one year prior, Willie knew that a shot at the big leagues was possible. All he needed was a chance to prove himself, and Rickwood Field gave him that chance. Willie will be donating all proceeds from this celebratory drop to his Say Hey Foundation’s establishment of a baseball academy for underprivileged youth where he grew up in Alabama, and to restore the historic baseball facilities at his beloved Rickwood Field. Willie explains, “I’ve never forgotten the people who supported me, taught me, and helped me find my way. I want every child to have the same chances that I had, and this gives me a way to do that starting in my original hometown. Rickwood was the first place I ever got to see professional ballplayers, and I want these kids to learn the game and be inspired the way I was.”

The Say Hey Kid

This piece commemorates Willie’s early years with the Birmingham Black Barons and New York Giants, the beginning of a career in which he would compile a staggering 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, 338 stolen bases, and a .302 lifetime batting average. With a vibrant gold alluding to Willie’s bright future ahead in New York and in the Golden State, the piece captures the essence of what was being built in Birmingham and New York in the early 1950's. It was the beginning of one of the greatest careers in the history of the game. This was no ordinary ballplayer. This was the Say Hey Kid.

The Rookie

The New York Giants called Willie Mays up from the Class AAA Minneapolis Millers on May 24, 1951. The 20-year-old centerfielder was reluctant to make the leap to New York because he didn’t feel he was ready to face major league pitching. In response, Giants’ manager Leo Durocher called Mays directly and said, “Quit costing the ball club money with long-distance phone calls and join the team!” It turned out Willie could in fact hit major league pitching and he helped lead the Giants to the 1951 National League pennant. With his .274 average, 68 RBIs, 20 homers, and brilliant defense covering the Polo Grounds’ vast centerfield, Willie Mays was named the 1951 National League Rookie of the Year.

Bob Voice Wille Mays.mp3

The Making of a Giant

From Rickwood Field to Rookie of the Year. The crown jewel of the collection tells the story of Willie Mays’ path to the majors, from Fairfield Industrial High in Birmingham, Alabama, to the Black Barons of the Negro American League, culminating with his move to the big leagues with the New York Giants. The piece includes a number of never-before-seen documents and images from Willie’s personal collection - most notably, a copy of Willie’s high school diploma, in which he was assigned a career in “cleaning, dyeing, and pressing.” Willie recalls that all Black kids were assigned trade careers, while white kids “on the other side of the barbed-wire fence” were able to choose their paths and professions. Willie’s journey to becoming one of America’s most beloved sports figures and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was only possible because of baseball and the people of Fairfield and beyond who helped him chart a different path. The piece includes a voiceover in which Willie’s powerful story is told by an iconic voice of sports, Bob Costas, who will join Willie in donating to the Say Hey Foundation’s establishment of a baseball academy for underprivileged youth where he grew up in Alabama, and to restore the historic baseball facilities at his beloved Rickwood Field. The collector of the piece will receive a 65" Samsung The Frame for the art’s digital display. In addition, the owner of the piece on May 6, 2022 (Willie’s 91st birthday) will receive a large gallery print of the piece. For more detail on the documents and items contained in the piece, please see: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32452066/willie-mays-first-nft-feature-diploma-benefit-say-hey-foundation

Willie Mays

@WillieMays

90th Birthday Celebration Drop

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The Making of a Giant

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The Say Hey Kid

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The Black Baron

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The Rookie