A timeline of Willie Mays’ career:
1931 (May 6) – Born in Westfield, Alabama.
1948 – Joins Birmingham Black Barons of Negro leagues.
1950 – Signs with New York Giants for $4,000.
1951 (May 25) – Major league debut.
1951 (May 28) – First major league hit after 0-for-12 start – a home run off Milwaukee’s Warren Spahn.
1951 (Oct. 3) – In on-deck circle when Bobby Thomson hits Shot Heard ’Round the World.
1951 – National League Rookie of the Year.
1952-53 – Serves in U.S. Army.
1954 (Sept. 29) – Famed over-the-shoulder catch in Game 1 of World Series.
1954 – National League MVP.
1961 (April 30) – Hits four home runs against Milwaukee.
1963 (Feb. 20) – Signs record contract of $105,000 for season.
1963 (July 2) – Hits 16th-inning home run off Spahn in Giants’ 1-0 victory over Braves.
1965 (Sept. 13) – 500th homer, off Houston’s Don Nottebart.
1965 – National League MVP.
1969 (Sept. 22) – 600th homer, off San Diego’s Mike Corkins.
1970 (July 18) – 3,000th hit, off Montreal’s Mike Wegener.
1972 (May 11) – Traded to New York Mets for minor league pitcher Charlie Williams and cash.
1973 (July 24) – 24th and last All-Star Game.
1973 (Aug. 17) – 660th and last home run, off Cincinnati’s Don Gullett.
1973 (Sept. 20) – Says he will retire after season.
1973 (Oct. 14) – Final hit, off Oakland’s Rollie Fingers, Game 2 of World Series.
1979 – Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in first year of eligibility.
1979 – Banned from game by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for holding casino job while still involved in baseball.
1985 – Reinstated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth.
2015 – Presented Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2024 (June 18) – Dies at age 93.
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