Willie Mays Plaza at Oracle Park in San Francisco was filled with tributes in honor of the late baseball legend Willie Mays, who passed away on Tuesday. Fans like Carrie Brandon visited the Say Hey Kid statue to pay their respects and remember Mays’ impact on the community. Brandon, a lifelong Giants fan, shared her memories of watching Mays play and even had the opportunity to meet him as a child.
People from all walks of life, including rival Dodgers fan Jelani Adams, set aside their differences to honor Mays’ contributions to the sport and society as a whole. Adams highlighted Mays’ influence as a black athlete during his era and acknowledged the doors he opened for future generations of players like Mookie Betts.
The outpouring of flowers, notes, baseballs, candles, and dolls at the plaza symbolized the profound impact Mays had on baseball and the city of San Francisco. Brandon, who also honored Mays’ memory through music with her father, emphasized the mix of mourning and celebration in the city as they remembered the legacy of an extraordinary individual.
As the community reflects on the loss of a sporting icon, they also celebrate the life and enduring influence of Willie Mays, who will always be remembered as a legendary figure in baseball history.
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