The World of Baseball

Major League Baseball has had some great five-tool players. A five-tool player can hit for average, hit for power, field well, run well, and throw well. One of those players is Willie Mays. Mays played in MLB for 23 seasons (New York/San Francisco Giants, 1951-1972, New York Mets, 1972-1973).

Mays won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1951. After serving in the armed forces for two years, he won the 1954 NL MVP, hitting .345, which led the NL, with 41 home runs and 110 runs batted in. Mays made one of the greatest catches of all time in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. The Giants won the World Series in a four game sweep.

Mays would excel over the next decade-plus. He was an excellent defensive centerfielder. Mays won 12 Gold Glove awards. He would win another NL MVP in 1965. Mays made a record 24 All-Star teams. He played the game with a childlike enthusiasm that made him beloved by fans.

Mays led the NL in wins above replacement 10 times. He led the NL in runs scored twice. Mays led the NL in stolen bases four times. He was the NL leader in home runs four times. Mays led the NL in on-base percentage twice, slugging percentage five times, and on-base plus slugging percentage five times. He led the NL in total bases three times.

Willie Mays retired after the 1973 season. He finished with 660 career home runs, which is 6th all-time. Mays has 3,293 career hits. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Mays is the definition of a five-tool player. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in MLB history.