ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Millions are mourning the lost of baseball legend Willie Mays.
“He’s just an Icon. It’s a loss for America, it’s a lost for sports,” said Orange County Regional History Center Curator Travis Puterbaugh.
He’s a World Series champion, two time league MVP – the list goes on and on.
“He was a five-tool player. He could literally do everything that you want. He is an instant Hall of Famer. One of the most recognizable speakers in Major League Baseball,” Puterbaugh said.
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We all know Willie Mays played for the Giants, but did you know the Giants were originally in New York?
Puterbaugh said Mays could have played in Sanford.
“He was still in high school when he was still playing in the Negro Leagues. The Giants purchased his contract in 1950. By the next year, he was in the major leagues. So there is a very narrow window where he could have been playing some minor league ball or instructional ball in Sanford,” Puterbaugh said.
Former UCF Sports History Professor Richard Crepeau said he not only saw Mays play, but actually saw “the catch” before the catch during a game in Minneapolis.
“He ran as fast as he could. Caught a ball over his shoulder very much like the big catch. He then turned and threw back to home plate. It took the air out of the stadium. Everyone was astounded. When he made the big catch in the World Series, I said wow, I seen this before,” Crepeau said.
Mays also paused his career to serve in the military for two years, not only that, he was one of the most influential figures in sports history.
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