METS RETIRE WILLIE MAYS’ UNIFORM #24
FLUSHING, N.Y., August 27, 2022 – The New York Mets today announced that the club retired Willie Mays’ uniform #24 as part of the Old Timers’ Day ceremonies.
Mays, 91, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, spent the final two years of his illustrious career with the Mets (1972-1973). His final home run, the 660th of his career, came on August 17, 1973 vs. Cincinnati at Shea Stadium.
“I want to thank Steve and Alex Cohen for making this day possible and embracing Mets history,” Mays said. “I can never forget the way it felt to return to New York to play for all the loyal Mets fans. I’m tremendously proud I ended my career in Queens with the Mets during the ’73 World Series. It’s an honor to have my number retired in my two favorite cities – New York and San Francisco. New York was a magical place to play baseball.”
Mays was a 24-time All-Star, two-time MVP and earned 12 Gold Gloves. When he retired, he was third in homers, runs (2,062) and total bases (6,080), seventh in hits (3,293) and RBI (1,909) and first in putouts by an outfielder (7,112). He was the first player in major league history with 300 or more homers and 300 or more stolen bases.
Mays played for the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds from 1951-1957 before the Giants moved to San Francisco where he played from 1958 until he was traded to the Mets on May 11, 1972.
The Mets have retired #37 for Manager Casey Stengel, #14 for Manager Gil Hodges, #41 for Tom Seaver, #31 for Mike Piazza, #36 for Jerry Koosman, #17 for Keith Hernandez and #42 across baseball for Jackie Robinson.
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