The renowned five-tool player Willie Mays has gone away at the age of 93. He was the most impressive player I’ve ever seen play at any position. He had a fantastic arm, stole bases frequently, hit for average and power, and his defense in center field was spectacular. As fate would have it, the Say Hey Kid crossed paths with some of the most legendary Philadelphia Flyers of all time at a benefit game in Pleasantville, New Jersey, in 1980. In a benefit game, the Philadelphia Flyers’ softball team took on the softball team, and meeting the legendary Mays was an incredible thrill—even though many of the Flyers’ hockey players were famous in their own right.
Mays impressed former Flyers winger Bob Kelly, who described him as “a class act” who was always up for a conversation. Even now, the role is filled by Lou Nolan, who was the public address announcer for the Flyers back then. It was a “honor” to speak with Mays, according to Joe Kadlec, a former Flyers public relations genius who was a member of the team’s benefit softball squad alongside players such as Kelly, Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Orest Kindrachuk, and others.
The work that Mays performed for baseball will be remembered fondly for many years to come, and his contributions during the clean era will be especially appreciated. According to Nolan, Mays achieved all of his success during a clean age while playing with an unjuiced ball.
Playing stickball with kids in New York City streets, Willie Mays became a superstar, and many people were enchanted by the sport because of his boundless energy on the field. Many people were captivated by the sport of baseball because of his irrepressible passion, his cap fluttering as he sprinted for a fly ball, and his constant smile.
