Post by seaver41 on Jun 29, 2007 23:20:03 GMT -5
sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=ArN4H8aqlX.JR.IzvqhfiHERvLYF?slug=ap-all-stars-mays&prov=ap&type=lgns
The best player of all-time definitely deserves it.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Willie Mays will be honored with a nationally televised tribute prior to the All-Star game in San Francisco next month.
The Hall of Famer, a New York and San Francisco Giants star, will be a focus of pregame activity on July 10 at AT&T Park, Major League Baseball said Friday.
On the morning of the All-Star game, the Hunters Point Boys and Girls club will be named after him. San Francisco owner Peter Magowan said during spring training he hoped Mays would be a big part of the city's first All-Star game since 1984 and first in its 8-year-old waterfront ballpark.
Ted Williams received a similar honor at the 1999 All-Star game in Boston.
"That's good, a nice tribute," Mays said Friday. "Once they honor you, it's good. They don't do many guys that way. The last one was Ted."
Mays was an All-Star in 20 consecutive seasons from 1954-73. He played for the Giants from 1951 until he was traded to the New York Mets during the 1972 season. A 12-time Gold Glove outfielder, he is fourth with 660 home runs, 10th with 3,283 hits and 10th with 1,903 RBIs.
With Mays playing a big role in the game, all the Giants can hope for now is that his godson, slugger Barry Bonds, makes the NL roster.
The 42-year-old left fielder entered Friday night's game against Arizona batting .294 with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs, needing six homers to tie Hank Aaron's career record of 755.
Bonds' bosses are in his corner, with Magowan already having said No. 25 deserves to be in the game.
"All he's done for the game, he's having a a nice year and it's in San Francisco, without question Barry Bonds should be here," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The fact he's approaching 43, he's put some good numbers up, they're still walking him. It would be great for our fans, great for baseball. I think he deserves it, too."
The Giants on Friday also did a trial run with metal detectors at certain gates in preparation for the All-Star game. Some will be fully operational for Sunday's series finale with the Diamondbacks. The full allotment will be in place for the Futures Game on July 9, then they will be dismantled following the All-Star week festivities.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this story.
The Hall of Famer, a New York and San Francisco Giants star, will be a focus of pregame activity on July 10 at AT&T Park, Major League Baseball said Friday.
On the morning of the All-Star game, the Hunters Point Boys and Girls club will be named after him. San Francisco owner Peter Magowan said during spring training he hoped Mays would be a big part of the city's first All-Star game since 1984 and first in its 8-year-old waterfront ballpark.
Ted Williams received a similar honor at the 1999 All-Star game in Boston.
"That's good, a nice tribute," Mays said Friday. "Once they honor you, it's good. They don't do many guys that way. The last one was Ted."
Mays was an All-Star in 20 consecutive seasons from 1954-73. He played for the Giants from 1951 until he was traded to the New York Mets during the 1972 season. A 12-time Gold Glove outfielder, he is fourth with 660 home runs, 10th with 3,283 hits and 10th with 1,903 RBIs.
With Mays playing a big role in the game, all the Giants can hope for now is that his godson, slugger Barry Bonds, makes the NL roster.
The 42-year-old left fielder entered Friday night's game against Arizona batting .294 with 15 home runs and 35 RBIs, needing six homers to tie Hank Aaron's career record of 755.
Bonds' bosses are in his corner, with Magowan already having said No. 25 deserves to be in the game.
"All he's done for the game, he's having a a nice year and it's in San Francisco, without question Barry Bonds should be here," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "The fact he's approaching 43, he's put some good numbers up, they're still walking him. It would be great for our fans, great for baseball. I think he deserves it, too."
The Giants on Friday also did a trial run with metal detectors at certain gates in preparation for the All-Star game. Some will be fully operational for Sunday's series finale with the Diamondbacks. The full allotment will be in place for the Futures Game on July 9, then they will be dismantled following the All-Star week festivities.
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York contributed to this story.
The best player of all-time definitely deserves it.
