New York Giants x Willie Mays [1954]

Hello readers/collectors/sports fans, It's been a while since my last jersey entry. Here's something for the baseball addicts out there; it's a custom made New York Giants uniform, "The Say Hey Kid," Willy Mays. There's a little bit of a story behind this if you read further below. All in all, this is one player anyone should get.


I bought this a blank from a graphic design studio and since it's practically a costume, it draws some differences from the authentics. It was blank on the back and had it crested after the greatest Giants player of all time. The numbers are also off, no doubt - but the designer only had hockey team fonts. I confirmed to go forward this because it's the closest I could get to resembling the 1954 look.


To add some good measure, I picked up this New Era San Francisco Giants fitted and it matches really well. Wanting to represent both ends of his career on each coast, this seemed most appropriate.


Born Willie Howard Mays, Jr. on 6 May 1931 in Westfield, AL, he signed with the New York Giants in 1951 and helped the team advance to the World Series. At the the end of the year, he won the NL Rookie of The Year Award with a .274 BA, 68 RBI and 20 HR. He missed most of the 1952 and 1953 seasons due to his military involvement.


He would return to baseball before the 1954 season, what many consider to be his best year. He was voted into his first All-Star Game and a trip to the World Series where he would make one the most unbelievable plays of all time, now known as "The Catch," and eventually sweeping the Cleveland Indians. Batting a league leading .345 with 41 HR, he was names the NL Most Valuable Player.


When the franchised moved to San Francisco in 1958, so did Willie Mays. While playing on the west coast, he became the ninth player to hit four home runs in one game [1961] and help the Giants appear in the 1962 World Series. He earned his second MVP Award [1965] and collected his 600th home run in 1969. In 1970, he became a member of the 3000th hit club during a game against the Montreal. In 1972, he was traded to the New York Mets where they'd advance to the 1973 World Series. Game 7 of that series would be the last professional game he'd play in.
Upon retiring, his batting average was .302 with 660 HR and 1, 903 RBI. He currently holds the major league record of 7,095 outfield putouts.


Career Highlights and Achievements:
NL Rookie of the Year [1951]
2× NL MVP [1954, 1965]
World Series champion [1954]
24× All-Star [1954-73; two games were played between 1959-62]
12× Gold Glove Award winner [1957-68]
2× MLB All-Star Game MVP [1963, 1968]
Roberto Clemente Award [1971]
Jersey #24 retired by San Franciso Giants in his honour
National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee [1979]
Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Major League Baseball All-Time Team


"I think I was the best baseball player I ever saw." - Willie Mays