10 Facts About Willie Mays’ Time with the Minneapolis Millers

[Cody Christie]

Fans across the baseball landscape remember Willie Mays as the greatest baseball player ever after his sudden passing earlier this week. His baseball journey had multiple stops, one of which was a brief stint with the Minneapolis Millers.

Image courtesy of © Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Minneapolis Millers were a charter member of the American Association in 1902 and were purchased by the New York Giants in 1946. Twin Cities baseball fans would have to wait until the 1960s for a major league team, so the Millers offered a chance to witness greatness. Willie Mays had been playing professionally since he was a teenager, with a stint on the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. In 13 games, he went 6-for-43 (.233 BA) with three extra-base hits. After graduating high school, he signed with the Giants and played his first professional season in the Class B Interstate League. His tenure with the Millers began in 1951.

Fact 1: The Giants had two Triple-A teams, so it wasn’t guaranteed that Mays would play in Minneapolis. New York’s other Triple-A team played in Ottawa but the field and facilities were sub-par. Mays was considered a top prospect, so sending him to Minneapolis made sense. 

Fact 2: Mays helped the Millers win 13-of-19 spring training games by dominating at the plate. He posted a .408 batting average with five home runs and 29 RBI. He seemed more than ready to help the team when the regular season began. 

Fact 3: The Millers started the season with 13 road games to avoid some of the cold spring weather in Minneapolis. Mays posted a .352 batting average on the road trip, making Minneapolis fans even more excited about seeing him in person. 

Fact 4: Mays’ defense would become legendary at the big-league level including his famous catch in the World Series. There were already signs of his strong defense with the Millers. The Minneapolis Tribune wrote, “His throwing for power has lived up to reputation. … His throws are not ‘arches.’ Rather, they are power-laden, even when he throws to put the ball into the hands of a receiver on the ground.” They couldn’t have been more accurate in their scouting report of Mays. 

Fact 5: Halsey Hall wrote about Mays as the Millers prepared for their home opener. He had a simple statement that would stand the test of time. “We think you’ll like Willie.” For generations of baseball fans, this was a mantra to live by. 

Fact 6: Mays lived and played in Minneapolis before the Civil Rights Movement, so that meant he lived in an area called “one of the centers of black life in the Twin Cities in the 1950s.” He rented a room at 3616 4th Ave, which was close enough to walk to Nicollet Park, home of the Millers. 

Fact 7: Over 6,000 fans attended the Millers' home opener despite rainy conditions to get a first-hand view of Mays. The game was halted in the seventh inning but not before the star outfielder collected three hits and made tremendous defensive plays. 

Fact 8: During the homestand, Mays made “one of the greatest catches you will ever see.” He tracked down a line drive hit to the way and leaped to make the catch. Mays doubled off the runner at second base to finish the incredible play. The batter put his head down, assumed he got a double and didn’t believe the umpire when he was told that the ball had been caught. 

Fact 9: Poor weather in the early part of the season meant few Minneapolis residents attended Millers games. The team played at home for a three-week stretch and averaged fewer than 2,700 fans per game. Many hoped to watch Mays when the weather warmed up, but the Giants had other plans. 

Fact 10: Mays dominated during his time in a Millers uniform. In 35 games, he slashed .477/.524/.799 (1.323) with 20 doubles, eight triples, and four home runs. Mays also had more walks (42) than strikeouts (34). On May 24, New York decided it was time for their young phenom to get the call. 

Bonus Fact: Some fans were upset that Mays left before they could see him in person. Giants President Horace Stoneham released a quarter-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Minneapolis Tribune to explain the decision. “We appreciate his worth to the Millers, but in all fairness Mays himself must be a factor in these considerations. Merit must be recognized. … Mays is entitled to his promotion, and the chance to prove that he can play major league baseball.”

Mays was more than ready to play major league baseball even with some early struggles. His big-league career has been well documented and relived in recent days so there is no need to rehash those accolades. However, his career as one of baseball’s giants can be traced back to Nicollet Park in downtown Minneapolis, even if not many people were there to see it. 

Who do you view as the greatest baseball player of all time? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.  

 

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[strumdatjag]

Another fact: More time has been spent devoted to chronicling the tenure of Willie Mays with the Minneapolis Millers than Willie Mays spent playing for the Minneapolis Millers.  True, but I won’t fault you. 

[TopGunn#22]

In the span of about a week the sports world lost three iconic athletes:  Willie Mays, Jerry West and Bill Walton.  It was a blessing to have been able to witness each of them in televised games while still in their prime.  

[DJL44]

I love the Antiques Roadshow episode where they brought in his Millers jersey

https://www.pbs.org/video/antiques-roadshow-appraisal-1951-willie-mays-minneapolis-millers-jersey/

[Doctor Gast]

IMO he was the GOAT. It surprises me that he was MVP only 2Xs

[TopGunn#22]

He lost an MVP vote to Maury Wills in 1962, the year Wills stole 104 bases and the Dodgers lost in a playoff to the Giants and  the Yankees eventually beat S.F. in seven games when Bobby Richardson gloved Willie McCovey's 2-out line shot.  Mays played 162 games, hit .304 with 49 HRs, 141 RBI and 130 runs scored.  Mays slugged .615. 

Contrast that to Wills who, because of the playoff played in ALL 165 games that year, stole his 104 bases, hit .299 and slugged .373.  He also scored 130 runs but only drove in 51.  Wills was never praised for his defense.  His entire career it was borderline average.  Mays on the other hand won the Gold Glove in CF and actually led his team to the pennant.  There is a strong case to be made that Willie should have won the N.L. MVP in 1962.   

[RpR]

1962 was Maury Wills best year of all of his in the Major League; don't stir a pot for no real reason.

[terrydactyls]

3 hours ago, RpR said:

1962 was Maury Wills best year of all of his in the Major League; don't stir a pot for no real reason.

So what?  Make him MVP because he had his best year, but wasn't the best in the league?  Ridiculous!

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

IMO he was the GOAT. It surprises me that he was MVP only 2Xs

Mays should have been the MVP in 54, 55, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64 and 65

[RpR]

2 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

So what?  Make him MVP because he had his best year, but wasn't the best in the league?  Ridiculous!

You have some grudge against Wills?

Other wise  why support trash talk for the sake of  trash talk.

[terrydactyls]

10 hours ago, RpR said:

You have some grudge against Wills?

Other wise  why support trash talk for the sake of  trash talk.

I have nothing negative to say about Wills.  He was a phenomenal base stealer.  All I said was Mays should have been MVP.  And I really don't think the original comment was "trash talk".  The commenter just had a different opinion of Wills than you.

[twinstalker]

RIP Willie.  You and Hank were still a thing when I was a kid discovering baseball.  I first remember seeing you (and cheering against you) in the NLDS vs the Pirates. Then you went to the Mets, and I realized you were ending your career, but I was happy you got to play one last time in the World Series.  As I watched you for what would be one of your last few ABs, I munched on caramel corn and got violently ill and missed two weeks of school.  While I am sure to this day the caramel corn did not give me a two-week case of whatever I had, I have not been able to eat it since.  Plus I had a crush on a girl in my class named Lori, and you kept me away from her all that time because I soon assigned blame to what I was watching along with what I was eating.   I was watching you.  And I hope before I lost it, I got to see one of the two hits you had that series, your last.  RIP Willie.

[TopGunn#22]

RpR, I meant no disrespect for Maury Wills.  I just wanted to highlight that Mays had a much better year than Maury had in 1962 and that Willie's team actually won the National League Pennant over the Dodgers.  Ever since Sandy Koufax pitched the Dodgers to a World Series win over the Twins in 1965, the Dodgers have been my 2nd favorite team and Koufax was a player I admired greatly.

I don't understand why you're trying to stir something up from my comment, but I do notice that you frequently give "Thumbs Down" reactions to many people's takes.  That is your right, but I do think you go out of your way to be "contrary."  

By all means I am not demanding you change your adversarial nature, but the tone of your comment to me was odd and out of place.  You seem to be the only one commenting on this topic who seems to want to stir the pot.

I wouldn't even have commented back if I hadn't gotten a notice that someone commented back to me on something I'd written.  I clicked on it and it took me here.  The comments on here are a week or so old, so I'm hopeful you've calmed down since then.