Say Hey Willie Mays

I love Willie Mays.  It’s just too bad that he’s a Giant.

I have had the privilege and honor of being Willie’s friend for many years, and although we were rivals, I respect him tremendously as one of the best ever to play baseball. People ask me who the greatest player ever was and I always answer with two names: Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.

Willie and I were also teammates.  We played in Winter Ball together in Cuba for Almendares.  We also played against each other in Winter Ball in Puerto Rico.  In fact, I struck Willie out with one of my curveballs, and to this day when I remind him of that he replies, “Struck me out? Was I dead?!”

Willie once wrote me letter, and in that letter he said, “Do you remember that homerun I hit off you in Puerto Rico?  It still hasn’t landed!”

I don’t know about that, but I do know that Willie was an amazing player, and I love him very much.

Happy 79th birthday, Willie.