Editing Willie Mays (section)

==Death==
Mays died of heart failure at a care home in [[Palo Alto, California]], on June 18, 2024, at the age of 93.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shea |first1=John |title=Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants legend and MLB all-time great, is dead |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/willie-mays-dead-obituary-17815215.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=June 19, 2024 |accessdate=June 19, 2024 |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619040918/http://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/willie-mays-dead-obituary-17815215.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/18/sports/willie-mays-dead.html |title=Willie Mays, Electrifying Player of Power and Grace, Dies at 93 |last=Goldstein |first=Richard|date=June 18, 2024 |accessdate=June 18, 2024 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url-access=limited|archive-date = June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619040925/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/18/sports/willie-mays-dead.html|url-status = live}}</ref> The day before, he had released his final public statement when he said he chose to stay in California and not attend the [[MLB at Rickwood Field]] game between the [[2024 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] and [[2024 St. Louis Cardinals season|Cardinals]] later that week on June 20.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shea |first=John |date=June 17, 2024 |title=Willie Mays to enjoy Giants' Rickwood game from Bay Area, not traveling to Birmingham |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/willie-mays-rickwood-game-19504800.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617220657/https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/giants/article/willie-mays-rickwood-game-19504800.php |archive-date=June 17, 2024 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 17, 2024 |title=Hall of Famer Willie Mays will not be in attendance for Negro League tribute game at Rickwood Field |url=https://apnews.com/article/rickwood-field-willie-mays-14d999da5a7fb363b43dce06df8f7577 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617175630/https://apnews.com/article/rickwood-field-willie-mays-14d999da5a7fb363b43dce06df8f7577 |archive-date=June 17, 2024 |access-date=June 18, 2024 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> Mays was the last surviving member of the 1954 World Champion New York Giants.

Several politicians and professional athletes paid tribute to Mays, including President [[Joe Biden]] and former president Barack Obama, as well as San Francisco mayor [[London Breed]], and California governor [[Gavin Newsom]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 19, 2024 |title=Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Willie Mays |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/19/statement-from-president-joe-bidenon-the-passing-of-willie-mays/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619175211/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/19/statement-from-president-joe-bidenon-the-passing-of-willie-mays/ |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=[[White House]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Simon |first1=Alex |date=June 18, 2024 |title=Tributes pour in for Willie Mays after SF Giants legend passes away |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/willie-mays-passes-away-sf-giants-tributes-19521436.php |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Brendan |date=June 19, 2024 |title=Willie Mays dies at 93: Tributes pour in for legendary 'Say Hey Kid' |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/willie-mays-dies-93-mlb-hall-fame/ca87c52cff9d9140df13811e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619013204/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/willie-mays-dies-93-mlb-hall-fame/ca87c52cff9d9140df13811e |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref> Fans also left tributes and paid their respects at Mays' statue outside Oracle Park.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quintana |first1=Sergio |date=June 20, 2024 |title=Fans come together at Willie Mays' statue to remember baseball legend |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fans-memorial-willie-mays-statue/3570721/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622090833/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/fans-memorial-willie-mays-statue/3570721/ |archive-date=June 22, 2024 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=[[KNTV|NBC Bay Area]]}}</ref>

On June 20, 2024, during the game at [[Rickwood Field]], the [[San Francisco Giants]] wore a patch with "24" on it in Mays' honor and his Hall of Fame plaque was brought over to the place where Mays began his career. Michael Mays, his son, spoke before the game and tribute video was played on the video board before the first pitch by [[Bill Greason]], Mays' former teammate in the [[Negro leagues]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ritchie |first1=Matthew |date=June 20, 2024 |title='Let him hear you!' Stirring tribute to Mays ahead of Rickwood Field game |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-cardinals-honor-willie-mays-before-rickwood-field-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621195357/https://www.mlb.com/news/giants-cardinals-honor-willie-mays-before-rickwood-field-game |archive-date=June 21, 2024 |access-date=June 22, 2024 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref>

A public memorial ceremony, led by Giants broadcaster [[Jon Miller]], was held on July 8 at [[Oracle Park]]. A number of Mays' former teammates attended the ceremony, and among the speakers were baseball commissioner [[Rob Manfred]], former presidents [[Bill Clinton]] and Barack Obama, and former San Francisco mayor [[Willie Brown (politician)|Willie Brown]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggarly |first1=Andrew |title=Willie Mays celebration of life: Presidents, dignitaries, baseball greats remember his life and impact |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5625586/2024/07/09/willie-mays-celebration-of-life-sf-giants/ |work=[[The Athletic]] |date=July 9, 2024}}</ref> In addition to the tributes, Mays was given final military honors for his service during the Korean War, with two service members playing "[[Taps (bugle call)|Taps]]" before presenting his son, Michael, with an American flag.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Giants hold public memorial service for Willie Mays |url=https://www.espn.in/mlb/story/_/id/40522640/giants-hold-public-memorial-service-willie-mays |access-date=July 10, 2024 |work=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>