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October 22, 2022 - October 28, 2022 The Afro-American A5

Volume 123 No. 20–22 Volume 132 No. 48

THE BLACKwww.afro.com MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM

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JUNE 29, 2024 - JULY 5, 2024

American hero and baseball giant Willie Mays dies at age 93

AP Photo/ Paul Kitagaki Jr.

AFRO Archives

Friends and family of baseball legend Willie Mays are still mourning his death at age 93. This week, the AFRO celebrates the life and legacy of Mays, recorded in detail by the great AFRO sports editor, Sam Lacy. See A3 for more. By Mekhi Abbott AFRO Sports Intern mabbott@afro.com

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Willie Mays Jr., widely regarded as the best center fielder ever and one of the greatest baseball players of all time, died June 18 at the age of 93 due to heart failure. Mays was truly one of baseball’s most recognizable names and faces, synonymous with “America’s pastime,” and was one of the athletes that aided in making Major League Baseball (MLB) a bigger brand. People of all ages and races wanted to watch the superstar dazzle on the pitch and achieve athletic

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heights that many players who succeeded him couldn’t even reach. “Willie Mays was a part of the vanguard of Black baseball players out of the Negro Leagues who were able to play in the majors and their impact– his in particular– was stunning,” said ESPN panelist and Washington Post columnist Kevin Blackistone. Mays was born in Westfield, Ala., on May 6, 1931. He was one of 10

“Willie Mays was a part of the vanguard of Black baseball players out of the Negro Leagues who were able to play in the majors and their impact– his in particular–was stunning.” siblings. Mays was introduced to baseball at a young age through his father Willie

Howard “Cat” Mays Sr. Mays and his father were teammates on Mays

Sr.’s Birmingham Industrial League team. Through this team, Mays met Piper Davis, which led to him playing with both the Chattanooga ChooChoos and the Black Barons of the Negro League for three years while in high school. In 1948, the Black Barons made it to the Negro League World Series. After graduating high school at 19, Mays was signed to the New York Giants organization for $4,000. After dominating in the

minor leagues, Mays was quickly promoted to the big league. In 1951, Mays was the recipient of the National League Rookie of the Year award. Three years later, Mays won the World Series and his first National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. During that World Series championship run, Mays made one of the greatest catches in baseball history, affectionately referred

Continued on A3

Biden-Harris investment in Black Press goes beyond swing states By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire The Biden-Harris Campaign’s recently announced a $1.5 million advertising deal with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) goes beyond swing states and serves as a reminder of what the current administration has done for African American-owned small businesses, including the Black Press of America. “In August of last year, our campaign announced the earliest and largest investment into Black media for any reelection campaign in history,” said Jasmine Harris, director of National Black Media for Biden-Harris 2024. “This partnership with the NNPA is a continuation of those efforts and will

strengthen our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President

Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.”

The Black Press, which dates to 1827, has remained a steadfast pillar for African American voices. That mission persists today as the Black Press approaches its

200th anniversary in 2027. “I think the campaign realizes that, by advertising with NNPA newspapers, it also serves to support the Continued on A3

Photo courtesy of NNPA Newswire

Members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association receive a $1.5 million for advertising with Black Press.