Somehow, an easy can of corn has become a political hot potato in Harlem. There are currently two completely different proposals before the City Council to co-name a street for legendary New York Giants slugger Willie Mays — one at the 82-year-old Hall of Famer’s St. Nicholas Pl. home and the other on a highway service road near the Polo Grounds. Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez favors the service road location, but found himself stranded at third when Councilman Robert Jackson later pushed the 80 St. Nicholas Pl. location because, as he put it, “Willie Mays did not live on that service road.” And the baseball giant’s son knows which proposal is the better one: “It’s historically correct that he lived on St. Nicholas Pl.,” said Michael Mays, 54. “That would be the proper place (to honor him).” Under Jackson’s plan, the stretch between W. 153rd and W. 155th Sts. would be co-named “Willie Mays Place.” The other location — which would be called “Willie Mays Drive” — is located along a Harlem River Drive service road starting at Edgecombe Ave. and W. 155th St. Michael Mays said he was not sure why the service road was even suggested. “I don’t know what it has to do with anything. I don’t really know where that idea came from,” the Washington Heights resident said, referring to the desolate service road. That location was initially approved by Community Board 10 in 2008, but it has been stalled. Jackson and Michael Mays now hope to get the name change approved before Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, which will be played at Citi Field on July 16. Rodriguez issued a statement late Tuesday trying to toss a tarp over the controversy, saying both locations should be named for Mays.

Sat, 22 Jun, 2013 – Sun, 23 Jun, 2013

Celebrate the World Champion San Francisco Giants at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. June is Giants’ month at the Hall, and on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 the Hall of Fame will celebrate the rich history of the Giants organization and their 2012 World Series Championship. Throughout the day visitors can learn about the history of the Giants through guided tours and artifact spotlights. Trivia contests and craft stations will round out the program offerings. As a special treat, the 2012 World Series trophy will be on display for photo opportunities on both days. On Saturday, June 22, the Hall of Fame will welcome author Larry Hogan to talk about his new book, So Many Seasons in the Sun: A Century of Conversations with Baseball’s Greatest Clubhouse Managers.
This from the Hall of Fame website:
For the second time in three years, a green summer will turn orange with Giants fans as the World Series trophy visits the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. The San Francisco Giants’ 2012 World Series trophy will be on exhibit at the Museum June 22-23 as part of Giants Weekend and a celebration of the Hall of Fame’s Autumn Glory exhibit.The Giants made history with their first World Series championship in San Francisco in 2010. Their predecessors, the New York Giants, had already achieved mythical status as one of the powerhouse teams of the first century of play in the National League – winning five World Series crowns before moving to the City by the Bay in 1958.

The Museum will host its annual World Series Weekend with two days of
programming and special events. Museum visitors will have the chance to take photos of the World Series trophy and create new memories at the home of baseball, where artifacts of the Giants’ world title will be forever preserved. Many of those artifacts are on display in the Museum’s exhibit Autumn Glory, which celebrates each season’s playoff and World Series teams. Fans of the current day Giants and
of the legendary New York teams of yesteryear will watch history come alive at the Hall of Fame as the symbol of baseball excellence makes a stop in Cooperstown.
The 2012 World Series trophy will be on display in the Museum’s Library Atrium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22 and 23. Access to the World Series trophy is included with Museum admission. Giants fans can relive the team’s 2012 World Series title throughout 2013 through Autumn Glory, a tribute to the 2012 postseason. Among the items on display from San Francisco’s four-game Fall Classic victory over the Detroit Tigers are:

-The bat used by Pablo Sandoval to hit the first two of his three home runs in Game 1, tying a World Series record held by Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols.
-The jersey worn by Ryan Vogelsong, who tossed 5 2/3rd shutout innings en route to a Game 3 victory.
-The warm-up jacket worn by manager Bruce Bochy throughout the World Series.
-The fielder’s glove used by Gregor Blanco throughout the 2012 regular season and postseason.
-A bat used during the World Series by Hunter Pence.
-Spikes worn by Marco Scutaro throughout the postseason.
-Cap worn by Brandon Crawford during the postseason.
-Spikes worn by Matt Cain during the World Series.
Throughout the month of June, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host a special salute to the San Francisco Giants with daily programs dedicated to the World Champions.

For more information on Giants Weekend at the Hall of Fame, call
1-888-Hall-of-Fame.

Received this photo from Staci Slaughter and the Giants last night from the Giants Trophy Tour Day.

The NYGPS presented a check to Larry Baer at the Giants Trophy Tour in Manhattan, to the Jr. Giants Fund. The $400 was used to buy new gloves for underpriveleged youths in SF. This was our way of saying THANK YOU for the Giants remembering us as well as contributing to a very worthy cause. We continue to contribute when we can (meetings etc.) If you would like to help, let us know or contact the Giants directly.

I’D LIKE TO BEGIN BY TELLING A STORY THAT I THINK SHOWS HOW MUCH WILLIE LOVED MAE.

RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT THE GIANTS I ASKED WILLIE TO VISIT ME. WHEN HE ARRIVED I SAID THAT THE GIANTS WANTED HIM TO ASSUME A PROMINENT ROLE IN OUR ORGANIZATION. WILLIE ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE A CONTRACT AND, IF SO, FOR HOW LONG AND I TOLD HIM THE GIANTS WERE PREPARED TO OFFER HIM A LIFETIME CONTRACT. WHEN I SAID LIFETIME THE TEARS STARTED ROLLING DOWN HIS CHEEKS. HE WAS THAT SURPRISED AND THAT HAPPY.

TEN YEARS WENT BY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT A CALL FROM WILLIE ASKING TO SEE ME. SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND HE SAID “I NEED TO DISCUSS MY CONTRACT”. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED, AS WE WERE PAYING HIM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS QUITE A GENEROUS AMOUNT ANNUALLY. I ASKED HIM, “IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MONEY?” “OH NO”, HE REPLIED, “THE MONEY IS FINE”. “IT’S THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT THAT BOTHERS ME.” “THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT”, I ASKED, QUITE SURPRISED, “DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE IT SHORTER”?.. “NO, NO” WILLIE REPLIED, “I NEED AN EXTENSION”. “AN EXTENSION”? NOW I’M REALLY SURPRISED. “AN EXTENSION ON A LIFETIME CONTRACT? I NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.” “YES, THAT’S WHAT I NEED. I NEED ONE MORE YEAR FOR MAE TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT WHEN I’M NO LONGER THERE TO TAKE CARE OF HER”.

SO THAT’S WHAT WE DID – AND I THINK THAT EXTENSION SAYS TWO THINGS ABOUT WILLIE. 1] HE IS A WORLD-CLASS NEGOTIATOR AND, 2] HE TRULY LOVED MAE.

MAE WAS A SWEET, KIND, BEAUTIFUL, GENTLE WOMAN WHO LOVED AND PROTECTED HER HUSBAND. SHE MADE EVERYBODY FEEL AT HOME – I KNOW SHE MADE ME AND LARRY BAER FEEL THAT WAY. MAE AND WILLIE SHARED A VERY SPECIAL LOVE FOR
LOVE FOR CHILDREN. SHE WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
PEOPLE SHOULD BEHAVE, AND SHE HAD A VERY SPECIAL GIFT OF ONLY SEEING THE BEST IN OTHER PEOPLE.

HOW CAN SOMEBODY INTRODUCE A LEGEND LIKE WILLIE MAYS? MAYBE I SHOULD FOLLOW THE KIND OF INTRODUCTION THAT IS ALWAYS GIVEN FOR PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES – WHICH IS VERY SIMPLE – “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I PRESENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES”. BUT I WAS TOLD THE GIANTS COULD NOT GET AWAY WITH THAT FOR WILLIE.

WILLIE IS USUALLY INTRODUCED AS “THE GREATEST LIVING BASEBALL PLAYER”. OR, “THE BEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER IN BASEBALL HISTORY” – THAT’S WHAT OUR OWN MEDIA GUIDE SAYS. OR, THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYER – THAT’S WHAT BOB COSTAS SAYS. I SAY, WHY DO WE HAVE ALL THESE QUALIFIERS – THE GREATEST LIVING PLAYER? THE GREATEST ALL-AROUND PLAYER? THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYER? NO – SIMPLY – THE GREATEST PLAYER THE GAME HAS EVER SEEN. SINCE OUR GAME HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 150 YEARS, THAT’S
QUITE A STATEMENT. WOULDN’T YOU ALL AGREE WITH THAT?

BUT TO ME, WILLIE IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE BEST PLAYER EVER. FIRST, THERE IS THE WAY HE PLAYED THE GAME – WITH PASSION, WITH FLAIR, WITH BEAUTY, AND ABOVE ALL ELSE – WITH JOY. THOSE OF US WHO SAW HIM PLAY SAW HIM DO THINGS WE JUST DON’T SEE VERY OFTEN, BUNT – FOR A DOUBLE. SCORE ON A SACRIFICE FLY FROM SECOND BASE. SCORE FROM FIRST ON A SINGLE – MANY TIMES. CATCH A LINE DRIVE THE ONLY WAY THAT BALL COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT – WITH HIS BARE HAND. THE COUNTLESS GAMES HE WON WITH HIS LAST AT BAT. BUT WHAT I REMEMBER MOST FROM WATCHING HIM SO MANY YEARS WAS HIS LOVE FOR THE GAME – HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR IT, THE JOY THAT HE FELT WHEN HE WAS PLAYING. YOU SEE PICTURES OF WILLIE AND IN SO MANY OF THEM HE IS REALLY LAUGHING – LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE WORLD HE WOULD RATHER BE DOING.
SECOND, THERE IS THE WILLIE OUTSIDE THE BALLPARK. WHEN THE DAY GAMES WOULD END AT THE POLO GROUNDS, WILLIE WOULD WALK A FEW BLOCKS AWAY AND START PLAYING STICK BALL WITH NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER STICK BALL – PLAYED WITH A BROOMSTICK AND A PINK RUBBER BALL? AFTER THE GAMES WITH THE KIDS HE WOULD BUY THEM ICE CREAM CONES.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD BE THE REACTION TODAY IF ANY FAMOUS BASEBALL PLAYER WENT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD OF POOR KIDS AND PLAYED STICK BALL AND ATE ICE CREAM CONES WITH THEM?

BUT THAT WAS THE TRUE WILLIE. AND HERE HE IS TODAY – SOME 60 YEARS AFTER THE STICK BALL GAMES – STILL DOING THINGS FOR KIDS. MANY OF THESE THINGS HE WOULD DO WITH MAE.

THIRD, AND LAST, IS THE EFFECT THAT WILLIE HAS ON PEOPLE. YOU SHOULD SEE HOW THE PLAYERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE REACT TO HIM. UNTIL THEY GET TO KNOW HIM THEY ARE A BIT AFRAID TO APPROACH HIM. BUT THEN THEY BEGIN TO DO SO. AND ARE THEY EVER HONORED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO SO – CAN GO TO WILLIE FOR HELP. AND IS THERE FOR THEM VIRTUALLY EVERY SPRING TRAINING GAME, VIRTUALLY EVERY HOME GAME. THINK WHAT HIS PRESENCE MUST MEAN TO THEM. LAST JANUARY,
DEBBY AND I WERE WITH WILLIE IN NEW YORK. WE WENT TO THE BASEBALL BANQUET HONORING BUSTER POSEY AND WE LEFT THE WAY OUR PRESIDENTS DO WHEN THEY VISIT – THROUGH THE KITCHEN. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE FACES OF THE DISHWASHERS AND COOKS AS THEY RECOGNIZED WHO WAS IN THEIR MIDST. WE WENT UP TO THE CARLYLE HOTEL AND IN THE JAM PACKED BAR THE BAND LEADER STARTED PLAYING “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME”, AND EVERYBODY IN THAT ROOM STOOD AND CLAPPED. THE BAND GUY THEN ASKED WILLIE WHO HE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR – AND HE SAID MAYBE DUKE
ELLINGTON — OR COUNT BASIE – OR DIZZY GILLESPIE – ELLA FITZGERALD – AND THEN HE SAID TO DEBBY “I USED TO KNOW ALL THOSE GUYS”.

WELL, WE ALL KNOW WILLIE. WE KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED MAE, HOW WELL HE TOOK CARE OF HER. WE KNOW THIS GENTLE, LOVING SIDE OF -WILLIE – NOT EVERYBODY DOES. WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE REPRESENTS. WE WANT TO BE WITH HIM NOW TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR HIS LOSS OF HIS BELOVED MAE. WE’RE ALL VERY PROUD THAT HE HAS BEEN, AND STILL IS, A HUGE PART OF OUR GIANTS FAMILY. THE OFFICIAL ADDRESS OF OUR BALLPARK IS 24 WILLIE MAYS PLAZA. THAT’S NO ACCIDENT. HIS STATUE WELCOMES EVERYONE TO OUR BALLPARK. HE IS – AND ALWAYS WILL BE – IN OUR LIVES, AND DREAMS, AND MEMORIES.

HERE IS WILLIE MAYS.

WILLIE MAYS TURNS 82 ON MAY 6.