Baseball Legend Willie Mays Is The Subject Of A New HBO Documentary

Baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer, Willie Mays, is getting the documentary treatment. The baseball great will be the subject of a new HBO production expected to premiere next year. The news comes on the same day that Mays is celebrating his 90th birthday. It was first reported by Deadline and confirmed by HBO PR.“Some say that throughout my life I have inspired others, but the truth is that so many have done this for me, ” Mays said to Deadline. “My teammates, my friends, and of course the fans mean so much to me. And so I hope this documentary can give back to all of them something enjoyable and inspiring in return. ”According to the report, Brooklyn Boheme co-director and The Hippest Trip in America author Nelson George is leading the still as yet untitled project. The film will include archival footage of Mays's career highlights including an unforgettable defensive play during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series between the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians. The memorable play became known in baseball lore as 'The Catch. '“Willie Mays is an American icon, a prime example of Black excellence and baseball’s greatest player, ” director George told Deadline. “It’s an honor to be able to chronicle his journey from the Negro Leagues in Alabama, stardom with the Giants in Harlem and to the game’s apex in San Francisco. ”Mays is arguably one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He began his professional career in the Negro Leagues and was eventually the first Black player to play in a Class B Interstate League. But Mays gained his icon status in Major League Baseball as a member of the New York turned San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. By the time he retired in 1973, Mays was a two-time National League MVP, 24-time All Star, and a 12 time Golden Glove winner. His final numbers included a. 302 batting average, 660 home runs, currently the sixth-most of all time, and 1, 903 RBI. He also holds the MLB records for most putouts (7, 095) and most extra-inning home runs (22). He was the only player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Mays was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2015.“It’s because of giants like Willie that someone like me could think about running for president, ” President Barack Obama said at the time, according to USA Today. The documentary is a collaborative effort among HBO Sports, Company Name, UNINTERRUPTED, Zipper Bros Films, and Major League Baseball. It is expected to find a digital home on HBO Max after its premiere.


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Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nashasmith/2021/05/06/baseball-legend-willie-mays-is-the-subject-of-a-new-hbo-documentary/


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