Hall of Famer Willie Mays finds it extraordinary that he now has 10 more hits after Major League Baseball incorporated Negro League records.
"Wow, that's awesome," said Mays in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. "It seems they've discovered a new record for a 93-year-old."
Considered one of the best baseball players in history, Mays hit a total of 660 home runs and earned 3,283 hits in 23 MLB seasons, primarily with the New York Giants. He's also renowned for his remarkable catch in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series – a game-changing defensive play.
Mays had some thoughts about his time playing with the Negro American League's Birmingham Black Barons as a teenager. His 10 hits with the Barons boosted his career hit count to 3,293, placing him 12th on the all-time hits list.
"I was still in school at the time," Mays remembered. "Our school didn't have a baseball team. I played football and basketball, but baseball was my true passion. So to enjoy baseball, my dad allowed me to play, but only if I attended school regularly. Graduation was his top priority."
"I believed that was the pinnacle of my career; feeling on top of the world. I was so thrilled to play with those guys," he said in the statement.
The New York Giants bought Mays' contract in 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, thus setting the stage for Mays' stellar MLB career to begin.
With the MLB now including the statistics of former Negro League players in its website's historical records, baseball legends such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb have been relegated to 2nd and 3rd place in some categories. The MLB website now ranks Josh Gibson, a prominent figure in the Negro Leagues, as the league's all-time career leader in batting average (.372) and slugging percentage.
This addition to the MLB's database recognized more than 2,300 Negro League players from 1920 to 1948.
"It's exciting to see these players being recognized for their hits, as the pitchers they faced were formidable," said Mays, adding that Satchel Paige, a renowned baseball pitcher of the Negro American League, is now ranked third place for earned run average in a single season.
Mays felt astonished by his achievement at age 93.
"I'm extremely thankful for all the people who supported me at the beginning and MLB for digging deep into our past and ensuring we receive credit for those years," Mays concluded.
Read also:
"This recognition of Negro League players' statistics by Major League Baseball has also increased Mays' personal record, with us now seeing him placed 12th on the all-time hits list."
"During his time in the Negro American League, Mays played alongside other talented players, and together, they contributed significantly to the team's success, making us appreciate the rich history and talent within the league."
