Willie Mays, first HR with Mets in debut, 5/14/1972 (radio, full at bat, synced with short TV clip)
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2022
- Full at bat, with Lindsey Nelson doing the play-by-play. In his debut with the New York Mets, Willie Mays leads off the 5th inning in a 4-4 game with the San Francisco Giants at Shea Stadium with a solo home run to left for the eventual winning run (5-4 final). Photos shown in video are actually from this game. Short clip from the TV feed is synced as well (at 2:33).
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Great video and the surprise was that we saw Willie hit this full-count home run. What a fantastic swing! I love the way he stepped into the swing with such power and athleticism. His playing weight was about 170 pounds, lighter than virtually any player today.
We all love Ralph Kiner, who did the TV call (video elsewhere on YT), but Lindsey’s call is so thrilling that I matched it here with the TV feed. Also note that future Mets’ broadcaster Fran Healy is the Giants’ catcher (as noted by Lindsey, and also seen in the TV clip, and on the NY Daily News back page, shown in the video).
Also, Lindsey Nelson did play by play for the Giants on KNBR in San Francisco in the late 70s/early 80s.
I saw this on TV, it was my father's birthday so we had the game on. Best thing ever! Say hey!
Rest in peace 🕊️
How could this be 52 years ago? It feels like maybe 5 or 6. I remember that season better than last season. The Mets shot out of the gate after the strike ended, and they looked stronger than the 1969 team. Adding Willie Mays, and then having him hit one out in his first game with the team, gave the Mets fans real hope that this team would run away with the NL East flag. Mays hit another homer a few days later.
Alas, it turned out that the Pirates were actually a little better in 1972 than in their World Championship season the year before, and they started winning and winning, passing the field and running away with the division title.
So cool. Sad and beautiful that Mays went back to New York in the twilight of his career. I remember Lindsey Nelson. I love how you can see the '24' inked on the end of his bat. No batting gloves, no armor, no earflap
I remember watching this game. It was such a thrill to see Mays come over to the Mets, even though he had very little left. He almost hit three home runs in one game a few weeks later; he did hit one out and hit two other long flies that were caught.
Willie Mays at any age, back in NY where he started and always belonged, is just right.
Which is why for us older NYC fans, and knowing the history, the Mets retiring his number is just right.
@@alpineinc1 I thought exactly the same thing, 'NY' script on the blue instead of the black. Willie deserved the honor, the Mets did right by bringing him back and the fans had the joy of Willie coming back home!
I loved the New York Daily News on Willie's home run; "Over the Hill? No, Over the Wall!" Willie is great!
Yeah the way the crowd erupts says it all. It was a homecoming for a city that saw 2 great teams move out west. I know there were many new Yorkers that never got over it
That’s a great moment, thank you for posting this. I was 7 at the time.
Rest In Peace Willie Mays
That was great ⚾️ #24
Willie was 41 years old at the time
Sometimes the Baseball Gods smile down on us, and do what needs to be done.
Ironically, working in a Vegas Casino did NOT disqualify Mays from later Hall enshrinement; Bowie knew better than Bart. I'll bet the house that that Homer was a Gift Ball, booked in advance.