Willie Mays, an American professional baseball center fielder, was married twice, first to wife Marghuerite Wendell Chapman in 1956 and later to Mae Louise Allen in 1971.
Mays, born on May 6, 1931, in Westfield, Alabama, grew up in an athletic family.
His father, Cat Mays, played baseball for a black team at the local iron plant, while his mother, Annie Satterwhite, excelled in basketball and track during high school.
Mays began his professional baseball career at just 16, joining the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro Leagues in 1948.
His exceptional talent soon caught the attention of major league scouts, and by 1951, the New York Giants had signed him for $4,000.
He made his MLB debut in 1951, earning the NL Rookie of the Year Award after hitting 20 home runs and helping the Giants secure their first pennant in 14 years.
In 1954, Mays won his first NL MVP award and made “The Catch,” a legendary over-the-shoulder grab, during the World Series, leading the Giants to a championship.
Although his career was briefly interrupted by military service during the Korean War, he returned in 1954.
In 1955, he became the first player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a single season, showcasing his versatile talent.
After the Giants’ move to San Francisco in 1958, Mays continued to excel, clinching another MVP award in 1965 with a career-high 52 home runs.
He later returned to New York to play with the Mets in 1972 and helped them reach the World Series in 1973 before retiring later that year.
Over his 22-year MLB career, Mays amassed a .302 batting average, hit 660 home runs, and recorded 3,293 hits.
A 24-time All-Star and 12-time Gold Glove winner, he set records with 7,095 outfield putouts.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, Mays also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, recognizing his contributions both on and off the field.
Known as “The Say Hey Kid,” Mays inspired generations with his charisma and game-changing plays.
Tragically, he passed away on June 18, 2024, at the age of 93, due to heart failure. He left behind a legacy celebrated for his brilliance, sportsmanship, and enduring passion for baseball.
Willie Mays‘ Two Marriages and the Adoption of His Son, Michael
The legendary baseball player Willie Mays experienced two significant marriages in his lifetime.
In 1956, he married Marghuerite Wendell Chapman, a St. Louis, Missouri native born on November 13, 1925, who had been married twice before.
Margherite made her mark in the music industry, notably as the personal manager for The Drifters. Likewise, she advanced the careers of artists like Gladys Knight and the Pips.
The couple adopted a son, Michael, who was just five days old, in 1959.
However, their marriage faced challenges and ultimately ended in separation in 1962 and divorce in 1963, with Marghuerite taking primary custody of Michael.
In 2010, his first wife, Marghuerite Chapman, succumbed at the age of 84.
Eight years after his first marriage ended, Mays married Mae Louise Allen in 1971.
Their relationship began when a mutual friend, Wilt Chamberlain, provided Mays with Mae’s phone number in 1961.
Their first interaction was memorable; when Mays called her for a date, Mae humorously responded, “Yes, and I am Martha Washington,” sparking a decade-long courtship that led to their marriage.
Mae was born on May 26, 1938, in the racially segregated Homewood section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
She was an accomplished sprinter who pursued higher education. Moreover, she earned a degree in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in social work from Howard University.
She was a committed child welfare advocate, pioneering single adoptions in San Francisco.
Mae was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1997.
Mays dedicated himself to caring for her throughout her 16-year struggle with the condition until her death on April 19, 2013, at the age of 74.
Though they had no children together, Mays’s profound commitment and love during her illness underscored his deep loyalty and care in his personal life.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Growing up, Joe DiMaggio was his favorite baseball player, with Ted Williams and Stan Musial also among his idols.
- After retiring, Willie coached the Mets throughout the decade and became a special assistant with the Giants.
- He appeared multiple times as the mystery guest on the renowned game show “What’s My Line?”
