Willie Mays talks to students at Polo Grounds site - story with pics

[Kadie]

Willie Mays talks to students at Polo Grounds site

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer – 1 hr 1 min ago

NEW YORK – Willie Mays sat on the stage of a grade school auditorium on the site of the old Polo Grounds, addressing a room full of attentive kids. A larger-than-life black-and-white photo of himself playing stickball served as the backdrop.

He was to give the "A" students a dozen baseballs along with three cream-colored, vintage 1951 jerseys, with "Giants" written across the front in script and his old number on the back. Discovering he was one baseball short, Mays pulled out a $100 bill and handed it to Kendryck Taveras, a very surprised fifth-grader.

"I'd rather have the $100," the grinning 11-year-old said. "I'm going to save it."

The Say Hey Kid gave these kids a day they'll never forget.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110121/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_mays_at_polo_grounds_2



Willie Mays sits in front of a photo of himself playing stickball at the San Francisco Giants' 2010 World Series trophy display tour event on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at the Arthur Tappan School P.S. 46 in Harlem, New York. The school is near the site of the old Polo Grounds, where Mays made his famous catch, simply called 'The Catch,' to help the Giants win the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. The Giants and Mays moved to San Francisco in 1957. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)


Former major league baseball player Willie Mays, left, speaks during the San Francisco Giants' 2010 World Series trophy display tour event on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at the Arthur Tappan School P.S. 46 in Harlem, New York. The school is near the site of the old Polo Grounds, where Mays made his famous catch, simply called 'The Catch,' to help the Giants win the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. The Giants and Mays moved to San Francisco in 1957. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)


San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame player Willie Mays (L) smiles while a student from PS 46 the Arthur Tappan School sits with the Major League Baseball World Series trophy in New York January 21, 2011. The school is located in the Polo Grounds neighborhood where the former New York Giants and Mays played before they moved to San Francisco in 1958. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)


San Francisco Giants Hall of Fame player Willie Mays smiles while a student from PS 46 the Arthur Tappan School sits with the Major League Baseball World Series trophy in New York January 21, 2011. The school is located in the Polo Grounds neighborhood where the former New York Giants and Mays played before they moved to San Francisco in 1958. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)


Willie Mays, former major league baseball player reacts during his appearance at the San Francisco Giants' 2010 World Series trophy display tour event, Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Harlem's Arthur Tappan School P.S. 46 in New York. The school is near the Polo Grounds, where Mays made his famous catch, to help the Giants win the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. The Giants and Mays moved to San Francisco in 1957. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

[TheMightyFavog]

1. If I could build a 1:1 scale model of any old big leauge ballpark

It would be the Polo Grounds. It would be kind of fun to see how today's players would play in a facility like that...

[11 Bravo]

2. Well, a straightaway hitter would have to hit one almost 500 feet to snag a dinger.

However, a right-handed, dead pull hitter, would only have to poke it about 250 feet to reach the short porch in left field.

[KatyaR]

3. Sigh....back when baseball was BASEBALL, guys loved the game,

and is wasn't just a race to see how much money you could make.

I miss the old days....