Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — In the wake of the death of Willie Mays on Tuesday, fans all over baseball are mourning the loss of this beloved American icon. And, rightly, he is being remembered as a member of the Dodgers’ rival the San Francisco Giants. Of course, for Dodger fans, the career of Mays is one of baseball’s tantalizing “what-ifs,” for the Hall of Fame Outfielder was very nearly a member of the Dodgers — twice!
In a TV appearance in the 1960s, Dodger legend Jackie Robinson recounted a story of how Dodger scouts had their eye on the young Mays. In the early 1950s, Willie Mays was already showing immense promise in the Negro Leagues, catching the attention of several MLB teams. The New York Giants scout, Eddie Montague, had been closely monitoring Mays and saw his potential as a game-changer. In 1950, the Giants signed Mays, but that only happened after the Dodgers had passed on him, according to an account of Robinson’s story in the LA Times.
Jackie says the Dodgers blew a chance to land Willie Mays when he was a 16-year-old phenom with the Birmingham Black Barons. “The Dodger players were much impressed with Mays when we played an exhibition game with the Barons,” said Jackie during an in-game interview in 1965. “The front office in Brooklyn was contracted, but Wid Mathews, Mr. Rickey’s assistant, turned down Willie because Wid said he couldn’t hit a curve ball.”
During Mays’ early days in the Giants’ farm system, the Dodgers kept on eye on the young prospect, and even came around to see his game-changing abilities. Branch Rickey, renowned for breaking the color barrier by signing Robinson, saw Mays as another transformative talent. Rickey’s interest in Mays was more than speculative; it was serious enough to warrant negotiations.
The Dodgers’ pursuit of Mays culminated in a secret meeting between Rickey and Mays’ father, who handled negotiations on behalf of his son. Rickey offered an enticing contract, but circumstances surrounding the meeting and the potential financial details remain somewhat murky in baseball lore. The Giants, however, held a trump card—they had already signed Mays to a contract, albeit with complications that arose due to baseball’s intricate system of player rights and contracts. Rickey had lost out on Mays–the player Vin Scully called his “favorite” ballplayer–again!
In 1951, Willie Mays made his major league debut with the New York Giants, and the rest, as they say, is history. His impact was immediate and profound, showcasing a blend of power hitting, exceptional fielding, and speed that would define his career. Mays became a central figure not only for the Giants but for all of baseball, earning accolades as one of the greatest players to ever step onto the diamond.
Had Mays donned Dodger blue instead of Giant orange, the landscape of baseball could have been significantly different. The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants was already intense, but adding Mays to the Dodgers’ roster would have intensified it to unprecedented levels. Imagine Mays patrolling center field at Ebbets Field, the legendary home of the Dodgers, or how his skills might have meshed with the Dodgers’ lineup and pitching staff of that era.
Furthermore, the Giants would have lost not just a star player but a generational talent who became synonymous with their franchise. Mays’ influence extended far beyond his on-field performance; he became a cultural icon, a bridge between eras, and a symbol of excellence in baseball. And for their sin of not signing Mays when they had the chance, the Say Hey Kid went on to punish Dodger pitching for the next two decades.
The “almost” transfer of Willie Mays to the Dodgers remains one of baseball’s great “what ifs.” It underscores the delicate balance of talent acquisition and historical contingencies that shape the sport. While Mays’ legacy with the Giants is unquestionably iconic, one can’t help but wonder how different baseball history might have been if Willie Mays had become a Dodger. It’s a testament to the unpredictability and intrigue that makes baseball not just a sport but a narrative woven with countless compelling stories.
