Barry Bonds mourned the death of his godfather Willie Mays on Tuesday night in a post on social media, saying that he was “devastated” over the passing of the baseball icon at 93 years old.
“I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion,” Bonds wrote in an emotional post on Instagram. “I have no words to describe what you mean to me — you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad [Bobby Bonds] a hug for me.
“Rest in Peace Willie, I love you forever. #SayHey.”
The post was accompanied by a photo of Bonds alongside Mays with the two smiling.
Mays had been teammates with Bonds’ father, Bobby, on the Giants from 1968-72.
Mays died just two days shy of a game scheduled for Thursday between the Cardinals and Giants that will celebrate the Negro Leagues at historic Rickwood Field, the oldest ballpark in the country and the home of Mays’ Negro Leagues team, the Birmingham Black Barons.
The “Say Hey Kid” had began his baseball career with the Black Barons in 1948 before joining the Giants, whom he played for from 1951 through 1972, when he was traded to the Mets.
He ended his career with the Amazin’s in 1973.
Mays had already told the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday that he wouldn’t be attending the Rickwood Field game and would instead be watching from home.
“My heart will be with all of you who are honoring the Negro League ballplayers, who should always be remembered, including all my teammates on the Black Barons,” Mays had said on Monday. “I wanted to thank Major League Baseball, the Giants, the Cardinals and all the fans who’ll be at Rickwood or watching the game. It’ll be a special day, and I hope the kids will enjoy it and be inspired by it.”
New York, June 9, 1951. AP
Bonds is scheduled to be part of the festivities Wednesday, taking part in an exhibition celebrity softball game as one of the captains for the event at Rickwood Field.
Thursday’s MLB game will now take on a new meaning.
“With sadness in our hearts, it will now also serve as a national remembrance of an American who will forever remain on the short list of the most impactful individuals our great game has ever known,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in part of a statement.
