Willie Howard Mays, Jr. was born in Westfield (Birmingham), Alabama on May 6, 1931. The "Say Hey Kid" was a great athlete in Fairfield Industrial High and later starred for the Birmingham Black Barons in the Negro American League. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1951, major league player of the year in 1954 and most valuable player in the National League in 1954 and 1965. Playing organized baseball for 24 years, he played in 24 All-Star Games and 4 World Series. Sporting News named him Baseball Player of the Decade (1960- 1969). He is third in career home runs behind Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.