Willie Mays - The "Say Hey Kid" who inspired

MILLIONS OF KIDS WHO watched Willie Mays play during the prime of his major league baseball career, or were born after he retired from the game in 1973, practiced making “The Catch,” just like Mays—who died peacefully on June 18, at 93 —did that afternoon back in 1954.

- SEAN GREGORY

Throw a ball up into the air behind you, turn around and chase it down, making an over-the- shoulder grab with your mitt, and conjure up the cheers of a packed Polo Grounds. Those imaginary screams filled the vacuum of countless young minds.