SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants held a pregame ceremony Monday commemorating the life of franchise legend Willie Mays.
The approximately 30-minute tribute was held at San Francisco’s first home game since the team’s beloved star died Tuesday at the age of 93.
“He won hearts on the East Coast, he won hearts on the West Coast, and everywhere in between,” Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow said during the tribute.
The tribute featured a video showing highlights of the charismatic star’s career, along with Barack Obama presenting Mays the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
The Giants planned additional tributes for the late Hall of Famer throughout the game against the Chicago Cubs.
Mays played 21 seasons with the Giants and the two-time MVP and 24-time All-Star remains the franchise’s all-time career leader in home runs (646), hits (3,187), extra-base hits (1,289), games played (2,857) and at-bats (10,477), among other categories.
All Giants players and coaches wore Mays’ number for Monday’s game.
The commemoration follows a nationally televised game between the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday at Rickwood Field in Alabama, which MLB heralded as “A Tribute to the Negro Leagues,” honoring the legacy of Mays, along with other impactful Black baseball stars.
“We’re honored to be here on tonight and I’m sure the pregame will be a special time for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Monday’s game.
“In that perspective, glad we could be here for part of the tribute.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.