Photo: Michael Nagle/Getty
Willie Mays is 90 years young!
The baseball legend marked his 90th birthday on Thursday, making him the oldest living Hall of Famer, according toESPN.
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He, along with other Black baseball players from the era, helped to break the color barrier in the major leagues.
In 1979, Mays took his place in the baseball Hall of Fame.
On Thursday, former PresidentBarack Obamapaid tribute to Mays on social media.
“Happy 90th birthday to Willie Mays!” he wrote. “If it wasn’t for folks like Willie and Jackie Robinson, I might never have made it to the White House.”
“The spirit he played with and the way he carried himself changed the game and people’s attitudes,” Obama continued. “I’m glad he’s still going strong.”
“Your impact on this game is legendary,” Los Angeles Angels player Mike Trout said in the video.
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According toDeadline, Mays will be the subject of an upcoming HBO documentary, which will use archival footage and interviews to illustrate Mays' remarkable life.
“Some say that throughout my life I have inspired others, but the truth is that so many have done this for me,” Mays told the outlet. “My teammates, my friends, and of course the fans mean so much to me. And so I hope this documentary can give back to all of them something enjoyable and inspiring in return.”
source: people.com
