At ten I was playing against 18-year-old guys. At 15 I was playing professional ball with the Birmingham Black Barons, so I really came very quickly in all sports. – Willie Mays
I was very fortunate to play sports. All the anger in me went out. I had to do what I had to do. If you stay angry all the time, then you really dont have a good life. – Willie Mays
In 1950, when the Giants signed me, they gave me $15,000. I bought a 1950 Mercury. I couldnt drive, but I had it in the parking lot there, and everybody that could drive would drive the car. So it was like a community thing. – Willie Mays
When I was in Birmingham I used to go to a place called Redwood Field. I used to get there for a two oclock game. Where can you make this kind of money playing sports? It was just a pleasure to go out and enjoy myself and get paid for it. – Willie Mays