Willie Mays, who grew up idolizing Joe DiMaggio, remembers their first meeting - which occurred in a rather grand setting.
The two played against each other in the 1951 World Series, when Mays was a rookie outfielder with the New York Giants and DiMaggio was at the end of his career - playing his final few games with the Yankees.
Mays said the two future Hall of Famers met at the Polo Grounds in New York.
“I was very nervous,” Mays recalled. “I met my idol.”
DiMaggio and Mays are often mentioned in the same breath - in arguments about who was the greatest baseball player of all time.
Mays, who spends every March at spring training with the Giants in Arizona, heard of DiMaggio's death Monday as he was preparing to fly to San Francisco on team business.
“It's sad to see a guy go out like that,” Mays said.
As a youngster, Mays had three baseball heroes - Stan Musial, Ted Williams and DiMaggio, who was his favorite.
“Of the three, I thought Joe had the best all-around game,” Mays said. “He could hit, throw, run and field. I wanted to pattern myself after him.”
Mays said the two remained cordial after baseball. They often saw each other at baseball functions and sometimes traveled together.
Mays was part fan, part player during DiMaggio's final series.
“Joe hit a home run in his last game,” Mays said. “I'm out there clapping for him.”
Mays still appears a bit sheepish when talking about cheering for an opponent during something as crucial as a World Series game.
“Nobody got it on film,” he said, feigning relief - even though he admits to telling the story many times.
DiMaggio, who had an operation for lung cancer last October, died Monday at his home in Hollywood, Fla. His body has been brought back to San Francisco for services. A private funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at SS Peter & Paul Church. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Halstead Funeral Home.
Mays said he won't go to the funeral.
“I don't want to go and look at somebody I knew and idolized,” he said. “It would be too sad.”