In their first home game since the death of Willie Mays on June 18 at age 93, the Giants have paid tribute to the Hall of Famer in a special way.
During Monday night’s game at Oracle Park, all uniformed Giants personnel wore No. 24, the number Mays wore with the club from 1951 to 1972. Mays wore No. 14 in his first six games with the Giants. before switching to No. 24, a number no Giant has worn since Mays was traded to the Mets in May 1972.
“Today is going to be an exciting day about the 24th,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said before Monday’s game. “And we’ll leave it at that as far as his number and what he means to this team, this organization, the city, the country, everything.”
Cody Bellinger, who will bat third and play designated hitter Monday night for the Cubs, will wear No. 24 for Chicago.
“Wearing No. 24, it’s special,” Bellinger told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian after news of Mays’ passing broke.
That was certainly the case again for both teams Monday night.
