Paul Plaine found this May 9, 2022:
I'm still trying to learn why Mays switched from 14 to 24. With the 1951 Minneapolis Millers minor league team before being called up to the Giants, Mays wore number 28.
In 1952 Mays wore 24 but so did Mario Picone: September 16 and 27, long after Mays entered military service.
In 1953 no Giant wore 24. Mays missed the entire season in the Army.
In 1954 Mays wore 24, the number he made famous. He wore 24 for the remainder of his career, even with the Mets in 1972 and 1973.
It's 1951 NL game number five for Mays:
Venue: Polo Grounds V
Game Duration: 2:33
Day Game, on grass
First game of doubleheader, see Second game.
Giants 6, Braves 5
HR: Wes Westrum (4, off Max Surkont, 4th inn, 1 on, 1 out to LF)
Rookie Mays batted third, went 0 for 3 but with two walks. Mays led off the 4th with a walk and scored on Westrum's home run. Since Mays played in game two of the doubleheader we can assume that he also wore number 14 in that game, which was his 6th with the New York Giants.
Added May 11, 2022:
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| NY Times June 2, 1951 Maglie coming in after Lockman doubled in the third inning last night. McCullough is the Pirate catcher and No. 24 Mays of the Polo Grounders. |
Attendance: 16,875
Venue: Polo Grounds V
Game Duration: 2:15
Night Game, on grass
Giants 8, Pirates 2
In this his seventh game and first wearing number 24, Mays batted third and went 0 for 5. With the win the Giants were 22-21.
I'm still trying to learn why Mays switched from 14 to 24. With the 1951 Minneapolis Millers minor league team before being called up to the Giants, Mays wore number 28.
In 1952 Mays wore 24 but so did Mario Picone: September 16 and 27, long after Mays entered military service.
In 1953 no Giant wore 24. Mays missed the entire season in the Army.
In 1954 Mays wore 24, the number he made famous. He wore 24 for the remainder of his career, even with the Mets in 1972 and 1973.
Added May 7, 2022:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYG/1951-uniform-numbers.shtml listed alphabetically:
14:
Willie Mays
Davey Williams
Davey Williams
24:
Jack Maguire
Willie Mays
Willie Mays
1951 Giants game logs:
Jack Maguire (Outfielder, Pinch Hitter and Third Baseman) wore 24:
April 18, 1951 (Giants 1-1) pinch runner to
May 23, 1951 (Giants 17-19) replaced Hartung in RF, did not bat
May 28, 1951: Selected off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Giants.
Willie Mays wore 14 in his first six games; then 24 after Maguire was placed on waivers and before Williams took 14 July 12:
May 25, 1951 (Giants 18-19) played entire game in CF batting third, 0 for 5 to
October 3, 1951 (Giants 98-59) played entire game in CF batting 7th, 0 for 3; on deck when Bobby Thomson hit pennant winning home run off Ralph Branca.
Davey Williams (Second Baseman) wore 14:
July 12, 1951 (Giants 44-37) played entire game at 2B batting leadoff, 0 for 4 to
October 2, 1951 (Giants 97-59) pinch runner for Westrum in 9th Giants lost 10-0.
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| NY Times June 1, 1951 Infielder Artie Wilson ... was sent to Ottawa to make room on the Giants roster for Willie Mays. Now he is needed to play shortstop for Minneapolis, Rudy Rufer having injured his leg. |
Artie Wilson
Position: Shortstop
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
5-10, 162lb (178cm, 73kg)
Born: October 28, 1920 in Jefferson County, AL us
Died: October 31, 2010
Buried: Rose City Cemetery, Portland, OR
Debut: 1944 (9,562nd in major league history)
AL/NL Debut: April 18, 1951 (Age 30-172d)
vs. BSN 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: May 23, 1951 (Age 30-207d)
vs. CHC 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
2 comments:
Anyone locate a photo of Willie wearing #14?
I also am searching for a photo of Mays wearing 14, that would be quite a photo to see.
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