A tribute to former NY Met Willie Mays before the Old Timers Day ball game at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y., on Aug. 27, 2022.
Newsday LLC/Newsday via Getty ImagesIn a surprise move last month, the Mets retired Willie Mays' No. 24. It was a little odd, as Mays spent two largely forgettable final seasons with the Mets after forging a legendary 21-year career with the Giants on both coasts. But Mays thanked the team for a cute gesture that apparently honored a 50-year-old promise from original Mets owner Joan Payson, and no one thought much about it.
Until this week, when Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo reunited on Francesa's podcast to tut-tut the Mets for doing it. No one honors an icon, living or dead, like Francesa, and the pseudo-retired New York radio host gave the 91-year-old Mays the full Stan Lee treatment.
"Are we serious? Willie Mays hit 14 home runs for the Mets and fell down in center field," Francesa complained. "Are we serious, retiring his number?”
"Fifty years later we learn there's a secret. I mean give me a break. I have nothing against Willie Mays," Francesa said in a questionable qualifier. (He ranted about the World Series MVP being renamed the Willie Mays Award in 2019.) "... The Giants should retire his uniform from here to kingdom come. He’s one of the greatest players of all time. We all know that. But let’s be honest. He didn’t do anything with the Mets!”
Russo helpfully added that Mays "hated Yogi [Berra], and fell all over himself in the outfield."
Thank god Mike and the Mad Dog are here to set the record straight. Please hire these men to speak at Queen Elizabeth's funeral.
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