How Willie Mays, the "Say Hey Kid," inspired generations with his talent and exuberance, on and off the field

Long after "The Catch" and his 660 home runs, and the daring sprints around the bases with his hat falling off, Willie Mays could still command a room like no other. "He runs the bases like a choo-choo train

Mays was a frequent visitor to the downtown ballpark in San Francisco at 24 Willie Mays Plaza with his statue outside the stadium. He would often hold court with his contemporaries and the younger generation of players who hung on every word said by a player they were too young to have ever watched play. Swings around second like an aeroplane

His commanding voice and high-pitched laugh were recognizable anywhere. He was simply the "Say Hey Kid" from his days patrolling center field at the Polo Grounds in the 1950s, when baseball ruled New York City, to his death at age 93 on Tuesday afternoon. His cap flies off when he passes third