Cepeda joined the Giants organization in 1955 when the franchise was still based in New York. He was called up to the big leagues as a 20-year-old in 1958 and won NL Rookie of the Year after hitting .312/.342/.512 with 25 homers in 148 games.
Nicknamed Baby Bull, Cepeda was an 11-time All-Star selection in 17 seasons. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Giants before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in May 1966. He was named NL MVP and led the Cardinals to the World Series title in 1967.
After three seasons with the Cardinals, Cepeda was traded by the Atlanta Braves prior to the start of the 1969 campaign. He spent three years in Atlanta before injuries started to diminish his ability.
Cepeda had stints with the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals before retiring after the 1974 season. He finished his career with a .297/.350/.499 slash line, 379 homers and 1,365 RBI in 2,124 games.
In addition to his stellar playing career, Cepeda was renowned for his humanitarian work off the field. The Orlando Cepeda Foundation promotes and rewards academic, athletic and leadership excellence in young people.
Cepeda was a member of the Giants Community Fund Advisory Board and worked as a community representative for the organization. His No. 30 was retired by the Giants in 1999, the same year he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Willie Mays Patch Photo Revealed for Giants' Uniforms After MLB Icon's Death
Jun 19, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 18: An image of Willie Mays is displayed on the video board while everyone observed a moment of silence during the sixth inning of a game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on June 18, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs defeated the Giants 5-2. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants revealed Wednesday the patch they will wear on their jerseys to honor legendary outfielder and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays following his death.
In remembrance of the "Say Hey Kid," the patches will feature Mays' last name and his iconic No. 24 jersey number:
The Giants announced Tuesday that Mays died peacefully at the age of 93:
It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93. pic.twitter.com/Qk4NySCFZQ
Mays is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and he spent 21 of his 23 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Giants.
In addition to his time with the Giants, Mays spent parts of two seasons as a member of the New York Mets and one year with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League.
Over the course of 3,005 regular-season games and 33 postseason games, Mays was a 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove Award winner, two-time National League MVP, one-time batting champion, one-time World Series champion and the 1951 NL Rookie of the Year.
Mays was also a career .301 hitter with 660 home runs, 1,909 RBI, 3,293 hits, 2,068 runs scored and 339 stolen bases.
He ranks sixth on the MLB all-time home run list, seventh in runs scored, 12th in runs scored and 13th in hits, and he is considered arguably the most complete player in baseball history thanks to his speed on the basepaths and defensive prowess in center field to go along with his hitting excellence.
Mays was originally supposed to attend a game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, this Thursday, but he announced Monday that he would not be able to attend.
Since Mays was a Giants legend and his first major professional season was played for the Black Barons at Rickwood Field, plans were in place for Mays to be honored at the game.
While Mays' historic career will still be celebrated Thursday, it will also be a posthumous celebration of his life.
MLB Legend Barry Bonds 'Devastated' By Willie Mays' Death: 'I Love You Forever'
Jun 19, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO - APRIL 3: Willie Mays and Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants wave to the crowd before the Opening Day game against the San Diego Padres on April 3, 2007 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. The Padres won 7-0. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Barry Bonds and Willie Mays are two of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport, but their connection goes beyond their on-field greatness and importance in San Francisco Giants' history.
Mays was Bonds' godfather, and the latter reacted to the legend's death at 93 years old on Tuesday.
"I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion," Bonds wrote on his Instagram page. "I have no words to describe what you mean to me- you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me. Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever."
Barry Bonds shared a heartfelt message about Willie Mays on his Instagram. 🧡🖤 pic.twitter.com/pTWa2rZ5nk
Mays, who was known as the "Say Hey Kid," was a baseball icon thanks to a career that included more than 20 years in the major leagues (1951-73), a start as a teenager on the Negro Leagues' Birmingham Black Barons and some of the sport's most memorable moments, including The Catch in the 1954 World Series.
In all, he finished his career with a World Series title, two MVPs, a National League Rookie of the Year, a batting title, 12 Gold Gloves and an incredible 24 All-Star Game selections.
He is sixth all time in home runs (660), seventh in runs scored (2,068), 12th in RBI (1,909) and 13th in hits (3,293).
Bonds sits atop that all-time home run leaderboard with 762 long balls and also holds the record for the most home runs in a single season with 73, which he reached in 2001.
It is remarkable that two of the sport's best-known and most-accomplished legends had a godfather-godson relationship and played the majority of their career for the same franchise in the Giants.
Mays was an important figure to Bonds, which was clear during the legend's life and with the latter's statement on Tuesday.
Bonds' father, Bobby Bonds, also played for the Giants. He died in 2003 and was unable to attend the ceremony when the Giants retired Barry Bonds' No. 25 in 2018. In addition to talking about his father, Bonds called Mays a second father figure to him during his speech on that day.
Mays also spoke at the event and even pushed for Bonds' inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame:
Willie Mays telling the crowd Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame. "Vote this guy in," Mays said during speech. Crowd erupts.
Bonds also said Mays was part of his motivation for returning to baseball as the Miami Marlins' hitting coach in 2015.
"I need to try this," he said, per Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. "I'll never know if I like it unless I try. Baseball, that's my thing, that's who I am. With everything I've done as a hitter, I'm the best at that. I wouldn't have been able to do it unless the opportunity came up. So I figured, if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it the way my dad would have done it. I've got to be in the trenches with them.
"I could come in for a day or two and give them tips and things, but what happens when a guy really loses it and you're not there? See what I mean? So I kind of want to honor my dad for what he did. Honor my godfather [Mays] for what he did."
He honored Mays again with his statement on Tuesday.
Willie Mays Dies at 93; MLB Hall of Famer Won 2 MVPs, 1954 World Series with Giants
Jun 19, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MAY 07: Hall of Famer Willie Mays waves to the crowd during the pre-game celebration in honor of his 90th birthday prior to the game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday, May 7, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
One of the most iconic figures in baseball history died Tuesday.
The San Francisco Giants announced Hall of Famer Willie Mays died at the age of 93. The announcement said he "passed away peacefully this afternoon."
It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93. pic.twitter.com/Qk4NySCFZQ
Josh Dubow of the Associated Press relayed a quote from Mays' son, Michael, that said, "My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life's blood."
Mays is best known for his time on the Giants, but he finished his career on the New York Mets. The team released a statement as well:
We join the baseball world in mourning the passing of Willie Mays.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also released a statement, saying that Thursday's game between the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, will feature a pregame ceremony to honor Mays.
Rickwood Field was home to the Negro Leagues' Birmingham Black Barons, a franchise that produced the likes of Mays, Satchel Paige and Mule Suttles.
Commissioner Rob Manfred on the passing of Willie Mays:
"His incredible achievements and statistics do not begin to describe the awe that came with watching Willie Mays dominate the game in every way imaginable. We will never forget this true Giant on and off the field." pic.twitter.com/EOtEMwQzTd
It was just Monday that Mays released a statement explaining how important Rickwood Field was to him and expressing how much he wished he could attend the upcoming game:
Following his time with the Black Barons as a teenager, Mays went to Major League Baseball. While he played for the Mets during the final two seasons of his illustrious career in 1972 and 1973, he will forever be associated with the Giants.
He suited up for the New York/San Francisco Giants from 1951 until they traded him to the Mets in 1972 with the only break in that span coming in 1953 because of his military service. He returned as if he never left and led the Giants to a World Series title as the National League MVP in 1954.
Mays slashed .345/.411/.667 with 41 home runs, 110 RBI and a league-best 13 triples that season as an unstoppable two-way star in the early stages of one of the best careers in baseball history.
That career produced a resume that included the World Series crown, two MVPs, a National League Rookie of the Year, a batting title, 12 Gold Gloves and a stunning 24 All-Star Game selections.
Mays retired with a .301/.384/.557 slash line, 660 home runs and 1,909 RBI. Only his godson, Barry Bonds, along with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez have hit more home runs in MLB history.
The power stood out, but so did the glove. The Say Hey Kid also made arguably the most famous play in baseball history with what is fittingly deemed The Catch during Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against Cleveland.
It looked like Cleveland's Vic Wertz was going to break the game open with a deep drive to center when the game was tied at two and two runners on base in the eighth inning, but Mays sprinted straight back and made an unbelievable basket catch over his shoulder. He quickly got the ball back into the infield and prevented anyone from scoring.
The Giants went on to win the game 5-2 in extra innings.
It was the defining on-field moment of an astounding career, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Mays, who served in the Korean War and was the 10th Black player in major league history, also made quite the impact off the field.
Then-President Barack Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
"His quiet example while excelling on one of America's biggest stages helped carry forward the banner of civil rights," Obama said. "It's because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president."
Today, the World Series MVP is named after Mays, and the Giants' Oracle Park is located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza with a statue of the all-time great. The city also hosts Willie Mays Day every May 24.
MLB Rumors: Matt Chapman, Blake Snell Unlikely to be Traded Due to Giants Contracts
Jun 4, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 2: Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park on June 2, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants are reportedly unlikely to find much traction in trading third baseman Matt Chapman or starting pitcher Blake Snell before the deadline.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reported the player options owned by Chapman and Snell are unattractive to potential trade partners.
Chapman signed a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason that includes player options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and a mutual option for the 2027 campaign. Snell's two-year, $62 million deal includes a $38.5 million option for next season.
The contractual flexibility makes Chapman and Snell unattractive for very different reasons. Chapman is in the midst of a solid 2024 campaign and seems like a strong bet to re-enter free agency this winter in hopes of finding a more robust market than last offseason. It's likely any team acquiring Chapman would be doing so knowing he's a rental.
Snell, meanwhile, is mired in the worst season of his professional career. The reigning NL Cy Young winner is 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA and 1.94 WHIP over his first six starts with the Giants. San Francisco placed Snell on the 15-day injured list with a groin strain on Monday.
Even if Snell doesn't have any real long-term money on the books, a $38.5 million paycheck for someone who has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this season isn't exactly going to draw a crowd of suitors.
Giants' Jung Hoo Lee to Undergo Season-Ending Surgery on Shoulder Injury
May 17, 2024
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 08: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants bats against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning at Coors Field on May 07, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee will miss the remainder of his first MLB season after undergoing surgery to repair his labrum, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic.
Lee suffered a dislocated left shoulder during the Giants' victory over the Cincinnati Reds on May 12. After signing a six-year deal worth $113 million with San Francisco as an international free agent in December 2023, the 25-year-old's inaugural season will come to an end after 37 games.
Lee sustained the injury following a hard collision with the centerfield wall as he attempted to make a leaping grab in the first inning. He struggled to stay healthy prior to his shoulder issue, as he missed three games from May 9 through May 11 after fouling a ball into his foot against the Colorado Rockies.
After batting over .300 during every season in his KBO career, Lee's hitting prowess carried over to San Francisco despite a lack of power at the plate. In 37 games, he hit .262 with a .641 OPS. He recorded two home runs, eight RBIs, and two stolen bases.
Lee appeared to grow more comfortable as the season continued, as he racked up a mere eight hits in his first 45 plate appearances. Following that stretch, he hit .283 over his next 26 games before suffering the shoulder injury.
Luis Matos has moved over to centerfield following Lee's injury, and should continue to remain in the lineup moving forward. Matos has gotten off to a commendable start as a replacement, hitting .250 with one home run and six RBIs in five games.
The Giants will be hoping that the 22-year-old can stay hot and help the team potentially challenge for a postseason berth, as San Francisco sits at No. 4 in the NL West with a 20-25 record entering Friday's action.
Giants' Jung Hoo Lee Diagnosed with Dislocated Shoulder Injury After Exiting vs. Reds
May 13, 2024
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 12: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants comes off the field after being injured in the top of the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park on May 12, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)
The injury bug continues to plague the San Francisco Giants.
During the team's 6-5 win Sunday over the Cincinnati Reds, centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee suffered a dislocated left shoulder and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, per manager Bob Melvin.
This injury comes after the team placed outfielder Michael Conforto on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain and had to scratch Patrick Bailey with an illness.
Lee was making his return after fouling a ball into his foot on Wednesday and suffered the injury in the first inning after crashing into the centerfield wall while chasing a deep drive from Jeimer Candelario.
Melvin did not offer optimistic sentiments following the game.
"Not great," Melvin said, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "When he hit the wall and he went down and didn't get up, I didn't have a great feeling about it."
Lee is hitting .262 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 145 at-bats in 2024. He signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the team as an international free agent before the start of the 2024 season.
The Giants improved to 19-23 with the victory and currently sit in fourth place in the NL West.
Joey Bart Traded from Giants to Pirates; Former No. 2 Overall MLB Draft Pick
Apr 3, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Joey Bart (21) walking on the field during batting practice at Petco Park on March 28, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)
Joey Bart, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, is going to get an opportunity for a fresh start with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh acquired Bart from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, with right-handed pitching prospect Austin Strickland going to San Francisco in the deal.
Bart was designated for assignment by the Giants prior to Sunday's game against the San Diego Padres.
The move brought an end to a disappointing run for Bart in San Francisco. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of Georgia Tech when he was selected No. 2 overall six years ago.
San Francisco's hope was that Bart would be able to develop as the heir apparent at catcher when Buster Posey's career ended. He was considered a top-20 prospect going into the 2020 season, but he hadn't played above Double-A at that point.
Posey opted out of playing in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Giants elected to go with Bart as their starting catcher for the shortened season. He struggled in his first exposure to big league pitching, hitting .233/.288/.320 in 33 games as a rookie.
The return of Posey in 2021 pushed Bart back down to the minors. He did appear in two games at the MLB level, but he fared well in the hitter-friendly environment in Triple-A with a .294/.358/.472 slash line in 67 games with the Sacramento River Cats.
After Posey's retirement following the 2021 season, Bart had an opportunity to earn the starting job in 2022. He played a career-high 97 games, but he only hit .215/.296/.364 with 11 homers in 291 plate appearances.
Patrick Bailey won the starting job going into last season, with Bart as the primary backup.
Bart was the Giants' No. 3 catcher coming into 2024, behind Bailey and Tom Murphy. The team had to call up Daulton Jefferies from Triple-A to start on Sunday, with Bart being designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
The Pirates currently have Henry Davis as their starting catcher, with Jason Delay as their backup. Yasmani Grandal, who was set to be on the roster to start the season, is on the injured list with a foot issue that he's been dealing with since spring training.
Bart is out of minor league options and will have to be kept on the big league roster. He could elect free agency if the Pirates try to send him down, though that would seem unlikely since they traded for him.
Strickland, meanwhile, was an eighth-round pick by the Giants in the 2023 draft. He has yet to appear in a minor-league game. The 21-year-old went 4-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 20 games at the University of Kentucky last year.
Giants' Blake Snell Will Make 1st Start vs. Nationals After Simulated Game
Apr 2, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants walks in the dugout during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on March 30, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell is expected to make his debut on April 8 against the Washington Nationals, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports.
Per Pavlovic, Snell is expected to throw a simulated game "this week" before he eventually takes the mound. The Giants signed the 2023 National League Cy Young Award-winner to a two-year deal worth $62 million on March 18 after he remained a free agent for the majority of the offseason.
With the season starting shortly after Snell's signing, he's attempted to get ready for the regular season without a spring training start. He pitched four innings against San Francisco's Double-A affiliate on Saturday, according to Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. Snell gave up three hits and struck out 11 batters on 74 pitches.
"I feel good," he said, per Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "Just get more reps, get better and better, stronger and stronger. When we get out there, that will be the real tell of where I'm at and what I need to work on. I'll get better from there."
The Giants have gotten off to a modest 2-2 start to the season, although pitching has become an early issue as they've allowed 19 runs over the past two games. This includes an ugly 13-4 defeat on Sunday, as starter Daulton Jefferies allowed nine hits and five earned runs in just two innings of work.
If he maintains his 2023 form, Snell should help San Francisco avoid early deficits and start piling up wins. He's coming off a season in which he compiled a 14-9 record, while his 2.25 ERA led all pitchers in the majors. He also racked up 234 strikeouts in 180 innings.
The Giants will have a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game series against the San Diego Padres before Snell's debut.
