Willie Mays goes island bopping

Willie Mays in 1950 with Trenton

With 1,168 fans looking on, the incomparable Willie Mays – the first Black player in the history of the Class B Interstate League – homers 75 years ago today on Harrisburg’s historic City Island.

The home run is just one of four that the 19-year-old Mays hits in the summer of 1950 for the Trenton Giants and comes eight weeks after his first homer in organized ball – a grand slam – in Trenton’s 21-8 victory on July 2, 1950 at Sunbury.

Within a year, the 19-year-old Mays – known in the minors as “Junior” Mays – reaches the majors and goes on to hit 660 homers before retiring in 1973 as arguably the greatest all-around player in baseball history.

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