HISTORIC LOOK THROUGH THE ARCHIVES OF WILLIE MAYS’ VISITS TO HI CORBETT FIELD FOR SPRING TRAINING BY ALLSPORTSTUCSON.COM:
Former Arizona player and coach Jerry Stitt, now the executive assistant athletic director at Pima College, recounted to Aztec media-relations director Ray Suarez his memorable encounter with Hall of Famer Willie Mays, who passed away Tuesday at age 93.
“Growing up in Phoenix I was a huge Giants fan,” Stitt mentioned. “Willie was my idol! When I was named head coach of the (Arizona) Wildcats, my good friend all the way through school presented this signed photo (of Mays) to me at a reception. I went to BP (batting practice) when (former Arizona standout) JT Snow was with the Giants and had the immense pleasure of meeting Willie with JT in (manager) Dusty Baker’s office.
“When JT said my name, Willie said, ‘I know who you are, you coached with Jerry Kindall, and you coached this guy! (pointing at Snow).’ I was floored to say the least – right up there with talking hitting with Ted (Williams)! Then Willie said with a chuckle, ‘I’ll never forgive Jerry for pulling the hidden ball trick on me at second base at Wrigley! He was a rookie!!”
Here are some photo clippings of Kindall with the Cubs and Mays on the basebaths with the New York Giants:
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