Say Hey Kid, will there be a Willie Mays Highway?
Yes, for a designated portion of Interstate 80 on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, if and when a state Senate resolution takes effect.
State Sens. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, and Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, citing the contributions to sport and society made by the late baseball icon Willie Mays, announced on Wednesday a resolution to name the part of the bridge highway the Willie Mays Highway as it enters The City near Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 169 would direct the Department of Transportation to designate that portion of I-80 as the Willie Mays Highway. Signs would be paid for with private funding. SCR 169 is co-authored by members of the Senate and the Assembly.
“Willie Mays’ career was nothing short of extraordinary,” said Dodd, who represents several Northern California counties, including Solano, in a press statement. “He was arguably the greatest player of all time and left an indelible mark on the sport while breaking barriers for other Black players.”
“I met Willie Mays when I was a kid and that cemented me as a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan,” he added. “He was my idol. He made us all proud to live in the Bay Area, so it is fitting that we name this highway in his honor. I’m pleased to see that not only does this have bipartisan support, it has the backing of my colleagues to the south who are lifelong Dodgers fans.”
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Born near Birmingham, Ala., Mays, who died at 93 on June 18, played in the Major Leagues for 23 seasons, most notably for the New York and San Francisco Giants, and in his final two years, the New York Mets. He began his playing career in the Negro Leagues, served in the Army during the Korean War, and was among the first Black American players to get called up to the majors.
Nicknamed “The Say Hey Kid,” Mays was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1979 and was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2015. His Say Hey Foundation continues to provide underprivileged youth with the chance to play baseball.
“Willie Mays was a San Francisco original,” said Wiener. “A peerless talent and unforgettable presence on the field, he dedicated untold hours to serving his community and empowering young people from humble beginnings to play sports. He broke barriers as one of the first Black players in Major League Baseball, empowering generations of athletes to follow their dreams. It’s only right that we honor him publicly, in the community he loved, and I’m thrilled to present this resolution to do so.”
Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, D-Suisun City, weighed in on the resolution, too.
“It is an honor to join Sen. Dodd and my colleagues in introducing this resolution to name a portion of I-80 in San Francisco after the legendary Willie Mays,” she said. “This dedication will serve as a daily reminder to Californians of the great Willie Mays, celebrating his immense contributions and long list of achievements both on and off the field. As chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I am proud to recognize and honor his enduring legacy and the significant impact he has had on our cultural and historical heritage.”
