Former manager Charlie Fox recalled Mays' talents, as did the late Leo Durocher via videotape. Lighter moments happened when actor-comedian Bill Cosby took the stage and recalled going to Shibe Park in his native Philadelphia to see Mays play. So we bought tickets to see our people come to the park and kill the Phillies. And Willie Mays was one of my greatest heroes. He never let us down.
Mays still is a hero.
Construction workers who toiled for months at the new stadium beamed liked children as they showed off autographs of Mays, McCovey and Cepeda on their hard-hats. The fans of today were the kids that saw me play when they were young. Bonds became teary-eyed when thanking Mays for accepting his parents' request to be his godfather. And it's going to be a great honor for me to tell them that he lives on 24 Willie Mays Plaza, forever. All rights reserved.