Mays always seemed to be in the right position. After I became a major-leaguer, I was amazed at how he made so many great plays. One time I wondered how he caught a ball I hit to left-center field when I was basically a pull hitter. He later told me he knew the pitcher would eventually throw the ball away and that I wouldn't pull the ball. It was tougher to play defense 30 years ago than it is today.
Teams now have scouting reports that tell players where someone tends to hit the ball.
When Mays played, players had to gather their own information, and he knew all the hitters. In 1963, two years after graduating from high school, I got called up to the majors at the end of the season, and we played the Giants. As a Giants fan growing up, it was a great thrill to be on the same field with all the Giants, but especially with Mays. Watching him in center field, I still couldn't take my eyes off him. Mays had such a flair for the moment, knowing exactly what was required.