Evening star., 1962-10-02
Mays B|dn1es
Weariiness on
Long Season

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2 (AP).
His boyish grin is still pres
ent. So is his high pitched
laughter, his bubbling enthu-
siasm and, of course, that ever
wondrous play. both at bat and
afield.
otherwise, the Willie Mays
of 1852 bears little resemblance
to the wide-eyed youth who
played in the last playoff be-
tween the Giants and Dodgers
back in 1851.
A great many things have
happened to Mays in those IL
years, both good and bad, and
Willie is well aware of it.
"I'm older and wiser and
tireder," Willie observed as he
pondered over the many things
that have happened to him
since he joined the Giants in
May Of 1851 as a frightened
fledgling of 20, only two years
out of high school.
It wasn't more than an hour
after Willie had given one OF
his greatest performances In
an 80 triumph over Los An
geles that gave the Giants the
first game of the best-of-thre
series for the National League
championship. Two home runs
doomed off his bat, as well as
a single. He scored three runs
drove in three and capped the
day with a stolen base.
Needs Rest Now
IT think I'm a better ball
player now," he said in what
should go down as the under
statement of the year. But ]
find I need an occasional rest
now. I think If I get my rest
1 can do pretty good"
Willie's complaint about be-
ing tired is not new. Manager
Alvin Dark had to give him Q
day off early last month and
later he missed three games
after collapsing in Cincinnati
willie is under a tremendous
strain all the time" Dark says
HE can't go out in public
He's always in demand. Kids
are always after him for auto
graphs. Grownups are always
calling him on the telephone
He has to eat in his room. He
can't go to a movie or a thea
ter. He's physically and men
tally exhausted"
Dark's words were relayed to
Mays. This was his answer:
I'm worn out, but it's not
/ for those reasons. I don't
mind the crowds. When people
like you so much. it's a priv
ilege to talk with them and
shake their hand. Why do l
spend so much time with kids?
Well, I guess I just like kids.
Why do I always answer the
telephone? If I didn't l
wouldn't know who was calling.
"I get tired more from play
ing every day. I don't care how
old you are. Age is no factor.
/ Playing in so many games, and
playing day and night, is bound
to tire you out.
People have asked me II
I'm so tired why do I play SO
hard, take batting and outfield
practice every day. come out to
the park so early. I can't answer
that except to say that's me.
| I just like to play, 1 guess"
Lot Of Trouble
What caused his collapse,
which hospitalized him for two
days?
"I had a lot of trouble last
year." Willie said, referring to
his marital problems and subse-
quent divorce. "Everybod d y
knows what it was and I don't
want to get into it. The doctor
told me those things can store
up in a person, especially one
like me who keeps it inside him
Then, all of a sudden, it bust:
out all at once. I really believe
that's what happened to me.
Despite his troubled mind
Mays has been able to hit ovel
300, drive in more runs thar
ever before (140O and hit more
home runs than any player II
the majors this year. His Sec
ond homer yesterday boosted
his season total to 49.
That's because when I q
out on that field, I put every
thing aside," he said. Il tr!
not to think of anything bu
, what's happening out there OF