The California Legislature has unanimously voted to honor the late Willie Mays, one of baseball's towering figures, by renaming a portion of Interstate 80 in San Francisco as the "Willie Mays Highway." This section of the I-80, where the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge spills into the city near Oracle Park, will carry the name of the legend known to many as "the Say Hey Kid."
Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, championed the resolution alongside Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and received widespread support from fellow legislators, crossing party lines and extending to fans of rival teams. Senator Dodd's official senate page states, "This is an absolute homerun. Willie Mays endeared himself to generations of San Francisco Giants fans, including myself, so naming a street near the ballpark after him is the perfect tribute."
Willie Mays, who passed away on June 18 at the age of 93, was celebrated for his prodigious talent on the baseball diamond and his legacy off the field. During his 23-season career, mostly with the New York and San Francisco Giants, Mays also played for the New York Mets and paved the way for fellow African American players in Major League Baseball. His contributions to the sport and society were recognized with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Obama in 2015. Mays also served the community through his Say Hey Foundation, encouraging underprivileged youth to pursue baseball and other sports.
Sen. Wiener praised Mays's contributions to the community and the realm of sports, remarking, "Willie Mays was a San Francisco original. 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." Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson, D-Suisun City, also expressed her pride in recognizing the baseball icon, saying, "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," according to Senator Dodd's official senate page. She continued, "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."
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