Willie Mays: My Life in and Out of Baseball

New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1966 First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed by Mays on front free endpaper: "To Joe / Best Wishes / Willie Mays." Publisher's green and orange cloth, with "Willie Mays" in blind to front board, and spine lettered in black and orange; in its original unclipped dust jacket designed by Bob Korn, with white front panel lettered in brown, orange and green, and a green spine. About fine book, with light fading to spine, and a hint of rubbing to foot of spine; very good price-clipped dust jacket, with light wear to spine ends and some edgewear. With Beckett Letter of Authenticity. Overall, a great, boldly inscribed copy. Presentation copies from Mays are exceedingly scarce. In this book, Willie Mays tells his life story with the help of prolific sportswriter Charles Einstein. Mays started playing professional baseball at 16 in the Negro Leagues and was soon drafted by the New York Giants. He went on to play 21 seasons with the Giants, winning a World Series with the team in 1954. His over-the-shoulder catch in that World Series is one of the most iconic moments in sports history. A 24x All-Star and a 12x Gold Glove award winner, Mays was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979 and was voted to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. . Signed. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Dust Jacket Included.