On the island with Willie Mays

With 1,168 fans watching, the incomparable Willie Mays – the first Black player in the history of the Class B Interstate League – homers 74 years ago today on Harrisburg’s historic City Island.

The home run is just one of four that the 19-year-old Mays hits that summer in the minor leagues for the 1950 Trenton Giants and comes exactly eight weeks after his first homer in organized ball – a grand slam – in Trenton’s 21-8 victory on July 2, 1950 at Sunbury.

Within a year, the 19-year-old Mays – known in the minors as “Junior” Mays – reaches the majors and goes on to hit 660 homers before retiring in 1973 as arguably the greatest all-around player in baseball history.