Robinson was important to all blacks. To make it into the majors and to take all the name calling, he had to be something special. He had to take all this for years, not just for Jackie Robinson, but for the nation.

At the 2007 All-Star Game in San Francisco Mays received a special tribute for his legendary contributions to the game and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. On May 15 2010 Mays was awarded the Major League Baseball Beacon of Life Award at the Civil Rights game at Great American Ballpark. 1956 Willie Mays Major League Negro-American All-Stars Tour
In 1956 Mays got many of Major League Baseball's biggest black stars to go on a tour around the country after the season had ended to play exhibition games.

Mays ended his career with 660 home runs third at the time of his retirement and currently fourth all-time. Willie Howard Mays Jr. Mays is one of five National League players to have had eight consecutive 100-RBI seasons along with Mel Ott Sammy Sosa Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols.