Willie Mays, seventy-years after his debut in the major leagues, is still one the greatest baseball players ever: the greatest combination of speed, power and defense the game's ever seen.
Yet, he was able to graduate from Fairfield Industrial High School, Fairfield, Alabama in 1950. His diploma stated that his chosen profession would be "cleaning, dying and pressing." This was the same department in which he had studied.
Mays didn't become a dry-cleaner, in a shocking blow to the rest of the world. He became, as Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench stated, "the perfect baseball player".
ESPN has learned that Mays' diploma will be made public in his first NFT (nonfungible token) which will be released Sunday. On the Nifty Gateway marketplace, Mays' 90th birthday Celebrity Drop will go live. The Oct. 24 reference to Mays jersey number is also included.
Mays stated that she didn't understand the first time she used computer tokens. "I needed to understand them. Tokens that you can hold in your hands are familiar to me. They are collected in the same way as trading cards. These cards are now worth a lot. It's worth it to do something like this, which people will enjoy and helps me support my kids.
The Say Hey Foundation will receive all proceeds. This foundation establishes programs for baseball for children in Alabama and also restores youth baseball facilities at Rickwood Field. Rickwood Field is the former home of the Birmingham Barons of the Negro Leagues. Mays was a player there from 1948 to 1950.
Mays stated, "I know that without other people, I wouldn't be able to have the life I have." When I was just starting out, there were adults who looked after me. I was taught by people who gave me a chance and gave me the opportunity to succeed. Also, teammates. Everyone needs a team. I want young children to have the opportunity to live a happy life. That's what I believe is the best thing I could do for them. Do what I did for them."
The 90-year-old Willie Mays' diploma will be made public in his first NFT. Mike Campau
The NFT art piece features a variety of memorabilia items and narration by Bob Costas.
Mays' high school diploma with his chosen profession. In segregated Alabama, white students could choose their professions. Black students couldn't.
One of Mays’ high school report cards; he was the best point guard, quarterback and baseball player in the state. He received a B in gymnastics class but did earn an A in sportsmanship.
A Scouting report on Mays -- Mays is described as a "colored guy" as all Black players were prior to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947. According to the Scout, Mays has "the best reflexes" and "the most coordinated I have seen in a while." It also notes that Mays would be considered a "franchise player" if he were white.
Mays signed a $250 per month contract with the Birmingham Barons.
The Western Union telegram informed the Barons about Mays' contract, which was purchased by the New York Giants for $10,000 and that he would now be assigned to the Minnesota Millers minor league team.
An article in the newspaper that stated Mays could become "a dusky Joe DiMaggio."
The digital art piece's floor is covered in 660 baseballs. This number represents the number of home runs that he scored during his major league career.
This piece will be released as part the first drop of the Costacos collection, which was founded in 2013 by Justin Moorad, Justin Costacos, and Mike Campau, digital art leader and CEO. It was Mays' decision to give up his job -- even though he believes he could have done well in that field.
"I believe that you should do your best in whatever you do. Mays stated that cleaning and pressing was something she took seriously. She got quite good at it. "I want every child to have the opportunity to be successful in whatever they choose to do." "I chose to play baseball."
