A second trial the following year was moved to Hattiesburg, but McGee was again found guilty after the jury deliberated for a mere eleven minutes. In most recent history, a couple of different players come to mind. In 1945, Willie McGee was arrested on charges of raping a white housewife in Laurel, Mississippi. Do you have a blog? Well, Willie never met a pitch he didn't like. Losing Willie McGee became a symbol of the uphill battle Cold War civil rights . Among them was the novelist Howard Fast. 'Legal Lynching' of Willie McGee in Mississippi's Traveling Electric Chair July 14, 2000. To submit an essay for the MFP Voices section, send up to 1,200 words and factcheck information [emailprotected] We welcome a wide variety of viewpoints. I live in Kansas City, MO with my two kids. While his stolen base numbers may be stunted by poor hitting, Hamilton was a force on the base paths for quite a few seasons. Just look at his runs during his football career as a Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn and Pro Bowl running back for the Los Angeles Raiders. In 1955, Mamie Till, mother of Emmett Till, assumed a critical role in advocating for her son at the trial of his perpetrators and in public spaces beyond the specifics of his case. A conversation with Willie McGee | Belleville News-Democrat Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. MLB career: 9 seasons (1989-95, 1997, 2001), Teams: New York Yankees (1989-90), Atlanta Braves (1991-94), Cincinnati Reds (1994-95, 1997, 2001), San Francisco Giants (1995), Career highlights: National League triples champion (1992), National League champion (1992). Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA). As I was just a wee child when McGee was playing for the Cardinals, I was unaware of him leaving the team to go play somewhere else. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. He spent one season at Gulf Coast Community College and stole 51 bases in 54 attempts before being drafted by the Royals in the 20th round in 2011. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 . William George Fastie - Wikipedia What begets a work like 'The Eyes of Willie McGee,' a book that should be must reading for serious students of 20th century U.S. history? The second verdict was reversed by the United States Supreme Court on the ground that Negroes had been systematically excluded from Mississippi juries. He's been clocked rounding the bases in a blazing 14.7 seconds and another time moving at 29.58 feet per second on the basepaths. Wills, who was also a football star at Washington, D.C.'s Cardozo High, is largely credited with bringing the stolen base back into the majors as a viable way to win games. Join our linker program. Willie's swiping swing almost looked. He kept it up in his next at-bat; he kept it up all day. Willie McGee has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. News outlets from local Mississippi papers to national and international outfits covered his case with fervor. He also holds one of the cooler stathead records of all time he recorded the most stolen bases (50) with the fewest at-bats (263) in MLB history in 1990 with the Montreal Expos. The event was broadcast live on the radio. He's doing that with speed as well. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. (Age 23-189d, His batting-title-winning swing was uncoachable. Kiermaier's top speed on the basepaths has been clocked at close to 22 miles per hour. It's fun to watch Kevin Kiermaier hit full speed on a baseball field whether he's running the basepaths or tracking down fly balls in the outfield. McGee won Rawlings Gold Glove awards for defensive excellence in 1983, 1985 and 1986 and was a National League Silver Slugger recipient in 1985. . Boston went on to win the game in extra innings, then took that series and the next, the World Series. Had Deion Sanders focused all of his attention on baseball, he'd probably be No. He was convicted largely on the strength of a confession that he had allegedly written shortly after his arrest, though prosecutors had failed to introduce that confession during the first trial. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? We must remember that to forget is to repeat history today. Where was Willie McGee born? Willie McGee played for 4 teams; the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. The following information is provided for citations. Willie Dean McGee was born in San Francisco, California, on November 2, 1958. His storymuch like the names we encounter todayis one of ordinary humanity, names not of public record until their lives were cut short and too soon on the basis of unequal structures. The event was broadcast live on the radio. It is unthinkable for one family to endure such immeasurable loss. Memphis hangs on despite late Durham rally, splits Springfield Cardinals Sold To Diamond Baseball Holdings. Coming out of Houston's Jefferson Davis High, he had scholarship offers to play point guard at UCLA and be an option quarterback at Nebraska, USC, Oklahoma and Florida. Consistency can carry you far. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. The Plain Dealer newspaper painted a picture of the scene: At 12:05 am, the state executioner, C.W. I think just about everyone who knows of Mr. McGee has a different opinion on this front, but no one can argue the fact that he was it in the clutch. He is popular for being a Baseball Player. He was imperfect to be sure; the bulk of the research Ive consumed suggests he was a philanderer. While these events are clearly specific to the McGee family, the upending of Black families by the structures of white supremacy is not. Billy Hamiltons electric debut #SpeedKills #RunBillyRun pic.twitter.com/SV9jUCla8a. Willie McGee put himself in the conversation as one of the best players in baseball as a rookie in 1982, when he helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series championship. The only time he didn't swing at a pitch is when Tony LaRussa gave him a take sign so a runner at first could try to steal second base. Mantle had elite speed early in his career, in the 1950s, before leg injuries forced him to become known mainly as a fierce switch-hitting slugger. vs. CHC 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Rookie Status: Outside Mississippi, one thousand Chevrolet workers in Flint, Michigan, held a prayer meeting for McGee; in addition, thousands of black workers from the docks of New Orleans, the meatpacking plants of Chicago, and the clothing factories of New York organized mass protests, engaged in work stoppages, and donated money to the campaign to Save Willie McGee. In France, Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Richard Wright organized a demonstration on McGees behalf, and various foreign governments sent letters of protest to Pres. Ordinary citizens and major public figures commented on the case. It is hard not to speculate about the fate of the McGee family. In basketball, there's never really been a trusted metric for speed, and it's more about quickness. How tall is Willie McGee? He actually signed to play wide receiver for Mississippi State out of Taylorsville (Miss.) I am Nic, and to say I love baseball is a great understatement. He stole 104 bases in 2011 and set the minor league record with 155 stolen bases in 2012. In his first at-bat, Willie swung at every pitch to give him an LMQ of 1.000. As famed civil rights reporter, : The first verdict was reversed by the State Supreme Court and a change of venue was granted because of local public feeling. Radio Diaries: Willie McGee and the Traveling Electric Chair October 3, 1999 Im a sucker for the guy that quietly gets his job done. Willie McGee had a .295 average over his career. . Willie McGee | Mississippi Encyclopedia Thanks! It is no wonder that the history of civil rights is bound up in the advocacy of their family members. Founded in 1946, the CRC was composed of former far-left civil rights organizations including the International Labor Defense and the National Negro Congress. He could have easily played in the NFL as well. Fifty witnesses watched as McGee was strapped down and killed in an electric chair placed in front of the [] In the fall of 1945, in the small town of Laurel, Miss., McGee, a young black man, was arrested on charges of raping a white housewife. 1985 was probably Willie's biggest season, as he was the NL MVP, finished first for the NL batting title (.353), NL hit leader (216), and the NL triples leader (18). The Mississippi Free Press is a project of the Mississippi Journalism and Education Group, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit journalism organization (EIN 85-1403937). Trout has been destined for the Hall of Fame since being called to the majors for good in 2012, becoming one of few players who could match Mantle in terms of slugging prowess and pure speed. William Faulkner, Albert Einstein, Josephine Baker, Jessica Mitford, Norman Mailer, Richard Wright and Frida Kahlo all weighed in on McGees plight. Having the advantage of living in KC, you know I never hear the end of that one, but hey, what else have those fans got? 1990 (Taylorsville, Mississippi), Teams: Cincinnati Reds (2013-18), Kansas City Royals (2019), Atlanta Braves (2019), New York Mets (2020), Chicago Cubs (2020), Career highlights: NL Rookie of the Month (June 2014). In 1945, a young African-American man from Laurel, Mississippi, was sentenced to death for allegedly raping Willette Hawkins, a white housewife. He ranks 12th all-time in steals, and his speed was involved in every area of his overall play including hitting and rangy outfield play. Born: March 16, 1981 (Blue Island, Illinois), Teams: Detroit Tigers (2004-09), New York Yankees (2010-13), New York Mets (2014-17), Los Angeles Dodgers (2017), Toronto Blue Jays (2018), Milwaukee Brewers (2018), Miami Marlins (2019), Career highlights: Three-time All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012), Silver Slugger Award (2011), Roberto Clemente Award (2016). He ran extremely well, hitting triples and stealing bases back when the . But it's also easy to see he wasn't even appreciated in his own time. But in baseball, truly elite speed can turn the game into a piece of art. The CRC also arranged for delegations of supporters to travel to Mississippi to lobby the governor and flooded the offices of other state officials with petitions demanding justice. The United States Supreme Court refused to review it., protesters chained themselves to the columns of the Lincoln Memorial. Now, all of us know what happened in that 1985 year, the call during the I-70 World Series. He is from . Dee Strange-Gordon's dad may have actually gotten the nickname that was more appropriate for his son. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. He played in MLB for four teams, over 18 seasons. Steal of a deal: How Cardinals got Willie McGee | RetroSimba Called Sliding Billy, he led the National League in stolen bases 5 times, topped 100 SBs 4 times, and set standards in the 1898 season when he batted over .400 and set the league record for runs scored with 198. The Case Of Willie McGee. Campaneris was one of the mainstays for the Oakland Athletics on three consecutive World Series championship teams in the early 1970s and led the American League in stolen bases six times. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. For all of his accomplishments, Reyes never got a chance to play in the World Series in 16 seasons. The stolen base should come back, but probably won't The Mississippi Free Press is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) focused on telling stories that center all Mississippians. That's comparable to the fastest players in the NFL. Willie McGee has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. willie mcgee products for sale | eBay McGee went on to become one of the Cardinals' best and most . Carl Crawford's elite speed was easy to see early. Willie Dean McGee (born November 2, 1958) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder who is an assistant coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Gov. Dave Collins, Rickey Henderson, they were fast. William Faulkner, Albert Einstein, Josephine Baker, Jessica Mitford, Norman Mailer, Richard Wright and Frida Kahlo all weighed in on McGees plight. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Andy Van Slyke stole 34. The batter stole first base on an 0-1 count when the pitched ball sailed straight to the backstop. Tim Raines showed off his elite speed in high school on the baseball field, but more so on the football field as one of the most sought-after running back recruits in the nation. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. So we missed almost a decade of his prime while he was playing professional baseball in Japan. 1 on this list. Willie McGee returns to the Cardinals Major League coaching staff for his fifth season and is responsible for a variety of areas including outfield play, base running and hitting. mavmil (21146) 100% positive feedback . 51. Teams: Kansas City/Oakland Athletics (1964-76), Texas Rangers (1977-79), California Angels (1979-81), New York Rangers (1983), Career highlights: Three-time World Series champion (1972-74), six-time All-Star (1968, 1972-75, 1977). Regardless, lets look at the 10 most-notable speedsters, plus a few honorable mentions. Contributions to the American space program. McGee was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 10, 1982, with the St. Louis Cardinals. More recent incidents of police violence have produced newfound activists such as Gwen Carr and Erica Garner, respectively the mother and daughter of Eric Garner, whom a police officer killed with a chokehold in New York City. Willie McGee weighed 179 lbs (81 kg) when playing. All are astronomical numbers, placing Henderson in a league of his own in terms of speed. Willie McGee had 2,254 hits over his career. Hurdice worked as a machinist in the Oakland Naval Yards while Jessie raised the children at home. His running style? Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Born: Nov. 27, 1992 (San Diego, California), Career highlights: All-Star Futures Game (2015), MLB draft No. On Oct. 22, 1981, the Cardinals completed one of their best trades in team history (second only to Brock-for-Broglio), acquiring Willie McGee from the Yankees for Bob . High School. SB Nation Reviews - SBNation.com The third verdict was affirmed by the State Supreme Court. I am truly crazy about the sport and everything associated with it. Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-66), Pittsburgh Pirates (1967-68), Montreal Expos (1969), Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-72), Career highlights: Three-time World Series champion (1959, 1963, 1965), National League MVP (1962), seven-time All-Star (1961-63, 1965, 1966), two-time Gold Glove Award winner (1961, 1962). Given their commitment to exposing heinous but not uncommon cases of Jim Crow injustice, the CRC considered McGees case as prime organizing fodder for spreading its message of Black freedom and human rights. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. As famed civil rights reporter John Popham wrote in The New York Times: The first verdict was reversed by the State Supreme Court and a change of venue was granted because of local public feeling. Black women have long found themselves in this not-so sought-after role. Willie McGee stole 56 bases. He and Albert Pujols both helped deliver World Series Championships to St. Louis. I think Whitey Herzog said it best when he said, (McGee) could fly. With your gift, we can do even more important stories like this one. The 1951 electrocution set in motion a series of tragic events. The major league stolen base record-holder for many years until Maury Wills made the SB en vogue in the early 1960s, the Georgia Peach was known as much for his base-running antics and spikes-high slides than he was for getting more base hits than anyone else and toying with a .400 batting average year in, year out. Yeah, we know. He won two batting titles and was named Major League Baseball 's 1985 National League MVP. Willie McGee's age is 64. Born: April 22, 1988 (Windermere, Florida), Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (2011-14), Miami Marlins (2015-17), Seattle Mariners (2018-present), Career highlights: Two-time All-Star (2014, 2015), Gold Glove Award (2015), Silver Slugger Award (2015). Was it hisuminteresting hitting style? In a pivotal moment in Game 4 against the hated New York Yankees, his Red Sox team down 3 games to none and starting the final inning behind a run, Roberts was called to pinch run. Or write about sports? He made $179.1 million in 15 seasons in the majors. He also owns the single-season record with 130 stolen bases. See Also:Baseball Batting Average CalculatorDoes Everyone Bat in Baseball?Do You Have To Drop The Bat In Baseball? Together with William Patterson, a dedicated black reformer, Abzug risked her . Till insisted her brutally slain sons funeral in the Mississippi Delta be open casket, effectively forcing Americans to not look away once more. Former teammate once said Bell was so fast he could flip his rooms light switch and be in bed before the light went out. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. (Not to be confused with todays Billy Hamilton). The state Supreme Court upheld this decision, and the US Supreme Court rejected several appeals over the next three years. Oct 22, 2021. McGee, 38, has served as the STVM athletic director for seven years. Willie McGee was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 7th round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft from Ells HS (Richmond, CA) and the New York Yankees in the 1st round (15th) of the 1977 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase from Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill, CA). 40 years ago: The day the Cardinals got Willie McGee for Bob Sykes If you are interested in signing this petition, look it up on your favorite search engine and complete the thought. DeJong drives in six as Memphis extends streak Analyzing the Cardinals Week 3 Performance, Cardinals Announce Partnership With KTVI FOX 2/KPLR 11. He's still the only person to ever play in both the Super Bowl and World Series. He continues to be remembered as among the best baserunners and lead-off hitters in baseball lore. While the legal system in conjunction with the endemic racism that helped extinguish Willie McGees life has proved an effectual mechanism for racial justice (as in the case of George Floyd), other institutions in America continue to tear families apart. McGees case captured the nations attention as he had gone through three trials and three convictions between 1945 and 1951. No, Willie McGee was never the homerun machine. One more stunning stat about Wilson was that he led the American League in triples five times, with the fifth occurrence coming in his 13th season in the majors.