Remembering Willie Mays’ ‘The Catch’ from 1954 World Series, the greatest catch ever

The Westfield, Alabama, native spent decades in the major leagues and left a legacy as an elite hitter and one of the best center fielders of all time.

One play in particular stands out: “The Catch” in 1954.

The 1954 World Series pitted Mays’ New York Giants against the Cleveland Indians. Tied 2-2 in the eighth inning of Game 1, Indians batter Vic Wertz hit a fly ball deep to center field. But Mays sprinted to the edge of the Polo Grounds – known for its unusually deep center field – and made an over-the-shoulder catch. He robbed Wertz of a home run before throwing back to the infield to keep the runners on base from advancing.

“I remember him busting for the ball and tapping his glove, which means he’s got it,” said Joe Amalfitano – a rookie catcher at the time – per records at the Society for American Baseball Research. “Then he started to slow down. I knew he had the ball tracked.”