According to his friend and attorney Jeff Bleich, it was Mays’ desire to put his personal collection up for auction, with proceeds benefiting his foundation, which was founded in 2000 and is dedicated to fulfilling his “dream of giving every child a chance by offering underprivileged youth positive opportunities through athletics, coaching, nutrition, education, and providing safer communities.”
“He wanted to share these items with his fans so that together they could raise as much as possible to support other kids starting out in life the way he had,” Bleich said. “His one instruction to Dave Hunt at Hunt Auctions was ‘Make this the best auction ever to help those kids.’”
Mays was raised in a poor mining environment in Westfield and Fairfield, Alabama, just outside Birmingham, in the segregated South. He often spoke of the guidance and inspiration he received early in life from his father, aunts, teachers, and coaches. He spent most of his life helping and inspiring others.
“For all of his extraordinary achievements as a baseball player, Willie Mays wanted his enduring legacy to be helping children,” Bleich said. “Willie believed that every child deserves the chance to make the most of their talents.”
The first public display of the collection will be July 30 to Aug. 3 at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Illinois. Some “special event previews” will be available in the Bay Area.