Every author relies on the kindness of strangers, but this book, more than most, relied on the goodwill of others. Willie is honest but guarded and only over time does he open up. His comments to me were ultimately invaluable, but by then a very clear portrait had already emerged. I’ve already described Sy Berger’s contributions in my Author’s Note, but several individuals deserve special recognition.
While Loretta Richardson hasn’t spoken to Willie in many years, she generously shared her memories of their childhood in Alabama. Herman Boykin was also essential in my understanding of Willie’s youth, and David Stokes became my personal guide to the history of Fairfield. James Zapp and Bill Greason still carry the torch for the Birmingham Black Barons, and I was honored to meet both men. James “Poo” Johnson lifted the veil on Willie’s army years and spoke with unusual insight and candor about his good friend. Karl Zimmermann was my unfailing tutor on air and train travel in America. Roger Kahn gave me his time, and sent many e-mails, to help me understand Willie and his era. Monte Irvin has given many interviews over the years, but a conversation with him on Willie, the New York Giants, and the Negro Leagues still constitutes an excellent history lesson. Lon Simmons, a great source on Willie and the San Francisco Giants, spent many hours with me on the phone. Gary Shemano helped me understand the complex relationship between his father and Willie. Lee Mendelson, who has lost none of the passion for Willie that propelled his groundbreaking documentary, helped me at several stages in my research. Judi Phillips brought details and context to Mae’s relationship with Willie. Jessie and Bud Goins and Phil Saddler all helped me understand the man behind the legend. Rick Swig supplied me with photographs, insights, and leads. Michael Jacobs was wonderfully generous in sharing his massive collection of Willie Mays memorabilia with me. Clarissa Milano and Eric Fernandez brought me up to date.
Bob Costas is really a baseball historian who happens to have a media gig, and I was grateful for his time; Bruce Cornblatt’s assistance was also much appreciated.
If you write a book that allows you to talk to Bill Clinton, Woody Allen, Hank Aaron, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sandy Koufax, and Tom Seaver, you’ve probably got a pretty good subject. These men are all in demand, and I thank them for their time.
Barry Bonds doesn’t give many interviews these days, but he spoke with me by phone for a full hour and was cordial and respectful throughout. His mother, Pat, was also interviewed. I thank them both for sharing their thoughts on Willie.
The San Francisco Giants supported this project throughout. My deepest thanks to President Larry Baer, Senior Vice President Mario Alioto, retired executive Pat Gallagher, equipment manager Mike Murphy, and clubhouse attendant Harvey Hodgerney.
Diane McWhorter sent me a lengthy unpublished chapter from Carry Me Home on the history of Fairfield, Alabama. She gave me another lead as well on an obscure but very helpful book about Birmingham. Jane Leavy, the author of Sandy Koufax who was working on a Mickey Mantle book, also gave me some reporting guidance. Brad Snyder, the author of A Well-Paid Slave, opened some critical doors as well.
I would like to thank the following people who kindly spoke with me (and sincere apologies to anyone I’ve overlooked):
Bob Akers, Vernon Alden, Joe Amalfitano, Dave Anderson, Edward Anderson, Greg Anderson, Johnny Antonelli, Richard Arrington, Dusty Baker, Rick Barry, William Bell, Jim Bouton, Jackie Brandt, Eddie Bressoud, Willie Brown, Pete Carlson, Orlando Cepeda, Jimmy Clark, U. W. Clemon, Gladys Cofield, Ken Condon, Robert Creamer, Dink Cryer, Alvin Dark, Jim Davenport, Faye Davis, Ken Donnelly, Bill Dully, Chris Durocher, Gerald Early, Lee Elder, Frank Evans, Roy Face, Katy Feeney, Ron Fimrite, Tito Fuentes, Walter Gibbons, Redenia Gilliam-Mosee, Stanley Glenn, Clyde Golden, Richard Goldman, Rebecca Grisby, Arnold Hano, Doug Harvey, Edward Howden, Bill Howes, Larry Jansen, Hobie Landrith, Hal Lanier, Stuart Leeds, Larry Lester, Bill Littlefield, Ronnie Lott, Fred Lowell, David Kaufer, Judy Kaufman, Will Knox, Ed Kranepool, Harry Leppo, Garry Maddox, Richard J. Martin, Tim McCarver, Mike McCormick, Willie McCovey, Roy McKercher, Charlie McMorris, A. J. Mercado, Lenny Merullo, John Miles, Jon Miller, Jessie Mitchell, Ed Montague, Joe Morgan, Jo-Jo Perota, Gaylord Perry, Nick Peters, Philip Pizzo, Charley Pride, David Rapaport, William Richardson, Paula and Jon Roberts, Ray Robinson, Al Rosen, Ted Rosengarten, Bill Royer, Ray Sadecki, Art Santo Domingo, Virgil Saxon, Mike Shannon, Harold Shepherd, Tom Sherak, Walter Shorenstein, Chuck Smith, Eugene Smith, Robert Sockolov, Steve Sockolov, Don Stapley, Sam Stith, Adam Swig, Otis Tate, Valmy Thomas, Diane Turner, Johnnie Alberta Wade, Doris Ward, Michelle Watkins, Martha Whetstone, Bill White, Cecil Williams, Sydney Williams, Fred Williamson, Charles Willis, Maury Wills, and Rick Zeller.
I interviewed five people who have since passed away, and I want to acknowledge them separately: Herman Franks, Whitey Lockman, Dusty Rhodes, Sam Sirkus, and Jules Tygiel.
My thanks to Eamon Dolan, with whom I first discussed this project many years ago and who encouraged me to pursue it.
Richard Johnson, the curator of the Sports Museum of New England, happens to be a tenacious collector and a diehard Giant fan, and he kindly shared with me a huge trove of books, magazines, newspaper articles, programs, and yearbooks related to Willie Mays.
Taking mercy on their technology-challenged friend, Michael Seidman bailed me out of various computer jams, and Moshe Bar and Peter Mesnik provided additional IT support—all with good cheer. On predawn drives to the airport, Walter Curran provided me with hot coffee, sound baseball analysis, and lasting friendship.
Several libraries were extremely helpful: the A. Bartlett Giamatti Research Center at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Historical Department of the San Francisco Public Library, the Needham Public Library in Needham, Massachusetts, the New York Public Library, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.
This book might never have been written without the support of two people in Willie’s life. Jeffrey L. Bleich, a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in San Francisco, is Willie’s lawyer, adviser, and friend. He helped convince Willie that an authorized biography was indeed in his best interests, and he smoothed out negotiations among all the parties. Even after Jeff accepted a temporary assignment at the White House, he was a reassuring presence in his informal capacity as a Friend of the Book.
Rene Anderson is Willie’s personal assistant, but that understates her true role. She is Willie’s organizer, scheduler, gatekeeper, traveling associate, protector, and guardian angel, and my own debt to her far exceeds anything I could ever pay.
This book needed a publishing house that placed great value on good baseball and good writing, and I found one in Scribner, starting with the publisher, Susan Moldow, and the editor in chief, Nan Graham. Scribner’s entire team—Brian Belfiglio, Kate Bittman, Anna deVries, Roz Lippel, and Katie Rizzo—has been enthusiastic and supportive, and I owe a special thanks to Brant Rumble for his time, patience, and editing acumen.
Luise Erdmann has now been my copyeditor for all five of my books, at two different publishers. I’d have no objection if our burial plots were 60 feet, 6 inches apart.
My agent, Todd Shuster, didn’t give up on Willie, and his faith in him, and me, made this book possible.
My thanks to my father, Ed Hirsch, and his partner, Dolly Newport, to my brother and sister, Irl Hirsch and Lynn Friedman, and their families, and to Aileen Phillips.
Finally, my family, as always, made the greatest sacrifice. At least in this case, Sheryl and I were able to take our children, Amanda and Garrett, to San Francisco so they could watch a game at AT&T Park with Willie Mays. It’s a pretty good way to spend an afternoon.