Why Willie Mays is Barry Bonds' godfather, explained: Giants legends shared lifelong relationship beyond diamond

Willie Mays passed away on Tuesday at the age of 93, but the Hall-of-Famer will forever be one of baseball's biggest stars.

He spent most of his career with the Giants before playing a season-and-a-half with the Mets. Not only is he forever enshrined in Cooperstown, but the outfielder is also linked with another Giants MVP outfielder.

Mays is the godfather of Barry Bonds, connecting arguably the two best all-around players in MLB history. Bonds, who holds baseball's all-time home run record, albeit with some controversy, was around Mays as a kid and eventually starred for the same organization.

A young Barry Bonds with Willie Mays pic.twitter.com/w1RghpkB0v

— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) June 19, 2024

How did Mays become Bonds' godfather? The Sporting News details their connection and compares the stats of the two Giants sluggers.

THE SPORTING NEWS ARCHIVES:
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Why is Willie Mays Barry Bonds' godfather?

Bonds grew up around baseball, as his father, Bobby Bonds, broke into the MLB in 1968 with the Giants. It was Mays' 17th season, so he took Bobby, also an outfielder, under his wing.

Barry was 4 when his father joined the Giants and would often visit the team locker room and "play pranks" on Mays. Eventually, Bobby's wife, Pat, asked Mays to be Barry's godfather.

MORE: Best moments of Willie Mays' career

Barry Bonds tribute to Willie Mays

That began a lifelong connection between the two. Bonds, who is now 59, posted to Instagram after learning of his godfather's death on Tuesday.

"I am beyond devastated and overcome with emotion," Bonds wrote. "I have no words to describe what you mean to me — you helped shape me to be who I am today. Thank you for being my Godfather and always being there. Give my dad a hug for me.
Rest in peace Willie, I love you forever."

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Barry L Bonds (@blbonds25)

Barry Bonds relationship with Willie Mays

Mays remained close with Bonds throughout his career and was a big reason why Bonds signed with San Francisco in the 1992 offseason. Mays reportedly even offered to give Bonds his retired No. 24 jersey — the number Bonds wore in Pittsburgh. He declined and wore No. 25 while with the Giants.

Bobby Bonds died in August 2003 due to cancer, but he spoke to Willie beforehand, telling him to look after Barry.

"Willie, you’ve got to take care of Barry," Bobby said. "He’s not going to listen to other people like he does you and me."

Barry valued their relationship deeply, especially after the passing of his father.

"Just being with my godfather trying to go through the healing process without my father, just through our conversations and support of me in the wintertime has changed my outlook on a lot of things,” Barry said. "[Bobby has] been my coach my whole life. The best thing is, Willie has taken that role for me now and he’s been working out with me three days a week in the wintertime and easing the pain for me to go through the process without my father."

MORE: Why Willie Mays was called the 'Say Hey Kid'

Willie Mays vs. Barry Bonds career stats

* MLB played two All-Star games per season in 1959-62

Willie Mays career stats

*Bolded is league-leading

**Bolded and italicized is MLB-leading 

Barry Bonds career stats

*Bolded is league-leading

**Bolded and italicized is MLB-leading