Willie Mays, who made history as the first Black team captain in the major leagues, has died at 93. The San Francisco Giants announced the former center fielder, who also played for the New York Mets, died yesterday. "It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 93," the team's statement read. “My father has passed away peacefully and among loved ones,” Mays' son, Michael Mays, said. “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.” Mays started out playing for the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League — an operation that took shape after Jim Crow laws segregated Black and White baseball players in 1900 — in 1948. The Giants bought his contract in 1950, and after a slow start, Mays earned the National League's Rookie of the Year award in 1951 with 20 home runs. He played 21 seasons before being traded to the New York Mets in 1972. Though he only competed for the Mets for two seasons, he advanced the team with 14 home runs. In 1973, Mays retired with 24 All-Star awards, 3,283 hits, 660 home runs, two National League MVP awards and 12 consecutive Gold Glove Awards to his name, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.