http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local..._baseball_great_mays_gives_gifts___cnote.html
Baseball great Willie Mays returns to old Polo Grounds, now a public school, to give gifts
BY James Fanelli
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Saturday, January 22nd 2011, 4:00 AM
Schwartz for News
Willie Mays with students from PS 46, including lucky Kendryck Taveras, who holds 2010 World Series trophy Friday.
Willie Mays spent years at the old Polo Grounds thrilling fans with improbable catches and soaring homers, but the famed outfielder made his greatest save Friday - with a $100bill.
The Giants legend had returned to the hallowed site - now Public School 46 - to showcase his team's recent World Series trophy and present autographed baseballs and vintage jerseys to 13 high-achieving students.
When Mays got to the last student, fifth-grader Kendryck Taveras, he realized he was one ball short.
The quick-thinking Hall of Famer whipped out a money clip and said, "I don't know if I'm supposed to do this."
Mays then asked his pal, Major League Baseball analyst Harold Reynolds, to peel off a $100 bill to give to Kendryck.
"You're gonna get the ball too," promised Mays, 79, who won a World Series with the Giants in 1954.
A surprised Kendryck later said the C-note made his day.
"I'd rather have the $100," the grinning 11-year-old said. "I'm going to save it."
Mays told the crowd about his time at the Harlem ballpark - including playing stickball with kids - before he moved to San Francisco in 1957.
"This is my neighborhood!" the Say Hey Kid said. "They don't know me. They wasn't here when I was playing ball."
Mays also gave the lucky students who received his memorabilia a piece of sound financial advice: cash in on his name.
"The shirts, these balls - if you don't like them, don't give them away," he said. "Sell them."
With News Wire Services
jfanelli@nydailynews.com
Baseball great Willie Mays returns to old Polo Grounds, now a public school, to give gifts
BY James Fanelli
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Saturday, January 22nd 2011, 4:00 AM
Schwartz for News
Willie Mays with students from PS 46, including lucky Kendryck Taveras, who holds 2010 World Series trophy Friday.
Willie Mays spent years at the old Polo Grounds thrilling fans with improbable catches and soaring homers, but the famed outfielder made his greatest save Friday - with a $100bill.
The Giants legend had returned to the hallowed site - now Public School 46 - to showcase his team's recent World Series trophy and present autographed baseballs and vintage jerseys to 13 high-achieving students.
When Mays got to the last student, fifth-grader Kendryck Taveras, he realized he was one ball short.
The quick-thinking Hall of Famer whipped out a money clip and said, "I don't know if I'm supposed to do this."
Mays then asked his pal, Major League Baseball analyst Harold Reynolds, to peel off a $100 bill to give to Kendryck.
"You're gonna get the ball too," promised Mays, 79, who won a World Series with the Giants in 1954.
A surprised Kendryck later said the C-note made his day.
"I'd rather have the $100," the grinning 11-year-old said. "I'm going to save it."
Mays told the crowd about his time at the Harlem ballpark - including playing stickball with kids - before he moved to San Francisco in 1957.
"This is my neighborhood!" the Say Hey Kid said. "They don't know me. They wasn't here when I was playing ball."
Mays also gave the lucky students who received his memorabilia a piece of sound financial advice: cash in on his name.
"The shirts, these balls - if you don't like them, don't give them away," he said. "Sell them."
With News Wire Services
jfanelli@nydailynews.com
