A Message from Joan Payson’s Family to the Mays’ Family
To: Michael Mays & the Mays Family
From: Joan Payson’s Granddaughter, Whitney Bullock & her Daughter and former Mets Chairman, Lorinda de Roulet & the Whitney Payson Family
For our family there is no doubt about the greatness of Willie Mays in the world of baseball and on the world stage. In the 1950’s, our grandmother, Joan Payson, like so many other New Yorkers, worshipped Willie Mays and his unique genius on the field, at bat, on basepaths and in all facets of the game. So, Joan and baseball fans alike were devastated by the Giants’ departure for San Francisco in 1957.
As a Giants’ minority stockholder, Joan’s efforts to acquire the team and keep the beloved MVP, Willie Mays in New York, were unsuccessful; however, in the end, what remained was Willie Mays’s and Joan Payson’s shared passion for their cherished sport and Joan’s desire to bring National League Baseball and especially Willie Mays back to New York.
Our grandmother was thrilled when, in 1972, Willie fulfilled their dream when he and Joan Payson agreed on his return to New York as a Met. Grandma’s face beamed with enthusiasm and affection each time Willie Mays would come to greet her in her ground level seat next to the dugout, and he was always the consummate gentleman with us and any fans who leaned in to pay tribute to him.
Willie played for the Mets in both 1972 and 1973 when Willie brought his highly distinctive style of play to the “You’ve Gotta Believe” Mets and the team made it exciting all the way to the 7th game of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. The rest is history.
As a family, as New Yorkers and ardent baseball fans, we are forever indebted to Willie Mays for bringing his exhilarating magic, his inspiring aura of grace and power and the joyous thrill of the game back to New York.
Our family fondly remembers that at the end of our grandmother’s life, Willie Mays was a pallbearer at her funeral, fulfilling one of Joan’s last requests that Willie be there for her. As ever, the great and warmly magnanimous athlete, leader and superstar remembered his New York roots, the New York baseball Giants from which he had risen to baseball fame and his appreciation of Joan Payson who brought him “home again.”
As one of Joan’s twelve grandchildren, I’ve reflected on Willie Mays’ passing and, with the most profound respect, I’d like to believe that Grandma is in Heaven saying to Willie, “What took you so long, I’ve been waiting for you!”
Our entire Whitney Payson family joins me in sending the entire Mays family our deepest sympathies for your loss and our gratitude for the honor of having known the greatest ball player of all time.
Whitney Bullock
