If Your Birthday is May 6th...

...you share with Willie Mays. Baseball's oldest living Hall of Famer and the greatest player in Giants history turns 91 today. Beloved on both coasts, the centerfielder -- and the first name in Terry Cashman's classic pop music homage, "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" --  remains the basis of comparison against which young "five tool" players are judged. 1951's NL Rookie of the Year, two-time MVP, four-time home run champ and four time NL leader in stolen bases. And that only tells part of his remarkable story. 
(I shot the above photo when Willie, accompanied by Giants executive Larry Baer, brought the 2014 World Series trophy back to the club's ancestral home, for a reception with the New York Giants Preservation Society.)

Jose Altuve is likely on track for Cooperstown, as well, with three AL batting titles and the 2017 MVP already on his shelf. Tack on his on-field leadership -- yes, I'm aware of his role in Houston's trash-can banging, sign-stealing scheme -- and you can't help but notice as teammates Springer and Correia move on as free agents, how the Astros 2nd baseman makes his case for being on Houston's baseball Mount Rushmore.
 

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