AP Sports

Willie Mays, the Giants’ electrifying ‘Say Hey Kid,’ dies at 93

Willie Mays, baseball’s exuberant and electrifying “Say Hey Kid,” has died at 93. The San Francisco Giants and Mays’ family jointly announced his death. The Giants center fielder, with his signature basket catch, was one of the game’s greatest and most beloved players. He hit more than 600 home runs, totaled more than 3,000 hits and was a joy to behold in the outfield. His over-the-shoulder catch of a long drive in the 1954 World Series is baseball’s most celebrated defensive feat. He had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer.

The Catch: Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder grab in the 1954 World Series ‘wasn’t no lucky catch’

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Willie Mays raced at top speed back toward the center-field wall in the spacious Polo Grounds and somehow managed to track down and corral a fast-traveling ball with an over-the-shoulder catch that became the most iconic moment in the Hall of Famer’s decorated career that featured 660 home runs. It simply became known as “The Catch.” The play showed off the mesmerizing skill of one of the most talented players ever to step on a baseball field and was considered by many to be the Greatest Living Ballplayer before he died at age 93.

Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season, AP source says

The Detroit Pistons have fired coach Monty Williams after just one season, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not made any announcement. ESPN first reported the firing. The Pistons were an NBA-worst 14-68 this past season, the first in what was a six-year, $78.5 million contract for Williams. At one point, they had a 28-game losing streak, the longest ever in a single season in NBA history and tied for the longest ever when factoring in multiple seasons.

Caitlin Clark and the WNBA are getting a lot of attention. It’s about far more than basketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Not even a WNBA basketball game is an escape from the arguments and polarization that are so common in American life these days. Some of the atmosphere in the public and media that has swirled around the professional women’s league since the season started last month has been less fun time and more culture war. Rookie Caitlin Clark is the eye of the storm. The white, 22-year-old number one draft pick has become a canvas for all sorts of projections in her debut season with the Indiana Fever. She, and the predominantly Black and brown women in the league, have become proxies for longstanding American issues including race, gender, who’s in the spotlight and who is ignored.

Rickwood Field, Willie Mays’ first pro park and monument of opportunity and oppression, welcomes MLB

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Rickwood Field will host an MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants on Thursday. It’s the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and former home to baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. It’s a time capsule of opportunity and oppression, a site for social gatherings and political events, as well as baseball achievements in the 20th century. The game meant to honor Mays and many other Negro Leaguers will be both somber and reminiscent. Mays, the electrifying center fielder who left an enduring mark on baseball, died Tuesday afternoon.

Kansas is making a big run at Kansas City’s pro teams with a plan to help pay for new stadiums

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is making a serious run at becoming the new home for the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. State legislators approved a plan Tuesday for luring both the Chiefs and Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals away from Missouri. Bipartisan legislative supermajorities OKed a measure to authorize state bonds to help finance new stadiums and practice facilities for both teams on the Kansas side of the metropolitan area. The plan goes next to Gov. Laura Kelly. He has not promised to sign it but said in a statement that Kansas could become a professional sports powerhouse. Both teams said they look forward to considering Kansas options.

Panthers see another chance at Cup slip away, fall to Oilers 5-3 in Game 5

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Connor McDavid had two goals and two assists that added to his historic postseason, Evan Bouchard added three assists and the Edmonton Oilers fended off elimination yet again by beating the Florida Panthers 4-3 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night. Connor Brown, Zach Hyman and Corey Perry also had goals for the Oilers, who scored the game’s first three goals to take control — then held on late to cut Florida’s lead in the title series to 3-2. Evan Rodrigues and Matthew Tkachuk each had a goal and an assist for Florida, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson also scored for the Panthers. Game 6 is in Edmonton on Friday night.

Regan Smith sets a world record in the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Olympic trials

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Regan Smith has set a world record in the women’s 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Indianapolis. Smith touched in 57.13 seconds, easily beating the mark of 57.33 set a year ago by Australia’s Kaylee McKeown. Smith bounced back emphatically after getting edged for a spot on the U.S. team in the 100 butterfly, where she finished third behind Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske. No one was beating Smith in her signature event. Katharine Berkoff claimed the second Olympic spot with a time of 57.91. In the night’s other final, reigning Olympic champion Bobby Finke won the 800 freestyle, holding off teenager Luke Whitlock.

McDavid and the Oilers drag Panthers back to Edmonton for a Stanley Cup Final Game 6

Connor McDavid said the Edmonton Oilers wanted to drag the Florida Panthers back to Alberta. Then he made it happen to keep the Stanley Cup Final going. McDavid scored twice, including an empty netter, and set up two goals as the Oilers won Game 5 on Tuesday night 5-3. The victory set up a Game 6 Friday night in Edmonton. They became the first team since the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and fourth in NHL history to fall behind 3-0 in the final and win the next two games of the series.

Yankees star Aaron Judge says scans negative for breaks after he was hit on hand by 94 mph pitch

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge says X-rays and a CT scan were negative after he was hit on the left hand by a 94 mph fastball from Albert Suárez, forcing the slugger out of New York’s 4-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Judge says he’s feeling better after getting some good news. He calls it “a big relief” and says: “Finding out that it’s not fractured, not broken, is definitely a sigh of relief.”