Drivers entering and leaving San Francisco over the Bay Bridge will soon pass through Willie Mays Highway after a resolution to rename a portion of Interstate 80 passed the state Legislature.
Mays, the longtime and legendary San Francisco Giants outfielder and baseball pioneer, died in July at the age of 93.
State Sens. Bill Dodd and Scott Wiener, co-authored a resolution honoring Mays’ contributions on and off the field that proposed renaming a roughly 2-mile stretch of the highway between post mile 3.836 and post mile 5.7, which is the stretch between the start of the interstate at the U.S. Highway 101 interchange and the foot of the bridge. It also passes by the Giants’ stadium, Oracle Park.
Dodd called the bipartisan resolution a “home run.” “Willie Mays endeared himself to generations of San Francisco Giants fans, including myself, so naming a street near the ballpark after him is the perfect tribute,” Dodd said.
“Now generations to come will travel along Willie Mays Highway on the way to watch the Giants while the all-time great in a No. 24 jersey is beaming down from heaven at a grateful city,” he said.
“Now generations to come will travel along Willie Mays Highway on the way to watch the Giants while the all-time great in a No. 24 jersey is beaming down from heaven at a grateful city.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd
The legislation was co-introduced in the Assembly by Lori Wilson, D-Suisun City, who said it would serve as a daily reminder of Mays’ contributions to the sport and the nation.
“As chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I am proud to recognize and honor his enduring legacy and the significant impact he has had on our cultural and historical heritage,” Wilson said.
Mays was a two-time MVP, 24-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner and racked up 3,293 hits and 660 home runs during his career. The resolution commended his U.S. Army service during the Korean War, his legacy as one of the first Black players in MLB, and his receiving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, along with his philanthropic work, as motivation for the tribute.
Signage for the change will be paid for with private funding, according to Dodd.
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