NEW YORK — Willie Mays spent only two seasons with the New York Mets. His legacy will last forever.
In a surprise salute at Citi Field, the Mets retired Mays' jersey Saturday as part of festivities during the organization's first Old-Timers' Day since 1994.
"From this day forward, no Met will ever wear Willie Mays' iconic No. 24," emcee Howie Rose read to a near-standing ovation from the crowd.
One of baseball's greatest players, the Hall of Fame center fielder starred for the Giants in New York from 1951-57 and then in San Francisco from 1958-72 after the club moved to the West Coast.