SAN FRANCISCO — The words of Willie Mays graced the shores of McCovey Cove one last time Sunday afternoon.
In a fitting ribbon on an emotional year for the Giants organization, that saw the death of two lions of the game within two weeks of each other, Mays’ prepared remarks headlined the hourlong celebration of life for his former teammate, Orlando Cepeda, who died just 10 days after Mays this summer.
The ceremony preceded the Giants’ series finale against the Padres, a 4-3 loss in 10 innings, and would have delighted Cepeda with a live band, dancers and dozens of his closest friends and family in addition to a slate of speakers that included fellow Hall of Famers Tony Oliva and Juan Marichal.
Oliva, a Twins legend hailing from Cuba, told the story of meeting Cepeda for the first time as a rookie at an exhibition game in New York in 1963 and said, “From that moment Orlando Cepeda never forgot me.” Marichal, his teammate in San Francisco from 1960-66, added, “Orlando wasn’t just a tremendous athlete, he was a beacon of generosity and kindness. His love was infectious, his wisdom profound and his loyalty unwavering.”
But the most powerful — and least expected — moment of the afternoon was Mays’ message from the afterlife, delivered by emcee Mike Krukow.
Before his death, Mays got word of Cepeda’s deteriorating health and wanted to make sure he had a chance to honor his friend, even if he couldn’t be there.
“How do you say goodbye to a little brother?” Mays’ letter read, in part, sharing their first meeting, in 1954, when Cepeda was a teenage batboy for a winter ball team in Puerto Rico, and going on to form a 70-year bond. “Some said it was one of the best winter teams ever put together, and there was this big kid hanging around. They called him the ‘Baby Bull,’ after his father, Pedro Cepeda, ‘The Bull.’ … Four years later, he’d be my Giants teammate.
“You already know his successes, his records, his numbers. He’s an MVP-winning Hall of Famer, but to me he was like family. While he was looking up to me, I was watching out for him. He made his own way, but he will always be my little brother. You always look out for your little brother, even after they grow.
“So long, kid. — Willie Mays”
Giants manager Bob Melvin was a budding 5-year-old fan when Cepeda was traded to St. Louis in 1966 and took in the ceremonies from the top step of the dugout, a similar perch to where he stood in a suit and tie three months ago for the celebration of Mays’ life.
Mays died at age 93 on June 18, two days before the Giants were set to play in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. What was already going to be a special evening at Rickwood Field took on even more significance. Upon returning home, they honored Mays in a pregame ceremony then held their first celebration of life July 8.
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Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
