Willie Mays Highway Opens on Baseball Legend's 95th Birthday

The San Francisco Giants unveiled a tribute worthy of one of baseball's greatest players on what would have been Willie Mays' 95th birthday.

A portion of Interstate 80, where the Bay Bridge enters San Francisco near Oracle Park, now officially carries the name Willie Mays Highway. Signs went up this week, ensuring every fan driving to a Giants game will pass a reminder of the man who brought joy to generations.

The designation came through a partnership between the Giants, the Say Hey Foundation, and California lawmakers. State Senator Bill Dodd from nearby Napa introduced the bill that made it happen, saying he couldn't think of anyone better to welcome visitors crossing into San Francisco.

Giants President Larry Baer called it an incredibly special way to honor Willie's legacy. For decades, that same stretch of I-80 has carried fans into the city for games. Now it will forever carry the name of the player who made those trips worthwhile.

Mays arrived in San Francisco with the Giants in 1958 and became woven into the fabric of the city. His 24 All-Star selections, two MVP awards, 12 Gold Glove wins, and 660 home runs tell only part of his story. The joy he played with matched his remarkable talent.

The Ripple Effect

This highway designation does more than honor the past. It introduces future generations to a player who defined excellence and joy in equal measure.

Jeff Idelson, executive director of the Say Hey Foundation, emphasized that Willie was more than a baseball great. He helped define San Francisco culture for more than half a century, becoming a national icon whose impact reached far beyond the diamond.

The highway shares this stretch of the Bay Bridge with another designation honoring former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr. Two transformative figures, two Willies, forever linked to the city they helped shape.

Nearly 53 years after his retirement, Mays' legacy continues inspiring new fans discovering what made him special. Now every drive to Oracle Park offers a chance to remember the combination of speed, power, defense, and pure love of the game that made Willie Mays unforgettable.