"Maybe I was born to play baseball," said Willie Mays. "Maybe I truly was." There's no maybe about it. Willie Mays was born to play baseball. Presented is a baseball signed by Willie, circa 1951, his rookie season. Willie started the year at the New York Giants' top farm club, the Minneapolis Millers. Mays was hitting an amazing .477 at Minneapolis, and Giants' manager Leo Durocher was desperate to get him to the big club. Mays joined the Giants in May, and pushed a good speedy center fielder, Bobby Thomson, to third base. Mays was also born to play in the Polo Grounds, with its immense center field. Mays hit .274, blasted 20 home runs, played a great center field and helped the Giants take the 1951 pennant in their three-game playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mays was the National League Rookie of the Year. Mays signed the ball in green ink from a fountain pen and inscribed the ball, "To Mag. Wilson Best Wishes Willie Mays." All the writing on the ball is in Willie's hand. It is one of the earliest Willie Mays single-signed balls that we have seen. The ball is browned and mounted on a base. The Mays' signature is still quite strong - around 8/10. Mays was a true five-tool player. He could hit, hit with power, run, field, and throw - and he could do them all exceedingly well. The rookie era signature of this great Hall of Famer is a great reminder of the greatness of "The Say Hey Kid."