Dodger legend Maury Wills was all smiles the day Dave Roberts was named the Dodgers coach on November 11, 2015 at a press conference at Dodger Stadium. He died at his home in Arizona last Monday.
Back in the early 1960's the Dodgers were winning games by the score of 2-0 and 2-1 but there was still excitement at Dodger Stadium that's because Maury Wills was on base getting ready to steal. At the time Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale were two of the best pitchers Los Angeles had ever seen but Wills was the star of the show.
Wills died last Monday at his home in Arizona at the age of 89. He was a three-time World Series Champion, and he stole a record 104 bases in 1962 on his way to being named the National league Most Valuable Player that year. That season he became the first player in Major League baseball history to steal more than 100 bases.
During his career with the Dodgers, he stole 490 bases, batted .287 and scored 876 runs but he will always be remembered for the exhilarating excitement he brought to Dodger Stadium whenever he got on base.
After his playing career he stayed in baseball as a coach for the Seattle Mariners and the Dodgers.
He was special. The Dodgers should retire his number and there is no way in hell that he should not be in the Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Carla, and children Barry, Micki, Bump, Anita, Susan Quam and Wendi Jo Wills. His son Bump also played professional major league baseball.
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