1979: Willie Mays Elected to the Hall of Fame — And Somehow It Wasn’t Unanimous

Ramjack Media

23 January 2026

On January 23, 1979, Willie Mays — the ultimate five-tool player and one of the greatest athletes in baseball history — was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. But in a result that still stuns fans decades later, Mays fell short of a unanimous vote. In today’s episode of Sports History Daily, we revisit the career of the “Say Hey Kid,” relive his most iconic moments, break down the Hall of Fame vote, and ask the obvious question: how was Willie Mays not unanimous?