1965 Topps Willie Mays

[jchcollins]

Can anyone tell me where / what ballpark this pic was taken at? Someone on FB said Candlestick, but he’s wearing a road jersey. Just curious, thanks.




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[Cliff Bowman]

Spring training stadium in Arizona?

[deweyinthehall]

Just a guess, but seeing the two individuals in the background to give the stands some scale, I'd say probably the Giants' spring home in Phoenix in early 1964? Here's a link to a pic of Mays in what is claimed to be Casa Grande in 1962, but all other information I can find places them in at Phoenix in all the springs from the 1950s to the 1970s. There are several errors in this photo retrospective so it is possible this is Phoenix. And at first blush the stands look like they could be a match - light colored.

And he's wearing his away jersey at their "home"....

https://projects.sfchronicle.com/202...ring-training/

[packs]

Always liked this card:

[jchcollins]

Thanks for the replies / guesses. I've always wanted this card, and made this one happen at a local show last weekend.

I've got to stop - I keep buying all my "National targets" ahead of time, LOL.

[rugbymarine]

If that 4.5 is your copy, then well done!! As a centering junkie, that's one of the better 65 Mays cards I've seen.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by rugbymarine

If that 4.5 is your copy, then well done!! As a centering junkie, that's one of the better 65 Mays cards I've seen.

Thanks. Yeah, that's mine. I'm actually not a centering junkie, but will admit it's a nice one. Saw it reasonably priced last weekend and couldn't walk away.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Just a guess, but seeing the two individuals in the background to give the stands some scale, I'd say probably the Giants' spring home in Phoenix in early 1964? Here's a link to a pic of Mays in what is claimed to be Casa Grande in 1962, but all other information I can find places them in at Phoenix in all the springs from the 1950s to the 1970s. There are several errors in this photo retrospective so it is possible this is Phoenix. And at first blush the stands look like they could be a match - light colored.

And he's wearing his away jersey at their "home"....

https://projects.sfchronicle.com/202...ring-training/

Also, his heavy turtleneck sweatshirt indicates spring training. No way he's wearing something that heavy during the summer.

[bobw]

The stands look like the ones in Casa Grande, then the Giants Training facility. A wild guess as to why Willie is wearing a road jersey.... maybe they had a workout at the facility before traveling to play another Arizona team?

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by bobw

The stands look like the ones in Casa Grande, then the Giants Training facility. A wild guess as to why Willie is wearing a road jersey.... maybe they had a workout at the facility before traveling to play another Arizona team?

Those definitely look like the same stands. Cool - thanks.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Also, his heavy turtleneck sweatshirt indicates spring training. No way he's wearing something that heavy during the summer.

Not necessarily. Candlestick during the regular season, especially the early months was often windy and cold.

[Chris Counts]

The first time I saw Willie play in person, it was at a spring training game in Palm Springs, CA. He would have played here many times, which might explain the road jersey.

[packs]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Not necessarily. Candlestick during the regular season, especially the early months was often windy and cold.

I lived in San Francisco for four years. The summers were always colder than the winters. July 4th was always a cold night at the top of Nob Hill watching the fireworks over the bay.

I think there's a famous quote to that's something like the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.

[ALR-bishop]

Often attributed to Mark Twain but I think the origin is actually unknown

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Not necessarily. Candlestick during the regular season, especially the early months was often windy and cold.

But the picture is definitely not Candlestick, and don't see why Willie would be wearing a road shirt at Candlestick during the season regardless.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Mark17

But the picture is definitely not Candlestick, and don't see why Willie would be wearing a road shirt at Candlestick during the season regardless.

No, but see above. The '65 Topps pic is definitely Casa Grande; the stands are a match. No great explanation as to why he's wearing the road shirt, but other searches on the interwebs have led to other photos of the Giants wearing road shirts at Casa Grande.

Who knows. Maybe they were having a workout there and then took a 20 minute bus ride up the road for an "away" game during spring training. Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, and others are all right there near that ballpark. I am not well-versed as to what teams would have been where in the early 1960's, but I would think that stands to reason.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

No, but see above. The '65 Topps pic is definitely Casa Grande; the stands are a match. No great explanation as to why he's wearing the road shirt, but other searches on the interwebs have led to other photos of the Giants wearing road shirts at Casa Grande.

Who knows. Maybe they were having a workout there and then took a 20 minute bus ride up the road for an "away" game during spring training. Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, and others are all right there near that ballpark. I am not well-versed as to what teams would have been where in the early 1960's, but I would think that stands to reason.

I believe you are right in suggesting that Willie was posing at a workout before the team traveled to play a road game. Actually, Casa Grande is about half-way between Phoenix and Tucson-- about an hour in either direction. There were not many Cactus League sites in the early 60's, but seems to me the most logical explanation is that pics were taken before travel.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Thanks for the replies / guesses. I've always wanted this card, and made this one happen at a local show last weekend.

I've got to stop - I keep buying all my "National targets" ahead of time, LOL.

When the card and price are right, there's no time like the present.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

No, but see above. The '65 Topps pic is definitely Casa Grande; the stands are a match. No great explanation as to why he's wearing the road shirt, but other searches on the interwebs have led to other photos of the Giants wearing road shirts at Casa Grande.

Who knows. Maybe they were having a workout there and then took a 20 minute bus ride up the road for an "away" game during spring training. Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa, and others are all right there near that ballpark. I am not well-versed as to what teams would have been where in the early 1960's, but I would think that stands to reason.

Makes sense. Another possibility might be an intra-squad game, where the 50 or so spring training invitees split into 2 teams.