Born to Play Ball

MAYS, Willie (as told to Charles Einstein)

Published by G. P. Putnam, New York, 1955

About this Item

Small octavo, 168pp. A crisp, clean copy, near fine, with a touch of pinpoint rubbing to the spine ends and corners. in a very good dust jacket, with a few short tears, and the spine sunned, but no notable chips. This copy SIGNED by Willie Mays on the half-title page: "Best Wishes, Willie Mays N. Y. Giants." On the same leaf is another, seemingly later inscription, which just reads "To J. B. Hennesey." This also looks to be in Mays's hand. We suppose that Hennesey owned this book, which had been signed around the time of publication, and he took it to a signing sometime later (in the 1970s or 80s?), where he had it personalized by Mays. Mays wrote another autobiography in 1988, which is typically more easily obtainable. We could find no signed copies of this mid-career autobiography in auction records. Copies signed near the time of publication are decidedly uncommon. A significant Willie Mays autograph, signed while Mays was still on the New York [not San Francisco] Giants. Seller Inventory # 9355

Bibliographic Details

Title: Born to Play Ball

Publisher: G. P. Putnam, New York

Publication Date: 1955

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Near fine

Dust Jacket Condition: very good

Signed: Signed by Author(s)

Edition: First Edition.