On This Day in Sports: September 13, 1965
On September 13, 1965, San Francisco Giants star Willie Mays hit the 500th home run of his major-league career. Facing Houston pitcher Don Nottebart, Mays led off the fourth inning with the milestone drive. He became only the fifth player to reach 500, joining Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, and former Giants great Mel Ott.
The home run tied the game at 1–1 and helped begin a four-run Giants rally. San Francisco won 5–1 behind a complete game from Juan Marichal. Mays had hit No. 499 the previous night against the Chicago Cubs, and he added No. 501 one day after reaching the landmark.
The moment arrived during one of Mays’s finest seasons. He finished 1965 with 52 home runs, a .317 batting average, and the National League Most Valuable Player Award. His impact extended beyond hitting: he was also an elite center fielder, baserunner, and durable everyday player.
Mays retired with 660 home runs and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. The September 13 milestone remains a concise measure of his rare combination of power and longevity, while his broader record explains why he is remembered as one of baseball’s most complete players.
Mays entered the Houston series with the Giants leading the National League and with 499 career home runs. Only four players had previously reached 500.
Nottebart retired him in the first inning, but Mays homered when he led off the fourth.
The milestone tied the score and preceded three more San Francisco runs in the inning. The Giants completed a 5–1 victory.
Mays led the National League in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases in 1965.
Mays finished with 660 home runs, 12 consecutive Gold Gloves, and 24 All-Star selections. The 500th homer represents only one dimension of that record.
Source: National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Explore more of "On This Day ..."
Discover more events from the same date across news, politics, technology, sports, and other fields. Each link highlights significant moments that shaped history on different fronts.