The tributes to Willie Mays last week were bittersweet. He, of course, deserved all the lofty praise, but there was the regret of his having to endure the segregation dissent and humiliation of his native South, growing up in Westfield, Ala., nine miles west of Birmingham.

He rose above the ignominy and indignity of his early years to exalted status in baseball. Many who saw him play say he was the greatest all around performer ever in the Big Leagues. Who could argue with that? The man was as spectacular in the field as he was at bat.

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