Who was Willie Mays’ wife, Mae Louise Allen, and what was her cause of death?

MLB legend Willie Mays was married to Mae Louise Allen for more than 40 years.

She ultimately passed away in April 2013 at the age of 74.

Willie Mays and Mae were married up until her 2013 deathGetty / Bettmann

Who was Willie Mays’ wife, Mae Louise Allen?

Willie Mays is often regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

He got his start with the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League and went on the play for the Giants, both in New York and San Francisco, from 1951 to 1972 and later the Mets from 1972 to 1973.

A year before his time with the Giants came to an end, he tied the knot with Mae, whom he had met a decade prior.

Per MLB.com, Mae and Willie met in 1961 at a Harlem nightclub owned by Wilt Chamberlain.

“You don’t know me, but I’m Willie Mays,” he said, to which a “skeptical Mae” replied, “And I’m Martha Washington.”

Not much is known about Mae’s life because she often stayed out of the spotlight, but according to Yahoo! Sports, she graduated from Howard University with a master’s degree in social work and went on to work in child welfare.

She has since been described as a “pioneer in getting single adoptions started in San Francisco.”

What was Mae Louise Allen’s cause of death?

On April 19, 2013, it was reported that Mae had passed away at the age of 74.

At the time, Giants president Larry Baer paid tribute to her in a statement, saying, “On behalf of the Giants partnership, front office, team, alumni, and fans, we express our heartfelt condolences to Willie and his family with the passing of his beloved Mae.

“I was honored to know Mae and to witness how Willie loved and cared for her,” he added.

Her death came after a “long battle” with Alzheimer’s disease, according to Yahoo! Sports.

Willie later passed away on June 18, 2024, at 93.

The Giants confirmed his death in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, but did not provide a cause.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Mays passed away peacefully this afternoon,” the team said.

Willie and Mae Mays first met in 1961AP / Robert Houston

Did Willie Mays have kids?

Before Willie tied the knot with Mae, he was married to Margherite Wendell Chapman.

During his first marriage, which lasted from 1956 to 1963, he adopted a son, Michael.

Not much is known about Michael’s life because he often stays out of the spotlight, but he has since paid tribute to his late father, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, “I want to thank you all from the bottom of my broken heart for the unwavering love you have shown him over the years. You have been his life’s blood.”

Willie is also survived by his godson, Barry Bonds, who is the son of his former Giants teammate, Bobby Bonds, according to People.