Willie Mays' only time substituting as host of a talk show.
He fills in for Dick Cavett (Dick Cavett Show). He takes questions from the audience including one heard/asked by 15 year old fan, Richard Jerome, wanting to how Willie felt being on deck when Bobby Thompson hit his famous "shot heard round the world," home run October 3, 1951 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mays answers that he was more nervous at that time then presently hosting the Dick Cavett Show.
Earlier in the broadcast Willie Mays reads question cards written by those in the audience. Again a question by Richard Jerome who writes, "Which of your baseball accomplishments has meant the most to you, which includes hitting four homeruns in Milwaukee in 1961, reaching the mark of 500 homeruns in 1965...600 homeruns in 1969, and achieving your 3000th hit?"
Mays' answer: "Richard, I'd take either one of them myself.
At the time when I first broke in I went 0 for 24. So anyone of these I would take."
Other questions include "Why are you (Willie) playing ball at the age of 40?" Willie responds that he would like to still be playing baseball at 48.
Willie's guest, his former New York Giant manager, Leo Durocher, swap anecdotes with one another about playing and managing during the 1950's. Durocher states that he told Willie Mays who was batting 0 for 20 leading into the World Series against the New York Yankees that if he didn't get a World Series hit, he wouldn't get any World Series money.
Also remembered by Durocher his first experiences with Willie when Mays wanted to quit baseball because he was doing poorly but encouraged him to keep playing. Leo told Willie at that low point in his career that he believed in him and that he would always be his centerfielder.
Another anecdote when picking up Willie at his place on 155th Street in NYC to attend an important function, he found Willie playing stick ball in the street, and coerced him to get into car which Willie did, but the back seat of his Cadillac, and shouted out loud to Leo, "Chauffer, whenever you are ready."
Also, discussed, remembrances of Leo's son Chris who was Willie's roommate for a time.
NOTE: Broadcast joined in progress.
Commercials for Domino Sugar, Spaghetti O's, Miracle Brush and Bankers Trust included.