Tom Hayes

Thomas Henry Hayes Jr. (November 20, 1902 — July 20, 1982) was an American Negro league baseball executive who served as owner and president of the Birmingham Black Barons from 1939 to 1952. He is perhaps best known for selling a then-19-year-old Willie Mays to the New York Giants.

Early life Hayes was born on November 20, 1902, in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Thomas and Florence Hayes. Thomas Sr. worked as an undertaker and his T.H. Hayes & Sons Funeral Home would become the oldest Black-owned business in Memphis. Hayes was involved in multiple other business ventures in Memphis, including insurance, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs.

Baseball career Hayes purchased the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League in December 1939 after the previous owners failed to field a club that year. He also served as vice president of the Negro American League. During his ownership, the Black Barons won Negro American League pennants in 1943, 1944 and 1948.

In early 1949, Hayes sold Willie Mays, at the time 19-years-old, to the New York Giants for $10,000. Hayes reportedly gave Mays a $6,000 cut of the sale. with Hayes ultimately selling the club to Baltimore Elite Giants owner William Sousa Bridgeforth in February 1952.