Willie In The Neighborhood

 

It's 95 years since Willie Mays was born in Alabama on May 6, 1931. Willie, who passed at 93, began his major league career with the Giants when they were in New York.  After the 1957 season, the Giants relocated to San Francisco and Willie and his wife, Marghuerite went house hunting in the city that fall.  In November they found a three bedroom home with a view of the Pacific Ocean at 175 Miraloma Drive in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood of San Francisco.  Offering the full asking price of $37,500, all in cash, they were shocked to find their offer rejected, after initially being accepted, with the owner stating, "neighborhood pressures made him fear he would lose work if he went through with the deal."

A neighbor told the newspaper, "Certainly I objected. I happen to have quite a few pieces of property in that area and I stand to lose a lot if colored people move in."\

An outraged Marghuerite said, "Down in Alabama where we come from you know your place, and that's something, at least. But up here it's all a lot of camouflage. They grin in your face, and then deceive you." 

After an outcry, the owner relented and agreed to sell the property to Mays.

According to this article:

A year and a half after the sale, a bottle crashed through the front window of 175 Miraloma. The bottle contained a racial hate note. Marghuerite made it clear she wasn't happy in the new neighborhood. The couple soon sold the house and moved back to New York.  

After a divorce, Willie moved back to San Francisco in 1963, though according to the linked article, he was still not welcomed by everyone.