text: whohit the ball that willie mays caughht?   in game 1 of the 1954 series mays made one of the greatest defensive plays of all time, a brilliant over-the-shoulder catch of a long drive by vic wertz, deep in centre field of the spacious polo grounds. the play, now known simply as "the catch", kept the scores tied. after the giants' victory, mays was announced as winner of the national league most valuable player award and the hickok belt as top professional athlete of the year.