The Bay Area lost a son, father, friend and hero on Tuesday when Willie Mays died at age 93.

As with any loss, it mourns. Grieving Giants fans turned Willie Mays Plaza into a tribute. By Wednesday morning, his statue outside Oracle Park had collected dozens of flower bouquets — mostly orange roses — Mays baseball cards, peanuts, balloons, candles, notes, signed balls and hats.

The Giants are opening up Oracle Park Thursday to honor Mays during San Francisco’s game at Rickwood Field, the Hall of Famer’s first professional ballpark. But this tribute wasn’t planned.

“It was organic,” said Joey Bernal, a Dogpatch resident who dropped off flowers and planned to return with his son later.

“I think it just shows a reflection of him as a person,” said Bernal’s wife, Mariel.

Scores of fans stopped by 24 Willie Mays Plaza on Wednesday to pay their respects and celebrate Mays’ singular life. They dropped off mementos, shared stories and took pictures.

Losing a titan like Mays generated more than memorializing from mere humans Mays inspired. Shortly after noon, the crowd noticed a rainbow formed over Mays’ statue high above the China Basin.

“It’s almost like a halo,” an onlooker said.

It was the universe paying tribute just like so many others who spent time around Mays’ statue.

A firefighter exited her fire truck to rub Mays’ bat and leave a bouquet of sunflowers. One man stood behind the statue and placed his cap on his heart as a sign of respect.

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