Willie Mays helps raise cash for Rep. Menendez

Baseball legend Willie Mays collected $2.5 million for Rep. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) at a Meadowlands fundraiser Sunday night.

Menendez, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, is seeking to move to the Senate. The seat is open in 2006, but Menendez could join the upper body earlier if current Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) moves to the governor’s office after the 2005 election and appoints Menendez to fill out Corzine’s Senate term.

Along with Corzine and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), 1,400 guests made it the largest congressional fundraiser in New Jersey history, according to a Menendez aide.