Posted on 11/01/2018 7:38:20 AM PDT by DFG
Willie McCovey, one of the great left-handed power hitters of all time, a first-ballot inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 and a beloved member of the San Francisco Giants family, passed away peacefully Wednesday after a battle with health issues. He was 80 years old.
Nicknamed "Stretch" for the long arms and legs attached to his 6-foot-4 frame, McCovey and fellow Hall of Famer and Alabama native Willie Mays comprised the core of San Francisco Giants teams that gave opposing pitchers The Willies. McCovey's pull power was so prodigious that the China Basin that sits beyond the right-field wall at AT&T Park is affectionately referred to as "McCovey Cove," though McCovey never played there.
A statue of McCovey sits at the mouth of the Cove, which would have made for a fine target in his playing days.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlb.com ...
Yeah, it’s sad.
People who were heroes in my youth are dying too young.
Even as a Dodger fan, I knew who McCovey was and of his legendary baseball prowess.
I’m about to lose my childhood idol, Bill Freehan.
Remember where I was at when I heard his line drive was caught by The Great Bobby Richardson in Game 7 to end the 62 World Series
When I still cared anything about baseball, I loved this guy. Class act during his playing days. I wasn’t even a Giants fan.
DFG, those are two nice photos.
A fine gentleman. Nobody’s fool, nobody’s bully. RIP sir.
(Pre-steroid era baseball players looked like athletes.)
Stretch was one of my favorites as a kid and a lifelong Giants fan. We will miss #44.
I think “McCovey Cove” is such a great way for the Giants to have honored him.
That Series went NY SF NY SF NY SF NY
One of the better ones
As a diehard, NY Mets fan....I could not stand Willie McCovey....because every time he showed up at Shea Stadium he would blast the ball into the right field stands for another home run. May this great ballplayer and human being, Willie McCovey RIP for eternity in God’s paradise. We loved you Mr. McCovey!!! You were truly one of the greats in baseball!!!
Very sad to hear. While one of the most feared long-ball hitters of his time, McCovey was among the nicest, most likeable pro athletes ever.
So thankful I got to meet him about ten years ago. At that time his knees were really a mess and very difficult for him to walk. He was not only a GREAT ballplayer, he was a FINE gentleman.
Glad that we will never forget him as another long home run to right field lands in McCovey Cove.
R.I.P.
One can only imagine the numbers that Willie Mays and Willie McCovey would have put up if they had not had the misfortune of playing at Candlestick Park. Conditions at this poorly chosen site for a stadium cost both Giants sluggers many home runs.
I saw McCovey hit a monstrous home run in San Diego in 1976; over the right-field stands and into the parking lot.
He was the most exciting hitter to watch. It was awesome watching him play for the Padres. I didn’t even know until later that he used to play for the Giants.
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