Hall of Fame slugger McCovey dies at 80

MLB.COM ^ | 10/31/2018 | Anthony Castrovince

[DFG]

[ifinnegan]

Yeah, it’s sad.

[freedumb2003]

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.

[dfwgator]

I’m about to lose my childhood idol, Bill Freehan.

[A_Former_Democrat]

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

[oldplayer]

When I still cared anything about baseball, I loved this guy. Class act during his playing days. I wasn’t even a Giants fan.

[oldplayer]

DFG, those are two nice photos.

[steve8714]

A fine gentleman. Nobody’s fool, nobody’s bully. RIP sir.

[babble-on]

(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.

[A_Former_Democrat]

That Series went NY SF NY SF NY SF NY

One of the better ones

[JLAGRAYFOX]

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!!!

[ScottinVA]

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.

[The Citizen Soldier]

Willy McCovey is one of my all-time favorite Giants. I've been following the Giants since their move from New York to San Francsico in 1958, the same year our family moved from New York to California, when I was 11 years old.

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.

[PBRCat]

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.

[RayChuang88]

Interestingly, that line-drive catch was immortalized by not one, but two Charles Schulz Peanuts comic strips.

[riverdawg]

I saw McCovey hit a monstrous home run in San Diego in 1976; over the right-field stands and into the parking lot.

[scottinoc]

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.

[heterosupremacist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwBrhQOBADo

Baseball H.O.F. tribute to McCovey (3:22)

[oh8eleven]

I grew up in the NYC area 50s and 60s and rooted for the Giants - still do. I was so PO'd when they moved to SF and couldn't watch the "Say Hey Kid" on local TV.
But I was even more PO'd when the Giants added superstars like Willie Mccovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Bobby Bonds.
And now they're all dieing off or already gone. So sad.
RIP "Stretch" ...