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Hall of Fame slugger McCovey dies at 80
MLB.COM ^ | 10/31/2018 | Anthony Castrovince

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 ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: athletes; baseball; candlestick; giants; mccovey; mlb; obituary; stretch; williemccovey
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1 posted on 11/01/2018 7:38:20 AM PDT by DFG
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To: DFG

2 posted on 11/01/2018 7:39:35 AM PDT by DFG
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To: DFG

Yeah, it’s sad.


3 posted on 11/01/2018 7:40:11 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: DFG

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.


4 posted on 11/01/2018 7:41:55 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (Always believe women except: clinton rape, ellison assault, booker groping, ted kennedy murder)
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To: freedumb2003

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


5 posted on 11/01/2018 7:42:20 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: DFG

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


6 posted on 11/01/2018 7:42:56 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat ("Mods/Indies/Dems/Non-voters" JOBS or MOBS? Are CRAZY DIMS REALLY who you want BACK in POWER?)
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To: ifinnegan

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


7 posted on 11/01/2018 7:43:06 AM PDT by oldplayer
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To: oldplayer

DFG, those are two nice photos.


8 posted on 11/01/2018 7:44:16 AM PDT by oldplayer
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To: ifinnegan

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


9 posted on 11/01/2018 7:47:22 AM PDT by steve8714 ("My name is Rod Blagojevich and I need cash now!" (all) "Call JB Pritzker, 87DirtyCashNOW!")
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To: DFG

(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.


10 posted on 11/01/2018 7:48:21 AM PDT by babble-on
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To: A_Former_Democrat

That Series went NY SF NY SF NY SF NY

One of the better ones


11 posted on 11/01/2018 7:48:40 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat ("Mods/Indies/Dems/Non-voters" JOBS or MOBS? Are CRAZY DIMS REALLY who you want BACK in POWER?)
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To: freedumb2003

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!!!


12 posted on 11/01/2018 7:50:32 AM PDT by JLAGRAYFOX (Defeat both the Republican (e) & Democrat (e) political parties....Forever!!!)
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To: DFG

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.


13 posted on 11/01/2018 7:51:37 AM PDT by ScottinVA (GOP: The party of jobs. Democrats: The party of mobs.)
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To: DFG
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.

14 posted on 11/01/2018 7:56:29 AM PDT by The Citizen Soldier ("It's always good to be underestimated." ~Donald Trump)
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To: DFG

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.


15 posted on 11/01/2018 8:08:59 AM PDT by PBRCat
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To: A_Former_Democrat
Interestingly, that line-drive catch was immortalized by not one, but two Charles Schulz Peanuts comic strips.
16 posted on 11/01/2018 8:09:33 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's Economic Cure)
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To: JLAGRAYFOX

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


17 posted on 11/01/2018 8:09:48 AM PDT by riverdawg
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To: DFG

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.


18 posted on 11/01/2018 8:11:35 AM PDT by scottinoc
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To: DFG

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

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


19 posted on 11/01/2018 8:17:01 AM PDT by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.)
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To: DFG
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" ...
20 posted on 11/01/2018 8:22:00 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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