29 Facts About Willie McCovey

Willie McCovey played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1959 to 1980, most notably as a member of the San Francisco Giants for whom he played for 19 seasons.

Willie McCovey played for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics in the latter part of his MLB career.

Fearsome left-handed power hitter, at the time of his retirement in 1980, Willie McCovey ranked second only to Babe Ruth in career home runs among left-handed batters, and seventh overall.

Willie McCovey was a six-time All-Star, three-time home run champion, MVP, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 in his first year of eligibility, only the 16th man so honored, at the time.

Willie McCovey was known as a dead-pull line drive hitter, causing some teams to employ a shift against him.

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Willie McCovey was called "the scariest hitter in baseball" by pitcher Bob Gibson, seconded by similarly feared slugger Reggie Jackson.

Willie McCovey hit 521 home runs, 231 of them in Candlestick Park, the most in that park by any player.

Willie McCovey was born in Mobile, Alabama, the seventh child of ten born to Frank Willie McCovey, a railroad worker, and Esther.

Willie McCovey began working part time at the age of 12 and dropped out of high school in order to work full time.

On his way to the Major Leagues, Willie McCovey played for a San Francisco Giants' farm club in Dallas, Texas that was part of the Class AA Texas League.

Willie McCovey did not participate when his team played in Shreveport, Louisiana due to segregation in that city.

Willie McCovey later played for the Pacific Coast League Phoenix Giants just prior to being called up by the San Francisco Giants.

Willie McCovey found major league pitchers simpler to hit than minor leaguers because the major leaguers had better control of their pitches.

Willie McCovey had a 22-game hitting streak, setting the mark for San Francisco Giants rookies, four short of the all-time team record.

Willie McCovey helped the Giants to the World Series against the New York Yankees, the only World Series appearance of his career.

Willie McCovey hit a hard line drive that was snared by the Yankees' second baseman Bobby Richardson, ending the series with a Yankees' win.

When Willie McCovey came to bat, typically those bleachers would empty as the fans positioned themselves on the flat ground, hoping to catch a Willie McCovey home run ball.

Willie McCovey was afflicted by injuries again in 1972, as he broke his arm early in the year in a collision at first base.

Troubled with arthritic knees for two seasons, the 35-year-old Willie McCovey was critical of manager Charlie Fox for diminishing his starting first baseman role in favor of Gary Thomasson.

In 1976, Willie McCovey struggled, and lost the starting first base job to Mike Ivie.

Willie McCovey returned to the Giants in 1977 without a guaranteed contract, but he earned a position on the team.

Willie McCovey is one of only 29 players in baseball history to date to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades.

Willie McCovey hit 18 grand slam home runs in his career, a National League record, and was a six-time All-Star.

Willie McCovey was a senior advisor with the Giants for 18 years.

Willie McCovey was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 in his first year of eligibility — making him the 16th player so honored.

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Willie McCovey is best remembered for the ferocity of his line drive batting style.

Willie McCovey's bat was so lethal in his prime he was intentionally walked an all-time record 45 times in 1969, shattering the previous record by a dozen.

In 1999, Willie McCovey was ranked 56th on the Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Willie McCovey had been hospitalized for an infection late the previous week.