The first time I saw him play.was on August 31, 1959, as a rookie. He hit a home run off of Sandy Koufax at the Los Angeles Coliseum in a game where Koufax tied what was then a major league record by striking out 18 batters. I saw him several times after that; both with the Giants and Padres. My most poignant memory of McCovey is from his last at-bat even though I wasn't even there to see it. I was already living in Hawaii but I was listening to the game on the radio. He hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly at Dodger Stadium. Since everybody knew that this was McCovey's final game the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Although I was 2500 miles away, I felt the poignancy of the moment with the crowd paying such a wonderful tribute to a player on the Dodgers' fiercest rival. As a Dodger fan I didn't want him to hit a home run but as somebody who liked and respected McCovey as a great ballplayer I am also glad that he didn't strike out. The sacrifice fly enabled McCovey to go out on a positive note. Thinking about that final appearance still chokes me up a little.
Dodger Nation mourns for our Giants fan friends.....One of the greatest of all time. Goodbye, Mr. McCovey. I was honored to have met you...and watch you beat us.
I have done my crying this morning hearing that #44 passed away. One of my two favorite Giants of all time, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. I am so glad I got to see them both play in person. Great Giant and great human being. God Bless and rest in peace Stretch!!
I still remember watching my favorite 3, 4, and 5 hitters come to Wrigley field as I always cheered for the Giants over the CUBS back then! - WILLIE MAYS -WILLIE McCOVEY and JIM RAY HART - now that was a threesome of POWER! RIP WILLIE MCCOVEY!!
Forever a Yankee Fan but I loved watching Willie McCovey play. I watched him as often as I could. What a player who played the game with class and dignity. You were the best Willie. So long Willie........they don’t make em' like you anymore.
RIP Willie still remember catching the Bryant street #25 ball park express in San Francisco to go see you play at Candlestick....Straight up bleacher bum Thanks for those Great memories.
Really sad. I have amazing memories of Willie McCovey in Spring Training when I was a kid. He played before my time. But I'll never forget how nice the gentle Giant was to me. Prayers with his loved ones. Rest in Peace Stretch. San Francisco mourns for you.
Playing Little League baseball in Vallejo, CA in the 70's and going to Candlestick Park with my team to watch my hero was one of the thrills of my then young life. He was and still is a giant among Giants. Thank you Stretch for the great memories and for being an example for us young boys. You will be remembered.
The passing of Willie McCovey is a sad part of life when you remember collecting as a young baseball fan Topps baseball cards and getting McCovey, along with the gum, in that pack because one like him would get you excited among friends. 1971 playoff year could have been special but for Willie and the Giants the Pirates were just too good back then.
Coming from a Dodger fan. RIP Willie. You were an honorable and worthy opponent deserving of all the praise and accolades you garnered. Baseball and humanity has lost a great one.
I remember Willie. While I didn't like the SF Giants (grew up a Dodger fan), I respected McCovey and saw how pitchers respected and even feared him. He was a class act and a greatly talented player. RIP Willie McCovey. May his family take some measure of comfort from knowing that his fans, indeed all baseball fans, mourn his loss.
The most awesome thing I ever witnessed on a ball field was a line drive Willie hit in St. Louis that struck the left field wall so hard you could hear the sound reverberate around the stadium. An opposite field hit.
Every time Willie would walk up to the plate against the Dodgers, YA IM A DODGER FAN lol, I would simply go into panic mode especially if it was a close game, Nonetheless it was a sheer thrill to watch Sweet Willies Iconic Swing and power, RIP Willie!!!
When the Giants left NY I began listening to Phillie games which came in over the radio 90 miles away. I think Robin Roberts was pitching when Willie broke in with 4-4 two triples and two singles.
I can't remember the exact year, it was mid to late 1950s. My father took me to see the local minor league team. Even the team's name is a blur, it was either the Dallas Rangers, or the Dallas Fort Worth Rangers. It was the first time I had ever seen a professional baseball team. There were no major league teams in the south during that era. This guy comes to the plate and BAM! I was shocked. I didn't know a baseball could do what dat thang had done that night! The ball took off into the dark night like a bullet, like someone was real angry with that ball. In 1950s Dallas before there was major development and civic expansion between Dallas and Fort Worth there was very little light pollution in the night skies. So when that little white ball took off from that bat and flew deep into the night, it looked like something out of a Greek mythology tale where some thing, or some person became fixed in the stars and heavens. I can almost swear that with my little kid's eyes on, the ball I saw that night went all the way into deep space and became part of some new constellation! That ball that night could not have been measured in mere feet, you needed light years! Although I could tell you almost every player on the Yankees then, I didn't know any minor league players' names, so when I asked my father who hit that ball he told me Willie McCovey. I remembered that name henceforth now and forevermore. The next time we went to see him play again he was already gone and into the majors. Years later whenever I saw a baseball hit really hard I would say the batter "knocked the McCovey off the ball." I extended it to whenever a basketball player blocked a shot really hard. I was saddened to hear of his passing on my birthday---Halloween. He provided the first homerun I had ever seen by a professional (albeit minor league) player and what a whopper it was. RIP.
Too bad he (McCovey) didn't break in in 1957. At least he would have had the thrill of playing at least O ONE season at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, although he played many a game at New York's Polo Grounds when the Mets were there.
The first time I saw him play.was on August 31, 1959, as a rookie. He hit a home run off of Sandy Koufax at the Los Angeles Coliseum in a game where Koufax tied what was then a major league record by striking out 18 batters. I saw him several times after that; both with the Giants and Padres.
My most poignant memory of McCovey is from his last at-bat even though I wasn't even there to see it. I was already living in Hawaii but I was listening to the game on the radio. He hit a pinch-hit sacrifice fly at Dodger Stadium. Since everybody knew that this was McCovey's final game the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Although I was 2500 miles away, I felt the poignancy of the moment with the crowd paying such a wonderful tribute to a player on the Dodgers' fiercest rival. As a Dodger fan I didn't want him to hit a home run but as somebody who liked and respected McCovey as a great ballplayer I am also glad that he didn't strike out. The sacrifice fly enabled McCovey to go out on a positive note. Thinking about that final appearance still chokes me up a little.
Dodger Nation mourns for our Giants fan friends.....One of the greatest of all time. Goodbye, Mr. McCovey. I was honored to have met you...and watch you beat us.
My first ever hero, crying like a baby right now 😭
I have done my crying this morning hearing that #44 passed away. One of my two favorite Giants of all time, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. I am so glad I got to see them both play in person. Great Giant and great human being. God Bless and rest in peace Stretch!!
My favorite Giant ever!! I saw him get inducted into Cooperstown in 1986. The world is still a poorer place without him.
My favorite Giant of all times. Thanks for all the greatness you brought to the sport Stretch. RIP
You earned it, Stretch. May you rest well, my friend, in the loving arms of God.
I still remember watching my favorite 3, 4, and 5 hitters come to Wrigley field as I always cheered for the Giants over the CUBS back then! - WILLIE MAYS -WILLIE McCOVEY and JIM RAY HART - now that was a threesome of POWER! RIP WILLIE MCCOVEY!!
Forever a Yankee Fan but I loved watching Willie McCovey play. I watched him as often as I could. What a player who played the game with class and dignity. You were the best Willie. So long Willie........they don’t make em' like you anymore.
Willie was a great player, what a thrill watching him play, God be with the family at this difficult time, rest in peace eternally in Heaven
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RIP Stretch. You were not only a Hall of Famer on the field but off it as well. A true giant of a human being.
RIP Willie still remember catching the Bryant street #25 ball park express in San Francisco to go see you play at Candlestick....Straight up bleacher bum Thanks for those Great memories.
Really sad. I have amazing memories of Willie McCovey in Spring Training when I was a kid. He played before my time. But I'll never forget how nice the gentle Giant was to me. Prayers with his loved ones. Rest in Peace Stretch. San Francisco mourns for you.
Playing Little League baseball in Vallejo, CA in the 70's and going to Candlestick Park with my team to watch my hero was one of the thrills of my then young life. He was and still is a giant among Giants. Thank you Stretch for the great memories and for being an example for us young boys. You will be remembered.
The passing of Willie McCovey is a sad part of life when you remember collecting as a young baseball fan Topps baseball cards and getting McCovey, along with the gum, in that pack because one like him would get you excited among friends. 1971 playoff year could have been special but for Willie and the Giants the Pirates were just too good back then.
Coming from a Dodger fan. RIP Willie. You were an honorable and worthy opponent deserving of all the praise and accolades you garnered. Baseball and humanity has lost a great one.
Willie McCovey was a true Giant of the game. And that's not just because of the name on the front of his jersey.
I remember Willie. While I didn't like the SF Giants (grew up a Dodger fan), I respected McCovey and saw how pitchers respected and even feared him. He was a class act and a greatly talented player. RIP Willie McCovey. May his family take some measure of comfort from knowing that his fans, indeed all baseball fans, mourn his loss.
I’m gonna miss McCovey
Stretch. Rest in peace. The game will never forget you.
The most awesome thing I ever witnessed on a ball field was a line drive Willie hit in St. Louis that struck the left field wall so hard you could hear the sound reverberate around the stadium. An opposite field hit.
Every time Willie would walk up to the plate against the Dodgers, YA IM A DODGER FAN lol, I would simply go into panic mode especially if it was a close game, Nonetheless it was a sheer thrill to watch Sweet Willies Iconic Swing and power, RIP Willie!!!
Rest In Power Mr. Willie "Stretch" McCovey
When the Giants left NY I began listening to Phillie games which came in over the radio 90 miles away. I think Robin Roberts was pitching when Willie broke in with 4-4 two triples and two singles.
One of my favorite ball players and a Class Act...
Rest In Peace Willie, you were one of the greatest players! Sending thoughts of comfort to his family and friends, and other fans.
It seems he was one of the nicest people. RIP
i was gonna hit 'like', but it was on 44 … just know that i liked it in spirit
He was a beast. RIP
R.I.P. Stretch
He came within a whiplash of beating the Yankees when he lined out. Hardest hit of the series!
RIP, such a great talent
I can't remember the exact year, it was mid to late 1950s. My father took me to see the local minor league team. Even the team's name is a blur, it was either the Dallas Rangers, or the Dallas Fort Worth Rangers. It was the first time I had ever seen a professional baseball team. There were no major league teams in the south during that era. This guy comes to the plate and BAM! I was shocked. I didn't know a baseball could do what dat thang had done that night! The ball took off into the dark night like a bullet, like someone was real angry with that ball. In 1950s Dallas before there was major development and civic expansion between Dallas and Fort Worth there was very little light pollution in the night skies. So when that little white ball took off from that bat and flew deep into the night, it looked like something out of a Greek mythology tale where some thing, or some person became fixed in the stars and heavens. I can almost swear that with my little kid's eyes on, the ball I saw that night went all the way into deep space and became part of some new constellation! That ball that night could not have been measured in mere feet, you needed light years!
Although I could tell you almost every player on the Yankees then, I didn't know any minor league players' names, so when I asked my father who hit that ball he told me Willie McCovey. I remembered that name henceforth now and forevermore. The next time we went to see him play again he was already gone and into the majors.
Years later whenever I saw a baseball hit really hard I would say the batter "knocked the McCovey off the ball." I extended it to whenever a basketball player blocked a shot really hard.
I was saddened to hear of his passing on my birthday---Halloween. He provided the first homerun I had ever seen by a professional (albeit minor league) player and what a whopper it was. RIP.
Thank you sir for your story.
Very touching.
Rest in peace, Willie Mac! :(
R.I.P. I can remember how my father use to laugh as the cardinals infielder would take 5 step back when he came to bat
Rip
Sorry about willie mccovey, sparky Anderson big fan of Willie mccovey
The original Big Mac. RIP!
Ironic how he died on halloween day the colors of black and orange. R.I.P Stretch 4 EVER GIANT!
yes it is ironic, BLACK AND ORANGE FOREVER!
And they said he died at 4:04
Too bad he (McCovey) didn't break in in 1957. At least he would have had the thrill of playing at least O ONE season at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, although he played many a game at New York's Polo Grounds when the Mets were there.
RIP Willie.
Use to go to Shea '65 '66 , just to see Willie hit during batting practice .. One time into the parking lot ..... RIP Willie .... Jimmy ...
Yeah me too.
RIP Stretch!
RIP Willie Mac
#WillieMcCovey
Here's To The Famous Cove At AT&T Park Named In His Oh-So Illustrious Honor!
He's my cousin
RIP Stretch.
RIP Stretch
Who is the greatest 1B of all time? McCovey? Gehrig? Or someone else?
According to Sparky Anderson , McCovey is
If he hadn't had all those injuries, he would have gotten 700 home runs.
Holy shit he died?That sucks RIP .
😫😫😫
RIP. Thanks for all the great years.
RIP
RIP