Willie McCovey

1st Baseman

Class of 1986

Willie McCovey

1st Baseman

Class of 1986
Willie McCovey was one of the game's most feared power hitters of the 1960s.

Games

Birth year

About Willie McCovey

“Here’s a guy who is the most feared in baseball, but everyone pitches around him. If you let him bat 600 times and pitched to him instead of around him, he’d hit 80 home runs.” – Sparky Anderson

Willie McCovey burst on the scene in 1959, winning National League Rookie of the Year honors despite playing in just 52 games. By the time he retired in 1980, McCovey was a San Francisco legend.

“He could hit a ball farther than anyone I ever played with,” said teammate Willie Mays.

In 1963, McCovey won the first of three NL home run crowns, knocking 44 – the number he wore on his jersey – over the fence. He would belt 521 long balls for his career, and chalk up 18 grand slams, at the time of his retirement second only to Lou Gehrig’s 23.

By the late 1960s, McCovey was one of the premier power hitters in the NL, leading the league in homers and RBI in 1968 and ’69 and in slugging percentage from 1968-70. He was the NL MVP in 1969.

He spent three-and-a-half-seasons with the Padres and had a short stint with Oakland before returning to the Giants from 1977-80. A six-time All-Star who led the league in intentional walks four times, McCovey quietly played most of his career with knee, hip and foot injuries.

McCovey's most famous postseason moment came In 1962, when the Giants faced the Yankees in a thrilling seven-game World Series. With the Giants trailing 1-0 in Game 7, McCovey was at bat with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and runners on second and third. McCovey scorched what looked like a Series-winning hit to right field, but Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson caught the ball to end the series. In his only other postseason appearance, McCovey hit .429 with two home runs in the 1971 NLCS vs. the Pirates.

McCovey finished his career with a .270 batting average, 1,555 RBI and a .515 slugging percentage. His 45 intentional walks in 1969 set a new record that stood for more than 30 years.

McCovey was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1986. He passed away on Oct. 31, 2018.

The Basics

Year inducted
1986
Birth Place
Mobile, Alabama
Birth Year
1938
Died
2018, Stanford California

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
San Francisco Giants
Primary Position
1st Baseman
Played For
San Francisco Giants, 1959-1973
San Diego Padres, 1974-1976
Oakland Athletics, 1976
San Francisco Giants, 1977-1980

Career MLB Stats

Games
2,588
At bats
8,197
Hits
2,211
Walks
1,345
Runs
1,229
Doubles
353
Triples
46
Home Runs
521
RBI
1,555
Stolen Bases
26
Batting Average
.270
Ops
.889
On Base %
.374
Slugging %
.515

Willie McCovey Stories

Explore the archives and go deep into the lives, careers, and stories of the Hall of Fame's honorees.

McCovey becomes first player to homer twice in one inning two times

Hall of Famer Willie McCovey remembered for awesome power, hitting skill

McCovey caps 1969 season with MVP Award

McCovey’s 500th homer marks milestone for slugger