McCovey Cove

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The provided source contains no information about a body of water named after Willie McCovey or any tradition of fans retrieving balls from it. The text does mention that McCovey hit 231 home runs in Candlestick Park, which was described as having open areas behind right field where fans would position themselves on flat ground to catch home run balls. It notes a specific moment on September 16, 1966, when he hit what was described as the longest ever home run in that stadium. The source also details how McCovey was known as a "dead-pull line drive hitter," leading some teams to employ a shift against him. However, there is no mention of boats, rafts, or the San Francisco Bay within the context of his playing career.

In Their Own Story

It does recount specific storylines from McCovey's career, such as his debut on July 30, 1959, where he went four-for-four against Robin Roberts. It details the heartbreak of Game 7 of the 1962 World Series, where a line drive by McCovey was caught by Bobby Richardson to end the series. This moment was immortalized in Peanuts comic strips by Charles M. Schulz, with Charlie Brown asking why the ball wasn't hit higher. The source also describes his trade to the San Diego Padres due to arthritic knees and manager Charlie Fox's decisions, as well as his return to the Giants in 1977 where he became the active home run leader.

Reader's Guide

The source provides no guide to McCovey Cove as it does not describe the location. It does, however, detail specific locations relevant to McCovey's career: Mobile, Alabama (birthplace), Sandersville, Georgia (minor league debut in 1955), Dallas, Texas (Class AA team where he faced segregation issues regarding Shreveport games), Candlestick Park (where he hit most of his home runs), and Montreal's Olympic Stadium (where he hit his final home run on May 3, 1980). It notes that at Candlestick, fans would move from bleachers to the flat ground behind right field when he batted. The text also mentions Walnut Creek, California, where he opened a restaurant in September 2003.

Did You Know?

• McCovey hit a ball on September 16, 1966, described as the longest home run ever hit in Candlestick Park.
• He was the first player to hit two home runs in one inning twice in his career, a feat accomplished on April 12, 1973, and June 27, 1977.
• McCovey is one of over 100 players in history to appear in Major League games in four different decades (1950s, '60s, '70s, and '80s).
• He hit his final home run on May 3, 1980, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
• Bob Gibson called McCovey "the scariest hitter in baseball," a sentiment seconded by Reggie Jackson.

The Rise of a Power Hitting Phenom

Willie Lee McCovey was born on January 10, 1938, in Mobile, Alabama, the seventh of ten children to Frank and Esther. He began working part-time at age 12 and dropped out of high school to work full-time. Despite being passed over by scout Ed Scott, he received an invitation from Giants scout Alex Pompez for a tryout in Melbourne, Florida, while living in Los Angeles. In 1955, at age 17, he signed with the Sandersville Giants for $175 a month and a $500 bonus. He hit .305 with 19 home runs in 107 games. During his rise, he played for a farm club in Dallas but was barred from playing in Shreveport due to segregation. Just before his call-up, he played for the Phoenix Giants in the Pacific Coast League.

Defining Moments and Historic Heartbreak

On July 30, 1959, McCovey made his MLB debut going four-for-four against Robin Roberts with two singles and two triples. In 52 games that year, he hit .354 with 13 home runs to win the NL Rookie of the Year. The 1962 World Series remains a defining moment; in Game 7, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and runners on second and third, McCovey hit a hard line drive that was caught by Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson, ending the series. This play was featured in Peanuts strips where Charlie Brown lamented the ball wasn't hit higher. Decades later, upon his Hall of Fame election, McCovey said he wanted to be remembered as "the guy who hit the ball over Bobby Richardson's head in the seventh game."

Statistical Dominance and MVP Glory

McCovey was a fearsome left-handed power hitter known for dead-pull line drives. At retirement in 1980, he ranked second only to Babe Ruth in career home runs among left-handers. He hit 521 career home runs, with 231 in Candlestick Park, the most by any player there. In 1969, his best statistical year, he hit .320 with 45 home runs and 126 RBI to win the NL MVP. He also won the All-Star Game MVP that year after hitting two homers. Pitcher Bob Gibson called him "the scariest hitter in baseball." In 1978, he hit his 500th home run at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Induction

McCovey was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 in his first year of eligibility, becoming only the 16th man so honored. As of 2022, he ranks 20th all-time with 521 home runs, tied with Ted Williams and Frank Thomas. He was a six-time All-Star and three-time home run champion. His career spanned 22 years from 1959 to 1980, playing primarily for the Giants but also for the San Diego Padres (1974–1976) and Oakland Athletics (late 1976). He hit his final home run on May 3, 1980, off Scott Sanderson. McCovey passed away on October 31, 2018.