RIP Willie McCovey

Shit.

 

Yeah, he’d been in poor health for years and was something of a mysterious figure for such a great player.

I’ve lived in Mobile (his hometown) for a while now and I don’t remember the last time he made a public appearance here. Hank Aaron and Billy Williams, for example, return here often for different events.

It seems he had an especially bitter experience growing up, even by Jim Crow South standards.

 

Willie McCovey: Giants legend dead at 80

 

Mays, McCovey, Marichal, Cepeda, the Alous, Davenport, Haller, Lanier, Hart. It's a wonder that team only made one World Series appearance and never brought the pennant home. And imagine what McCovey's numbers might have looked like somewhere other than Candlestick Park.

 

Already a thread on this:

RIP Willie McCovey

 

Too bad it’s on Anything Goes.

 

McCovey, Cepeda and Mays all got killed by Candlestick (and yes I know Willie hit 52 one year).

Just imagine if in 1958, the Giants traded Mays to the Red Sox. I'd guess he'd have hit about 800 career dingers.

 

Gaylord Perry was a giant for most of the decade as well.

But back to McCovey. Such an amazing hitter for that era. RIP.

 

One of the all-time greats. RIP

 

It’s often been written that the Giants of that era are the most underachieving team in MLB history.

 

He should have hit the ball 2 feet higher.