The Giants already had a popular power hitter in Willie Mays, but no rule in baseball says you can't have two.

Willie McCovey joined the Giants organization as an Amateur Free Agent in 1955, and four years later, he was their Rookie of the Year.  With all due respect to McCovey, the Giants didn't know what they had early in his Major League career.  McCovey was a unique Rookie of the Year winner, as he did not even get called up until July 30, and he won the award against slim pickings with only 219 Plate Appearances, but he had an OPS of 1.085 that year.  Pitcher figured out McCovey in 1960, and his Batting Average dropped below .240, and he was sent to the Minors.  

Over the first few years of the 1960s, McCovey showed power but not consistency, and it looked like he was meant to be an average MLB player, but he broke out in 1963, winning the Home Run Title (44), and going to his first All-Star Game.  After a drop-off in 1064 (18 HR, .220 BA), McCovey roared back, with six consecutive 30-plus Home Run Seasons, leading the NL in 1968 (36) and 1969 (45).  In both seasons, McCovey topped the Senior Circuit in RBIs, Slugging Percentage, and OPS, and he won the coveted MVP in 1969.  He would have his third straight Slugging and OPS Titles in 1970.

McCovey remained a potent slugger into the 1970s, but the struggling Giants traded him to San Diego after the 1973 Season, but returned as a Free Agent as a popular veteran in 1977, concluding his career with San Francisco for four seasons before retiring in 1980.

The slugger blasted 521 Home Runs, 469 with the Giants, while also collecting 1,974 Hits and 1,388 RBI for the team.  The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted McCovey in his first year on the ballot in 1986.  The Giants also retired his number 44 in 1980, and he was chosen for the inaugural class of the Giants Wall of Fame in 2008.

It is a sad day for baseball and the city of San Francisco as Willie McCovey passed away at the age of 80. It is not known at this time as to how he passed away.

Debuting for the San Francisco Giants in 1959, he would make an immediate impact going four for four his first game, against future Hall of Famer, Robin Roberts. Amazingly, that game was on July 30, and he was so dominant the rest of the year that he was the 1959 Rookie of the Year. So much was expected of McCovey but over the next few seasons it appeared the man they called “Stretch” was going to be a fluke. McCovey was a First Baseman, but Orlando Cepeda played there and was hesitant to move positions and McCovey was moved to the Outfield where he struggled. His bat also left him and he never seemed to have his groove again until 1963. Saying all of this, he was just a great power hitter that in 1962 he hit 20 Home Runs in just 262 Plate Appearances and he was a help to the Giants in winning the National League Pennant.

1963 would see him have a good season, as he would be chosen for the first of six All Star Games and led the NL in Home Runs. 1964 saw another regression, but from 1965 to 1970 he would never have less than 30 Home Runs and his second and third Home Run Title highlighted this where in 1968 and 1969 he blasted 36 and 45 dingers respectively. He would also win the RBI Titles those seasons and he was the leader in Slugging and OPS from 1968 to 1970. 1969 was by far the best of the lot as not only did he have those incredible power numbers he batted .320 and had a league leading .453 OBP en route to being named the National League MVP.

Willie McCovey would play for the Giants until he was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1973. He would later play in Oakland before signing back with the Giants where he would finish out his career in 1980.

He would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986 on the first ballot.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Willie McCovey at this time.