Willie McCovey, baseball player, 521 home runs, 1959-1980

Willie McCovey

⭐ Hall of Fame 1986

Born: 1/10/1938 in Mobile, AL, USA

Died: 10/31/2018 in Palo Alto, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1959-07-30 | Final Game: 1980-07-06

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 198 lbs

Full name: Willie Lee McCovey

Biography

Willie McCovey was a legendary position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1959 to 1980. Born in 1938, McCovey made a significant impact on the game during his tenure, becoming known for his powerful hitting and formidable presence at the plate. He played in a total of 2,588 games and amassed 2,211 hits, demonstrating his consistent ability to reach base. With 521 home runs and 1,555 RBIs, he established himself as one of the premier power hitters of his era, characterized by a strong left-handed swing that terrorized pitchers. His career batting average of .270 further underscored his offensive prowess, complemented by 26 stolen bases that showcased his surprising speed for a player of his stature. Throughout his career, McCovey earned numerous accolades, including six selections to the All-Star Game and the prestigious All-Star Game MVP award. He was recognized early in his career as the Rookie of the Year and the TSN Rookie of the Year, marking him as a rising star in the league. His contributions to the game were immortalized when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. McCovey's legacy endures not only through his impressive statistics but also as a symbol of excellence in baseball during the late 20th century, enriching the sport with his talent and passion.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
2588 8197 1229 2211 353 46 521 1555 26 1345 1550 0.270 0.374 0.515 0.889 47241.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
8 29 4 9 0 1 3 7 5 5 0.310

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1971 NLCS SFN 4 14 2 6 0 0 2 6 4 2 0.429
1962 WS SFN 4 15 2 3 0 1 1 1 1 3 0.200

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
1B 2045 1987 17170 1222 233 1405
OF 275 264 397 14 23 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
First Base 2045
Left Field 256
Right Field 20
Designated Hitter 9

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1977 Most Valuable Player NL 20th 5.0 336 0
1971 Most Valuable Player NL 15th 15.0 336 0
1970 Most Valuable Player NL 9th 47.0 336 0
1969 Most Valuable Player NL 1st 265.0 336 11
1968 Most Valuable Player NL 3rd 135.0 280 0
1967 Most Valuable Player NL 29th 2.0 280 0
1966 Most Valuable Player NL 17th 12.0 280 0
1965 Most Valuable Player NL 10th 25.0 280 0
1963 Most Valuable Player NL 17th 9.0 280 0
1959 Most Valuable Player NL 22th 1.0 336 0
1959 Rookie of the Year NL 1st 24.0 24 24