[Mick]

Sad day.  Stretch was always so beloved.  At Candlestick and PacBell, Mays was always the last introduced on important occasions, but the love for McCovey ran just a little deeper.  McCovey was ours and the love seemed to be mutual.  McCovey was always completely genuine and will truly be missed by Giants fans.  Glad I got to see him give out the Willie Mac Award this year.  The letter from Larry Baer to fans says that condolences can be sent to Forever44@sfgiants.com.  Forever 44 indeed.  

Pete F.

Completely agree.  My friends and I were always excited to get a Willie McCovey trading card.  Nice to get Mays, but that was our Dad's generation.

First game I ever saw was an 8-0 victory over the Pirates, 8/23/72.  Stretch made some good plays at first base and hit a home run.  Garry Maddox made a diving play in CF.  Jim Barr threw a curve ball to Willie Stargell that was so slow and Stargell swung so hard that Stargell spun around twice and fell on his butt.  The highlight of the day, to this 9 year old.  Bobby bonds had two hits and stole a base.  Game done in 2:12, 8,330 attended.  Been a fan ever since.

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I grew up a of immense proportions Dodger fan in NorCal (and I still am a of immense proportions Dodger fan)...But I will never forget going to Candlestick often and watching Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Jimmy Ray Hart...And more than anybody a player that fascinated me...Willie McCovey.

I have been a big McCovey fan since the first time I saw him person.

He was simply the most feared hitter I ever saw...a real good person and was the ultimate description of Class.

McCovey hit .543 lifetime against Drysdale. Could you imagine?

And could you imagine the Giants' everyday lineup in 1962, with HRs listed below

Pagan, 3, SS
Kuenn, 10, LF
Mays, 49, CF
Cepeda, 35, 1B
McCovey, 20, LF
Alou, 25, RF
Davenport, 14, 3B
Catchers Tom Haller and Ed Bailey hit 35 HRs, 
Hiller, 3, 2B

That team hit 204 HRs, scored 878 runs.  Matty Alou as PH hit about .300.  Six guys in the starting lineup hit .292 or better.  Could you imagine pitching against that lineup?  Starters were Marichal, McCormick, Odell, Sanford and Pierce, going a collective 82-43.  Gaylord Perry was 23 years old and went 3-1.  Stu Miller, 19 saves.  Don Larsen of NYY fame was on the team as was 20 year old Bob Garibaldi, fresh from SCU.  Best defensive efficiency in the league (on defense, 71% of balls hit turned into outs, tops in the league).

[Mick]

Sad day.  Stretch was always so beloved.  At Candlestick and PacBell, Mays was always the last introduced on important occasions, but the love for McCovey ran just a little deeper.  McCovey was ours and the love seemed to be mutual.  McCovey was always completely genuine and will truly be missed by Giants fans.  Glad I got to see him give out the Willie Mac Award this year.  The letter from Larry Baer to fans says that condolences can be sent to Forever44@sfgiants.com.  Forever 44 indeed.  

Pete F.

Completely agree.  My friends and I were always excited to get a Willie McCovey trading card.  Nice to get Mays, but that was our Dad's generation.

First game I ever saw was an 8-0 victory over the Pirates, 8/23/72.  Stretch made some good plays at first base and hit a home run.  Garry Maddox made a diving play in CF.  Jim Barr threw a curve ball to Willie Stargell that was so slow and Stargell swung so hard that Stargell spun around twice and fell on his butt.  The highlight of the day, to this 9 year old.  Bobby bonds had two hits and stole a base.  Game done in 2:12, 8,330 attended.  Been a fan ever since.

---

I grew up a of immense proportions Dodger fan in NorCal (and I still am a of immense proportions Dodger fan)...But I will never forget going to Candlestick often and watching Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Jimmy Ray Hart...And more than anybody a player that fascinated me...Willie McCovey.

I have been a big McCovey fan since the first time I saw him person.

He was simply the most feared hitter I ever saw...a real good person and was the ultimate description of Class.

McCovey hit .543 lifetime against Drysdale. Could you imagine?

And could you imagine the Giants' everyday lineup in 1962, with HRs listed below

Pagan, 3, SS
Kuenn, 10, LF
Mays, 49, CF
Cepeda, 35, 1B
McCovey, 20, LF
Alou, 25, RF
Davenport, 14, 3B
Catchers Tom Haller and Ed Bailey hit 35 HRs, 
Hiller, 3, 2B

That team hit 204 HRs, scored 878 runs.  Matty Alou as PH hit about .300.  Six guys in the starting lineup hit .292 or better.  Could you imagine pitching against that lineup?  Starters were Marichal, McCormick, Odell, Sanford and Pierce, going a collective 82-43.  Gaylord Perry was 23 years old and went 3-1.  Stu Miller, 19 saves.  Don Larsen of NYY fame was on the team as was 20 year old Bob Garibaldi, fresh from SCU.  Best defensive efficiency in the league (on defense, 71% of balls hit turned into outs, tops in the league).