San Francisco Giants Legend Willie McCovey Dies

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco Giants announced Wednesday that Hall of Fame slugger Willie McCovey has died.

The team said in a statement, "It is with great sadness that we announce that San Francisco Giants Legend and Hall of Famer Willie McCovey passed away peacefully this afternoon at the age of 80 after losing his battle with ongoing health issues."

Known as "Stretch" for his long arms and 6-foot-4 frame, McCovey played 19 seasons for the Giants, a feared power hitter who became one of the team's most-beloved players. He was still working as a senior adviser to the Giants, a position he had held for the last 18 years.

The Mobile, Ala. native retired in 1980 and was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. He finished his career with 521 home runs and a .270 average. Among the rewards and accomplishments during his major league career: a six-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, league MVP, and league leader in home runs during multiple seasons.

Each year since 2000, a Giants player is awarded the highly-coveted Willie Mac Award for most inspirational player, voted on by the players themselves.

When the Giants moved out of Candlestick Park and into Pacific Bell Park, now known at AT&T Park, local sports writers successfully lobbied to name the inlet at China Basin beyond right field as McCovey Cove - noting that the slugger would have hit a number of balls into the water had he played there.

A statue honoring McCovey was erected overlooking the cove at a spot named McCovey Point.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued the following statement, "Willie McCovey brought joy to so many San Franciscans through his years on the field and dedication to our city. He was one of the greatest baseball players of all-time and also the quintessential San Francisco Giant."

Breed said that City Hall would be lit in orange in honor of McCovey.

McCovey had attended games at AT&T Park as recently as the final game of last season.

Even four-plus decades later, it still stung for the left-handed slugging McCovey that he never won a World Series after coming so close. He lined out to end the Giants' 1962 World Series loss to the Yankees.

McCovey had been getting around in a wheelchair in recent years because he could no longer rely on his once-dependable legs, yet was still regularly seen at the ballpark in his private suite.

KPIX 5 interviewed former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown on Wednesday night, who shared memories about McCovey. The video interview can be watched below:

© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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