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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 1 November 2018

Willie McCovey

Continued from Page 17 “For more than six de-
cades, he gave his heart
In his debut, McCovey and soul to the Giants,”
went 4 for 4 with two triples, Giants President and CEO
two RBIs and three runs Larry Baer said. “As one of
scored in a 7-2 win against the greatest players of all
Philadelphia — and that time, as a quiet leader in
began a stretch of the Gi- the clubhouse, as a mentor
ants winning 10 out of 12 to the Giants who followed
games. in his footsteps, as an inspi-
McCovey batted .354 with ration to our Junior Giants,
13 homers, 38 RBIs, five and as a fan cheering on
triples and nine doubles the team from his booth.”
on the way to winning NL McCovey had been get-
Rookie of the Year. ting around in a wheelchair
“You knew right away he in recent years because he
wasn’t an ordinary ball- could no longer rely on his
player,” Hall of Famer Hank once-dependable legs,
Aaron said, courtesy of the yet was still regularly seen In this April 1964 file photo, San Francisco Giants’ Willie McCovey poses for a photo, date and
Hall of Fame. “He was so at the ballpark in his private location not known. Associated Press
strong, and he had the gift suite. through, and I’ve come a have hit it a little more,’” he Covey’s wife, Estella. “He
of knowing the strike zone. While the Giants captured long way.” said Oct. 31, 2014. was my best friend and
There’s no telling how many their third World Series of Even four-plus decades In 2012, he said: “I think husband. Living life with-
home runs he would have the decade in 2014, Mc- later, it still stung for the about the line drive, yes. out him will never be the
hit if those knees weren’t Covey returned to watch left-handed slugging Mc- Can’t get away from it.” same.”
bothering him all the time them play while still recov- Covey that he never won McCovey was born on Jan. McCovey had a daughter,
and if he played in a park ering from an infection that a World Series after com- 10, 1938, in Mobile, Ala. He Allison, and three grand-
other than Candlestick.” hospitalized him in Septem- ing so close. He lined out to had spent the last 18 years children, Raven, Philip, and
He had attended games ber ‘14 for about a month. end the Giants’ 1962 World in a senior advisory role for Marissa. McCovey also is
at AT&T Park as recently as “It was touch and go for a Series loss to the Yankees. the Giants. survived by sister Frances
the final game of the sea- while,” McCovey said at “I still think about it all the “Every moment he will be and brothers Clauzell and
son. the time. “They pulled me time, I still think, ‘If I could terribly missed,” said Mc- Cleon.q