In 1973, the San Francisco Giants traded Willie McCovey to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Mike Caldwell.
McCovey played with the Giants from 1959 until 1973, where he was then traded to the San Diego Padres for three seasons from 1974 until 1976, where he was then traded back to the Giants from 1977 until 1980.Â
Throughout his 21-year career, McCovey played a total of 2,588 games, 8,197 At-Bats, 2,211 hits, and 1,229 Runs. He also had a total of 1,555 Runners Batted In, 521 Home Runs, and 26 Stolen Bases. His batting average was .270 and his on-base plus slugging percentage was .889.Â
Although McCovey did not win any World Series Championships, he was named the 1959 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year. He was a six-time NL All-Star, 1969 All-Star Most Valuable Player (MVP), and 1969 NL MVP. He was a recipient of The Hutch Award in 1977 for exemplifying the competitive spirit of the legendary baseball player, Fred Hutchinson.Â
McCovey had 45 intentional walks in 1969 which set a new record within MLB history and stood for over 30 years. His jersey number, 44, was retired in 1975 when he was traded to the Padres.Â
Once traded back to the Giants, in his final season in 1980, McCovey decided to retire as a Giant. He was later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his magnificent playing career and incredible accomplishments.Â
McCovey passed away in 2018 due to ongoing health concerns. His legacy and playing career will always be remembered.
