Willie McCovey

High school

Central High School

Pro team(s)

San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics

Hall of Fame

⭐ National Baseball Hall of Fame

Willie Lee McCovey was born on January 10, 1938, in Mobile, Alabama, and grew up attending Central High School before signing with the San Francisco Giants organization in 1955. Known as "Stretch" for his towering 6-foot-4 frame and his ability to snare wide throws at first base, McCovey spent most of his 22-year major league career with the San Francisco Giants and became one of the most feared left-handed power hitters in the history of the National League. He was selected to the NL All-Star team six times and won the 1969 NL MVP award in one of the most dominant individual seasons of the era: .320 batting average, 45 home runs, and 126 RBIs. His career total of 521 home runs places him among the greatest power hitters in baseball history. Pitchers of his era described him as the hitter they feared most — his combination of power, strike zone discipline, and sheer physical presence made him nearly impossible to pitch to with men on base, and intentional walks to him became a regular feature of National League strategy. He remains the most beloved player in San Francisco Giants history and arguably the greatest athlete ever produced by Mobile, Alabama — a city that also gave the world Hank Aaron and Satchel Paige. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986. Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama.