Silence By The Cove

San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey passed away peacefully on October 31 at the age of 80 after ongoing health issues.  There will be a tribute on November 8th at AT&T Park.

McCovey combined with Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, and Gaylord Perry to make the San Francisco Giants a perennial competitor through the 60's until his retirement in 1980.

"Stretch" was 6'4" of slugger.  His home run total of 521 might have been higher if he hadn't been pitched around so often.

I don't remember watching him a whole lot.  I just know what was on the cards.  He's one of those big guys that could smack the ball a long way.  Seems like he was a kinder, gentler version of that other guy that hit a lot of homers for San Francisco.

My best three McCovey cards:

The often dull '70 Topps gray works well with the white team name contrasting with his black uniform.  He doesn't have any bad cards, really.  The majority are cheerful poses like this one.

His 1960 Topps rookie.  One of the last three I needed to complete the set.  He's got an All-Star at the end of the set as well.

And one of my best all-time pulls, this 2012 Gypsy Queen Indian Head Penny is serial numbered 9/10.  The coin is dated 1898.