Willie McCovey: July Vintage Athlete of the Month

In honor of the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the July Vintage Athlete of the Month was the hero of the Midsummer Classic 40 years ago.

Despite his immense stature (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), Willie McCovey was often overshadowed by more flamboyant teammates. He blasted 521 home runs in his 22-year major league career and truly epitomized the concept of speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

Spending most of his career with the San Francisco Giants, McCovey was a fixture in a lineup that at various points included Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, and superstar Bobby Bonds.

McCovey made an immediately impact in the majors when he joined the San Francisco Giants on July 30, 1959. The left-handed batter went four-for-four in his big...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - San Francisco Giants
Article is property of BleacherReport.com