SFGATE: Outside AT&T ballpark, a hushed, mournful vigil for McCovey

Outside AT&T ballpark, a hushed, mournful vigil for McCovey
Published on November 01, 2018 at 10:02AM by By Lizzie Johnson
The legend was cast in metal. So strong that — even after death — some part of him remained standing, caught in mid-swing. In San Francisco’s Mission Bay. The bay air balmy for October, and briny on passing runners’ lips. Willie McCovey’s statue, covered with a few bouquets of orange flowers and strings of plastic necklaces. The Hall of Fame first baseman stood. His arms arched back. Leaned on his left foot. Eyes trained at the sky. His magestic stance forever paused in time. It was quiet Wednesday night, except for the blaring of ships’ fog horns. The Bay Bridge’s lights twinkled in the darkness. Famous in life, McCovey fell quietly into death. A long-running battle with health issues, his team said. He was 80 years old.