According to a press release, McCovey passed peacefully Wednesday afternoon after a “battle with ongoing health issues”. From San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer:
San Francisco and the entire baseball community lost a true gentleman and legend, and our collective hearts are broken. Willie was a beloved figure throughout his playing days and in retirement. He will be deeply missed by the many people he touched.
During his illustrious 22-year major league career that spanned four decades, McCovey hit .270/.374/.515 with 521 home runs. 19 of those seasons were spent with the Giants in San Francisco, including his first 15 years.