McCovey Cove

McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove (2002)

McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, coined after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Basin, which is the mouth of Mission Creek as it meets the bay. The cove is bounded along the north by AT&T Park, with a ferry landing and a breakwater at the northeast end. The southern shore is lined by China Basin Park and McCovey Point. To the east, it opens up to San Francisco Bay, while the west end of the cove is bounded by the Lefty O'Doul Drawbridge, named after San Francisco ballplayer and manager Lefty O'Doul.

The name was coined thanks to two sportswriters. Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News wrote an article suggesting naming the body of water after McCovey, though his original suggestions were 'McCovey Channel,' 'McCovey Stream' or 'McCovey Run.' Purdy then noted the more 'lyrical' name of 'McCovey Cove' was suggested by his colleague Leonard Koppett, a writer for the Oakland Tribune.[1] The name did not take long to become very popular, although the moniker has never become official.

On game days, fans take to the water of McCovey Cove in boats and even in kayaks, often with fishing nets in the hope of collecting a home run ball. This echoes what used to happen during McCovey's playing days. Before Candlestick Park's upper deck was extended, the area behind right field was occupied by three small bleacher sections and a lot of open space. Kids in those bleachers would gather behind the right field fence when "Stretch" would come to the plate. There may also be a link to the fact that Willie McCovey was one of only a few that hit home runs over the scoreboard and into a public swimming pool at Montreal's Jarry Park (Parc Jarry), The Expos' home from 1969 to 1976. The fact that balls can be hit into a water basin over the right field wall in San Francisco is somewhat of a tribute/salute to Willie McCovey's legend when he visited Montreal.

Just beyond the wall is a public waterfront promenade, where fans can watch the game through the wall's archways, free of charge, albeit with a somewhat obstructed view. Across the cove from the ballpark is McCovey Point and China Basin Park, featuring a statue of McCovey at the mouth of the Cove. At his feet are small plaques commemorating the winners of the Willie Mac Award, named in McCovey's honor. Along the southern shore of the cove, between McCovey Point and the O'Doul Bridge, is a walkway featuring plaques showing the Opening Day Roster of every Giants team from 1958 through 1999. Just south of the statue is Barry Bonds Junior Giants Field, a t-ball sized baseball diamond.[2]

Contents

Splash Hits

Panoramic view of McCovey Cove, August 2010.

"Splash Hits" are officially recorded only when Giants players hit home runs that land in McCovey Cove on the fly. As of September 28, 2011, 60 "Splash Hits" [3] had been hit into the Bay by Giants players since the park opened; 35 of those were by Barry Bonds. The only Giants other than Bonds to have reached the Cove more than once are Pablo Sandoval, with six "Splash Hits" to date, and five players with two each: Felipe Crespo, Michael Tucker, Ryan Klesko, Aubrey Huff, and Andrés Torres. Nine other Giants' players have accomplished the feat just once. Carlos Beltrán's "Splash Hit" on September 14, 2011, marked his 300th career home run.

When AT&T Park hosted the 2007 Home Run Derby, McCovey Cove was heavily featured in promotional materials, and the namesake slugger presented each participant with special bats before the competition. However, the difficulty of hitting McCovey Cove with a home run was shown, as none of the eight sluggers competing were able to hit water, and all four left-handed batters (who are more likely to hit home runs to right field, and thus, to the Cove) were eliminated in the first round of the contest. The only player to hit water was Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, who hit one into-the-water foul.[4] Fielder would eventually hit McCovey Cove with a fair ball on July 20, 2008, as the 17th visiting player to hit a home run into the Cove.

No. Player Date Opponent Pitcher
1 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (1) 02000-05-01May 1, 2000 New York Mets Rodriguez, RichRich Rodriguez
2 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (2) 02000-05-10May 10, 2000 St. Louis Cardinals Benes, AndyAndy Benes
3 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (3) 02000-05-10May 10, 2000 St. Louis Cardinals Slocumb, HeathcliffHeathcliff Slocumb
4 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (4) 02000-05-24May 24, 2000 Montreal Expos Thurman, MikeMike Thurman
5 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (5) 02000-07-19July 19, 2000 San Diego Padres Meadows, BrianBrian Meadows
6 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (6) 02000-09-20September 20, 2000 Cincinnati Reds Parris, SteveSteve Parris
7 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (7) 02001-04-17April 17, 2001 Los Angeles Dodgers Adams, TerryTerry Adams
8 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (8) 02001-04-18April 18, 2001 Los Angeles Dodgers Park, Chan HoChan Ho Park
9 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (9) 02001-05-24May 24, 2001 Colorado Rockies Thomson, JohnJohn Thomson (1)
10 Crespo, FelipeFelipe Crespo (1) 02001-05-28May 28, 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks Prinz, BretBret Prinz
11 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (10) 02001-05-30May 30, 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks Ellis, RobertRobert Ellis
12 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (11) 02001-06-12June 12, 2001 Anaheim Angels Rapp, PatPat Rapp
13 Crespo, FelipeFelipe Crespo (2) 02001-07-08July 8, 2001 Milwaukee Brewers Leskanic, CurtisCurtis Leskanic
14 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (12) 02001-08-04August 4, 2001 Philadelphia Phillies Figueroa, NelsonNelson Figueroa
15 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (13) 02001-08-14August 14, 2001 Florida Marlins Bones, RickyRicky Bones
16 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (14) 02001-08-31August 31, 2001 Colorado Rockies Thomson, JohnJohn Thomson (2)
17 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (15) 02001-09-29September 29, 2001 San Diego Padres McElroy, ChuckChuck McElroy
18 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (16) 02002-05-13May 13, 2002 Atlanta Braves Millwood, KevinKevin Millwood
19 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (17) 02002-05-18May 18, 2002 Florida Marlins Penny, BradBrad Penny
20 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (18) 02002-05-18May 18, 2002 Florida Marlins Darensbourg, VicVic Darensbourg
21 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (19) 02002-09-08September 8, 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks Anderson, BrianBrian Anderson
22 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (20) 02002-09-28September 28, 2002 Houston Astros Robertson, JeriomeJeriome Robertson
23 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (21) 02002-10-12October 12, 2002 St. Louis Cardinals Finley, ChuckChuck Finley
24 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (22) 02003-04-14April 14, 2003 Houston Astros Miller, WadeWade Miller
25 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (23) 02003-04-30April 30, 2003 Chicago Cubs Clement, MattMatt Clement
26 Snow, J. T.J. T. Snow 02003-06-05June 5, 2003 Minnesota Twins Lohse, KyleKyle Lohse
27 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (24) 02003-06-27June 27, 2003 Oakland Athletics Lilly, TedTed Lilly
28 Cruz, Jr., JoséJosé Cruz, Jr. 02003-07-08July 8, 2003 St. Louis Cardinals Haren, DanDan Haren
29 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (25) 02003-08-08August 8, 2003 Philadelphia Phillies Mesa, JoseJose Mesa
30 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (26) 02003-08-19August 19, 2003 Atlanta Braves King, RayRay King
31 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (27) 02003-09-13September 13, 2003 Milwaukee Brewers Davis, DougDoug Davis
32 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (28) 02004-04-12April 12, 2004 Milwaukee Brewers Kinney, MattMatt Kinney
33 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (29) 02004-04-13April 13, 2004 Milwaukee Brewers Ford, BenBen Ford
34 Tucker, MichaelMichael Tucker (1) 02004-05-30May 30, 2004 Colorado Rockies Kennedy, JoeJoe Kennedy
35 Pierzynski, A. J.A. J. Pierzynski 02004-07-06July 6, 2004 Colorado Rockies Stark, DennyDenny Stark
36 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (30) 02004-07-30July 30, 2004 St. Louis Cardinals Carpenter, ChrisChris Carpenter
37 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (31) 02004-08-03August 3, 2004 Cincinnati Reds Lidle, CoryCory Lidle
38 Tucker, MichaelMichael Tucker (2) 02005-04-09April 9, 2005 Colorado Rockies Dohmann, ScottScott Dohmann
39 Winn, RandyRandy Winn 02005-09-14September 14, 2005 San Diego Padres Williams, WoodyWoody Williams
40 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (32) 02005-09-18September 18, 2005 Los Angeles Dodgers Kuo, Hong-ChihHong-Chih Kuo
41 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (33) 02006-08-21August 21, 2006 Arizona Diamondbacks Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández (1)
42 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (34) 02007-04-18April 18, 2007 St. Louis Cardinals Franklin, RyanRyan Franklin
43 Klesko, RyanRyan Klesko (1) 02007-05-21May 21, 2007 Houston Astros Miller, TreverTrever Miller
44 Klesko, RyanRyan Klesko (2) 02007-06-29June 29, 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández (2)
45 Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (35) 02007-08-08August 8, 2007 Washington Nationals Redding, TimTim Redding
46 Lewis, FredFred Lewis 02008-04-26April 26, 2008 Cincinnati Reds Belisle, MattMatt Belisle
47 Bowker, JohnJohn Bowker 02008-07-02July 2, 2008 Chicago Cubs Dempster, RyanRyan Dempster
48 Torres, AndrésAndrés Torres (1) 02009-06-15June 15, 2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Lackey, JohnJohn Lackey
49 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (1) 02009-07-30July 30, 2009 Philadelphia Phillies Lopez, RodrigoRodrigo Lopez
50 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (2) 02009-08-29August 29, 2009 Colorado Rockies Marquis, JasonJason Marquis
51 Huff, AubreyAubrey Huff (1) 02010-05-01May 1, 2010 Colorado Rockies Betancourt, RafaelRafael Betancourt
52 Huff, AubreyAubrey Huff (2) 02010-06-16June 16, 2010 Baltimore Orioles Guthrie, JeremyJeremy Guthrie
53 Torres, AndrésAndrés Torres (2) 02010-07-28July 28, 2010 Florida Marlins Sosa, JorgeJorge Sosa
54 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (3) 02010-08-12August 12, 2010 Chicago Cubs Wells, RandyRandy Wells
55 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (4) 02010-09-30September 30, 2010 Arizona Diamondbacks Enright, BarryBarry Enright
56 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (5) 02011-07-04July 4, 2011 San Diego Padres Frieri, ErnestoErnesto Frieri
57 Schierholtz, NateNate Schierholtz 02011-07-08July 8, 2011 New York Mets Dickey, R. A.R. A. Dickey
58 Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval (6) 02011-08-31August 31, 2011 Chicago Cubs Lopez, RodrigoRodrigo Lopez
59 Beltrán, CarlosCarlos Beltrán 02011-09-14September 14, 2011 San Diego Padres Latos, MatMat Latos
60 Belt, BrandonBrandon Belt 02011-09-27September 27, 2011 Colorado Rockies White, AlexAlex White

Other McCovey Cove hits

18 non-Giants players have hit the cove 24 times. Of visiting players who have hit the cove, Carlos Delgado and Adam LaRoche have performed the feat the most, doing it three times each. Former Major League baseball players Luis Gonzalez and Cliff Floyd are the only other visiting players to do so twice. Rick Ankiel hit the water on the fly in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the 2010 National League Division Series on October 8, 2010; his run would go on to be the winning run for the Atlanta Braves (this was only the 2nd home run ball hit into McCovey Cove in a postseason game, the first being by Barry Bonds on October 12, 2002 in the National League Championship Series).

No. Hitter Team Date Pitcher
1 Hundley, ToddTodd Hundley Los Angeles Dodgers 02000-06-30June 30, 2000 Nen, RobbRobb Nen
2 Gonzalez, LuisLuis Gonzalez (1) Arizona Diamondbacks 02000-09-23September 23, 2000 Estes, ShawnShawn Estes
3 Grace, MarkMark Grace Arizona Diamondbacks 02001-05-28May 28, 2001 Worrell, TimTim Worrell
4 Gonzalez, LuisLuis Gonzalez (2) Arizona Diamondbacks 02002-05-30May 30, 2002 Rueter, KirkKirk Rueter
5 Klesko, RyanRyan Klesko San Diego Padres 02003-04-09April 9, 2003 Jensen, RyanRyan Jensen
6 Choi, Hee SeopHee Seop Choi Florida Marlins 02004-04-30April 30, 2004 Correia, KevinKevin Correia (1)
7 Patterson, CoreyCorey Patterson Chicago Cubs 02004-08-07August 7, 2004 Walker, TylerTyler Walker
8 Floyd, CliffCliff Floyd (1) New York Mets 02004-08-21August 21, 2004 Tomko, BrettBrett Tomko (1)
9 Branyan, RussellRussell Branyan Milwaukee Brewers 02005-04-23April 23, 2005 Tomko, BrettBrett Tomko (2)
10 Walker, LarryLarry Walker St. Louis Cardinals 02005-07-08July 8, 2005 Schmidt, JasonJason Schmidt
11 Delgado, CarlosCarlos Delgado (1) Florida Marlins 02005-07-23July 23, 2005 Hennessey, BradBrad Hennessey
12 Floyd, CliffCliff Floyd (2) New York Mets 02006-04-25April 25, 2006 Wright, JameyJamey Wright
13 Delgado, CarlosCarlos Delgado (2) New York Mets 02006-04-26April 26, 2006 Morris, MattMatt Morris (1)
14 Delgado, CarlosCarlos Delgado (3) New York Mets 02007-05-09May 9, 2007 Morris, MattMatt Morris (2)
15 LaRoche, AdamAdam LaRoche (1) Pittsburgh Pirates 02007-08-11August 11, 2007 Lincecum, TimTim Lincecum (1)
16 Berkman, LanceLance Berkman Houston Astros 02008-05-15May 15, 2008 Chulk, VinnieVinnie Chulk
17 Fielder, PrincePrince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers 02008-07-19July 19, 2008 Matos, OsirisOsiris Matos
18 Giles, BrianBrian Giles San Diego Padres 02008-08-24August 24, 2008 Correia, KevinKevin Correia (2)
19 Montero, MiguelMiguel Montero Arizona Diamondbacks 02009-09-29September 29, 2009 Sánchez, JonathanJonathan Sánchez
20 Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortiz Boston Red Sox 02010-06-27June 27, 2010 Lincecum, TimTim Lincecum (2)
21 LaRoche, AdamAdam LaRoche (2) Arizona Diamondbacks 02010-08-27August 27, 2010 Lincecum, TimTim Lincecum (3)
22 LaRoche, AdamAdam LaRoche (3) Arizona Diamondbacks 02010-08-28August 28, 2010 Romo, SergioSergio Romo
23 Ankiel, RickRick Ankiel Atlanta Braves 02010-10-08October 8, 2010 Ramirez, RamonRamon Ramirez
24 Navarro, DionerDioner Navarro Los Angeles Dodgers 02011-07-20July 20, 2011 Lincecum, TimTim Lincecum (4)

References

  1. ^ Purdy, Mark (9 May 1999). "Honoring Him Wouldn't Take A Stretch". The San Jose Mercury News. 
  2. ^ McCovey Point | SFGiants.com: Ballpark
  3. ^ sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com
  4. ^ Vlad captures first Derby crown | MLB.com: News

External links

Coordinates: 37°46′38″N 122°23′17″W / 37.77722°N 122.38806°W / 37.77722; -122.38806


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