Nearly 200 items from San Francisco Giants legend Willie McCovey's personal collection are up for auction over the next two weeks.
Through Aug. 22, the public can bid at Heritage Auctions on McCovey’s 1969 National League Most Valuable Player Award, his Baseball Hall of Fame ring and even a signed photo of McCovey, Willie Mays and Barry Bonds from the night Bonds joined his predecessors in the 500-home-run club.
McCovey died on Oct. 31, 2018. He was 80 years old. McCovey left the memorabilia to his wife, Estela, in his will, and she told the San Francisco Chronicle it was a "difficult" decision to place the collection up for auction.
"I have to deal with all these emotions and words from fans and the media,"she told the paper on Sunday. "It’s the reality of being Willie McCovey’s wife. I just have to deal with it. I cannot please everyone. Willie loved me. That’s all I can think right now."
The widows of Baseball Hall of Famers Don Drysdale and Willie Stargell previously auctioned off their husbands' memorabilia in 2016 and 2017, respectively, drawing criticism from the players' families over the decision. McCovey's daughter and the mother of his three grandchildren, Allison, didn't comment on the Chronicle's story.
Estela McCovey told the paper she would give some golf items to the Junior Giants program, as well as other items and money to McCovey's grandchildren.
Willie McCovey was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, his first year of eligibility following a 22-year career in which he hit 521 home runs, led the majors in homers three times and made six All-Star appearances. The Giants retired his No. 44 in 1980 following the conclusion of his final major league season, and began giving the "Willie Mac Award" to the team's most inspirational player that same year.
Oracle Park, the Giants' current home, honors McCovey to this day. McCovey Cove sits beyond the right-field wall, named in honor of the powerful left-handed hitter who likely would've hit plenty of "Splash Hits" had he played in the ballpark.
As of this writing, McCovey's 1969 NL MVP Award is the most expensive item in the collection, with a current bid of $29,000. Other items include a pair of No. 44 cufflinks gifted to McCovey from Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. president (current bid: $600), as well as 2012 and 2014 World Series rings presented to McCovey ($21,000 each) and game-used batting helmets, gloves and uniforms.
A handful of additional items will be up for auction in October, according to listings, including a pair of seats from Candlestick Park and a medal presented to McCovey by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred commemorating the slugger as one of the four greatest players in Giants history.
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