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"I've been a baseball player for half my life.  I'm going to miss the game."  Willie McGee, 1999

Willie makes it official...    We'll miss you!!!

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One of the most popular players ever to wear a Cardinal's uniform,  Willie now "enjoys" a standing ovation with every at-bat.  He plays the same every day, every situation... with all his heart.  From humble beginnings to a World Series victory in his rookie season, Willie has made his mark on Cardinal fans forever!

 

Willie's swing (27KB)                       Willie's smile (27KB)

 

       "I learned what hard work, focus, dedication and opportunity can do. I felt fortunate I was able to develop my skills to be a major leaguer. -- Willie

 

 

Career Highlights

 

1998 St. Louis Cardinals GameDay Magazine Issue #8    1996 St. Louis Cardinals GameDay Magazine Issue #3

2000 St. Louis Cardinals GameDay Magazine Issue #3    St. Louis Cardinals Gameday Magazine - 2013 #1

St. Louis Cardinals Gameday Magazine - 2014 #4

 

Career at-a-glance

   1982 - Called up to replace injured outfielder David Green

  1983 - Earned his first Rawlings Gold Glove award.

            Made his first All-Star Game appearance (going 1-for-2)

    1984 - Fourth in the league in triples and ninth with 43 stolen bases.

            Recorded his first career five-hit game

            Drove in a career-high six runs and hit for the cycle, June 23rd in Chicago.

    1985 - Career year (see above)

            Became the second N.L. switch-hitter, after Pete Rose, to win a batting title.

            Scored a career-high 114 runs and stole a career-high 56 bases.

            Earned his second trip to the All-Star Game. (going 1-for-2, with 2 RBIs)

    1986 - Earned his third Gold Glove award

            50th career triple, June 7th against Chicago, in his fifth season.

            First two-homer game in the regular season, July 21st against the Giant's Steve Carlton.

    1987 - Career highs in homers (11) and RBIs (105)

            Career high extra base hits (59)

            Made his third All-Star game appearance

            Had a shortstop appearance on Aug. 7th in Philadelphia.

            Team-high 18 hits in the postseason.

    1988 - Reached 1,000 career hits on April 26th

            Appeared in his fourth and last All-Star Game

            Toured Japan with the ML All-Star team in the off-season

    1989 - Only appeared in 58 games due to numerous injuries during the season

            Appeared in his 1,000th game on May 21st.

    1990 - Won the NL batting title with a .335 for the Cards.

            Traded to Oakland on August 29th for Felix Jose, Stan Royer, and Daryl Green

            Appeared in all four games of the World Series for Oakland against Cincinnati

            Had a 22 consecutive game hitting streak from July 5th to August 1st.

    1991 - Signed as a free agent by San Francisco

            Had a 19 consecutive game hitting streak

            Reached 1,500 career hits on August 25th.

    1992 - Stole his 300th career base on June 13th

    1993 - Batted .301 with the Giants

    1994 - Only appeared in 45 games due to a torn Achilles tendon

    1995 - Signed with Boston's Triple-A Pawtucket farm club in June.   

            Appeared in Boston's Division Series loss to Cleveland

    1996 - Returned to the Cards via free agency in the off-season.

            Reached 2,000 career hits on August 8th.

            Established a club record for most career hits in the NLCS, 24.

    1997 - Led the Cards with 16 pinch-hits.

    1998 - Led all Cards with .327 average in day games and 39 pinch at-bats

    1999 - Played in 132 games, the most since 1992

            Scored his 1,000th career run on July 24th at Colorado

            Stole his 350th career base on August 17th against Philadelphia

            Completed 13 seasons with the Cards and 18th overall                        

Career Stats

Yr Team Avg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP SLG
1982 STL .296 123 422 43 125 12 86 4 56 12 58 24 .318 .391
1983 STL .286 147 601 75 172 22 86 5 75 26 68 39 .314 .374
1984 STL .291 145 571 82 166 19 11 6 50 29 80 43 .325 .394
1985 STL .353 152 612 114 216 26 18 10 82 34 86 56 .384 .503
1986 STL .256 124 497 65 127 22 7 7 48 37 82 19 .306 .370
1987 STL .285 153 620 76 177 37 11 11 105 24 90 16 .312 .434
1988 STL .292 137 562 73 164 24 6 3 50 32 84 41 .329 .372
1989 STL .236 58 199 23 47 10 2 3 17 10 34 8 .275 .352
1990 STL .335 125 501 76 168 32 5 3 62 38 86 28 .382 .437
1990 OAK .274 29 113 23 31 3 2 0 15 10 18 3 .333 .336
1991 SF .312 131 497 67 155 30 3 4 43 34 74 17 .357 .408
1992 SF .297 138 474 56 141 20 2 1 36 29 88 13 .339 .354
1993 SF .301 130 475 53 143 28 1 4 46 38 67 10 .353 .389
1994 SF .282 45 156 19 44 3 0 5 23 15 24 3 .337 .397
1995 BOS .285 67 200 32 57 11 3 2 15 9 41 5 .311 .400
1996 STL .307 123 309 52 95 15 2 5 41 18 60 5 .348 .417
1997 STL .300 122 300 29 90 19 4 3 38 22 59 8 .347 .420
1998 STL .253 120 269 27 68 10 1 3 34 14 49 7 .287 .331
1999 STL .251 132 271 25 68 7 0 0 20 17 60 7 .293 .277
---- ---- ---- --- ---- --- -- -- --- --- ---- --- ---- ----
18yrs. .295 2201 7649 1010 2254 350 94 79 856 448 1238 350 .333 .396

 

Willie McGee Day - 4-9-2000  

They said it... Fun facts:

"(McGee) could fly. I think he was faster than (Mickey) Mantle. I thought he (Mantle) was the fastest in my time. (Willie) Mays was fast too. Mickey Rivers, he was fast. Dave Collins, Rickey Henderson, they were fast.   Willie McGee was the fastest." -- Whitey Herzog

"Last week we were in Tahoe, skiing.  If you think Willie look funny hitting, trust me, you got to see him get up on some skis."  --  Vince Coleman

"In 1996 through '99, he was the most dangerous player off the bench in the league."  --  Tony LaRussa

"Personally, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, it will be an honor for the rest of my life to be known in baseball as the player traded for Willie McGee."  --  Bob Sykes

Willie holds a .586 average against Mike Scott in 44 career at-bats.

My Greatest Day in Baseball:

"My first day in the big leagues, that's my greatest day.  I spent all those years in Little League and college and high school and minor league ball looking forward to that day.  I don't even remember the date, but my first opportunity to play big-league ball was that day I came in to St. Louis and got an opportunity to put on a big-league uniform.  But there's also other days... you look at the seventh game of the World Series that we clinched.  There's just a lot, there's so many...

My first game we played against Cincinnati.  Mario Soto was pitching.  I didn't play, I was just here.   I got called up, I was here watching.  I think I pinch-hit.  I hit a line drive, a one-hopper to shortstop.  And then after that I felt I was able to handle myself, once I was given a chance.

I got my first hit a few days later in Atlanta.  I got to start against Al Hrabosky, so that was a big thrill.   It was on TBS so my family could see me.  It was with the bases loaded.   Everybody knows Al, he's competitive.  I was a battle.  It was 3-2 and he kept coming right at me.  That's Al Hrabosky, he's very aggressive as a ballplayer and a pitcher.  That's why he was so good.

Wasn't nothing tricky about him; he was just coming at you.  It wasn't a big thing.  I don't remember what the runs meant in the game.  I wasn't the first guy to get a big hit off of him.   I'm sure there's been a few other guys who have gotten a hit of him, and I'm sure he got me out a few times too."

 

    1992 McDonalds 100th Anniversary All-Time Team - #43

 

 

Willie's links:

Willie McGee's Official Home Page

Baseball Library

The Baseball Page

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac

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Sources:

   -  Cardinals GameDay Magazine/May 1996

   -  Cardinals GameDay Magazine/September 1997

   -  Cardinals GameDay Magazine/1998 #8

   -  Cardinals GameDay Magazine/2000 #3

 

(This site is in no way affiliated or sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals or Major League Baseball and is intended to be used for non-commercial, personal enjoyment.  Although I attempt to be as correct/accurate as possible when giving information in these documents, I make no guarantees as to their accuracy.  Questions/comments may be sent to the address below. Mark Mobley (1999-2021) all rights reserved.  All photos and/or images may be copyrighted by their original owners/sources.)

Red Line

Do you have St. Louis Cardinal collectibles or memorabilia sitting around collecting dust?  Why not send me an e-mail describing what you have?  I might make you an offer!

I collect anything having to do with the Cardinals.  My e-mail is listed below!  Thanks!

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Cardinal (or Baseball) Trips:

Great Ballpark Adventures!

 

Red Line

Cardinal Caravans:  1990   1998   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   2012

(No pics:  1991  1992  1993  1994)

Winter Warm-ups: 2007  2010

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Willie (39KB)          

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Updated: 01/16/21                               mailbox.gif (1210 bytes) Comments? Cardsfan@ford-mobley.com