Willie McGee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie McGee |
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McGee with the Cardinals in 1983
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| Outfielder / Coach | |||
| Born: November 2, 1958 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 10, 1982, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1999, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .295 | ||
| Hits | 2,254 | ||
| Home runs | 79 | ||
| Runs batted in | 856 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Willie Dean McGee (born November 2, 1958) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals. Willie McGee won two batting titles and was named the National League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1985.
McGee usually played in center and right field. He won three Gold Glove Awards for being an excellent defensive player. He spent most of his career with the Cardinals, helping them win the 1982 World Series. Willie McGee was also a four-time All-Star and collected 2,254 hits during his career.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Willie Dean McGee grew up in a very religious family with six brothers and sisters. His father, Hurdice, worked as a machinist and was also a deacon in their church. Hurdice didn't want Willie to play sports on Sundays. But Willie loved baseball so much that he would sneak out of the house to play. Later, he found out his dad knew all along but let him go anyway!
Willie McGee's Playing Career
Starting in Professional Baseball
After finishing high school in 1976, Willie McGee was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the baseball draft. But he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he went to Diablo Valley College. A few months later, the New York Yankees drafted him. From 1977 to 1981, McGee played for the Yankees' minor league teams, working his way up.
In 1981, the St. Louis Cardinals traded for McGee. In 1982, he briefly played for their AAA team before joining the main Cardinals team.
Becoming a Star with the Cardinals (1982–1989)
Willie McGee joined the Cardinals in 1982. In his first year, he hit for a .296 batting average, with 4 home runs and 56 runs batted in (RBIs).
In Game 3 of the 1982 World Series, McGee was amazing! He hit two home runs and made a fantastic leaping catch in the ninth inning. This catch stopped a home run and helped the Cardinals win 6-2. McGee was a big reason the Cardinals won the World Series against the powerful Milwaukee Brewers.
During the 1980s, McGee and his teammates like Ozzie Smith and Vince Coleman were known for playing "Whiteyball." This was a style of baseball named after their manager, Whitey Herzog. It focused on good pitching, strong defense, fast baserunning, and smart plays.
On June 23, 1984, McGee achieved a rare feat: he hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game!
In 1985, Willie McGee had an incredible year. He led the National League in batting average (.353), hits (216), and triples (18). He also scored 114 runs and stole 56 bases. For his amazing performance, he won a Gold Glove Award (for defense) and a Silver Slugger Award (for hitting). He was also voted to the All-Star team and won the National League MVP award! His great play helped the Cardinals reach the 1985 World Series, but they lost to the Kansas City Royals.
In 1987, McGee had a career-high 105 RBIs. He was again a key player for the Cardinals as they made it to their third World Series of the 1980s. However, they lost to the Minnesota Twins.
Moving to Other Teams (1990–1995)
In 1990, the Cardinals traded McGee to the Oakland Athletics. This trade helped the Athletics reach the 1990 World Series, which was McGee's fourth trip to the championship. The Athletics lost to the Cincinnati Reds.
Even though he was traded to a different league, McGee had played enough games in the National League to qualify for the batting title. He won his second batting title with a .335 average! This was a unique event in baseball history.
In 1990, McGee signed with the San Francisco Giants. This allowed him to play baseball close to where he grew up. He continued to be a good player until an ankle injury in 1994. After that, he briefly played for the Boston Red Sox in 1995.
Back with the St. Louis Cardinals
In 1995, Willie McGee returned to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1996, he made a funny TV commercial with teammate Ozzie Smith. They pretended to be old men talking about the Cardinals, and their teammates loved watching the bloopers!
As he got older, McGee played less, but he still had some amazing moments. In 1997, he hit a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to win the Cardinals' home opener. It was a memorable moment for fans. In 1999, he made a fantastic catch that almost stopped Tony Gwynn from getting his 3,000th career hit.
Willie McGee played his final game on October 3, 1999, at 40 years old.
Post-Playing Career
After he retired, the Cardinals honored McGee with a special ceremony. Many fans wanted his number 51 jersey to be officially retired by the team.
In 2013, the St. Louis Cardinals hired McGee as a special assistant to their General Manager. He helped coach outfielders in the Cardinals' minor league system.
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Willie McGee was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2017, the Cardinals added McGee to their main coaching staff as an assistant coach. He helped players with outfielding, base running, and hitting. In 2020, he took a break from coaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned in 2021. In 2024, he moved to an advisory role with the team's front office.
Images for kids
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Willie McGee playing for the Nashville Sounds in 1980
