Willie McGee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie McGee |
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McGee with the St. Louis 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 on November 2, 1958, is an American baseball coach and former player. He was an amazing outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Willie played for four different teams over 18 seasons. He is best known for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals.
McGee won two batting titles, which means he had the best hitting average in his league. In 1985, he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He mostly played in center and right field. He also won three Gold Glove Awards for being an excellent defender. Willie helped the Cardinals win the 1982 World Series. He was a four-time All-Star and had 2,254 hits in his career.
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Willie McGee's Early Life
Willie Dean McGee grew up in a family with seven children. His family was very religious. His father, Hurdice, worked as a machinist and was also a church leader. Hurdice did not want Willie to play sports on Sundays.
But Willie loved sports so much that he would sneak out of the house on Sunday afternoons. He would go play baseball. Later, Willie found out his dad knew he was sneaking out. His dad just let him go anyway.
Willie McGee's Baseball Career
Starting His Journey in Baseball
After finishing high school in 1976, Willie McGee was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the baseball draft. But Willie decided not to sign with them. Instead, he went to Diablo Valley Community College. A few months later, in 1977, the New York Yankees picked him in another draft.
From 1977 to 1981, Willie played in the Yankees' minor league teams. He worked his way up to the Class AA level.
Joining the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals got Willie McGee from the Yankees' minor league system in 1981. This happened in a trade for another player. In 1982, he briefly played for the AAA Louisville Redbirds. Soon after, the Cardinals brought him up to the major leagues.
In his first year, 1982, Willie hit for a .296 batting average. He also hit 4 home runs and had 56 runs batted in (RBIs).
Winning the 1982 World Series
In Game 3 of the 1982 World Series, Willie McGee was a star. He hit two home runs! He also made an amazing leaping catch in the ninth inning. This catch stopped a home run and helped the Cardinals win 6–2. Willie was only the third rookie ever to hit two home runs in a World Series game.
Willie was a very important part of the Cardinals' win. They beat the powerful Milwaukee Brewers team.
Playing "Whiteyball" Baseball
During the 1980s, Willie McGee and his teammates like Ozzie Smith and Vince Coleman played a special style of baseball. It was called "Whiteyball" after their manager, Whitey Herzog. This style used the big Busch Stadium field in St. Louis. It focused on good pitching, strong defense, fast running, and smart plays.
Hitting for the Cycle in 1984
On June 23, 1984, Willie McGee achieved something rare: he hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game. This happened in a famous game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
MVP Season in 1985
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. He won a Gold Glove Award for his defense and a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He was also chosen for the All-Star team.
Because of his amazing performance, Willie was named the 1985 National League Most Valuable Player (MVP). His great playing helped the Cardinals reach the 1985 World Series. However, they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games.
In 1987, Willie had a career-high 105 RBIs. He was again a key player as the Cardinals won their division. They reached the 1987 World Series but lost to the Minnesota Twins.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1990, Willie McGee was traded to the Oakland Athletics. This move helped the Athletics reach the 1990 World Series. This was Willie's fourth time playing in the World Series. However, the Athletics lost to the Cincinnati Reds.
Even though he was traded to a different league, Willie 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, Willie signed with the San Francisco Giants. This allowed him to play baseball near where he grew up. He continued to be a strong player for the Giants until an ankle injury in 1994. In 1995, he played briefly for the Boston Red Sox.
Returning to St. Louis
On December 15, 1995, Willie McGee signed with the St. Louis Cardinals again. He was an older player by then, so he played less often. But he still showed flashes of his old skills. In 1996 and 1997, he hit over .300.
In 1997, in the Cardinals' first home game, Willie hit a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to win the game! It was a memorable moment for fans. Willie McGee played his last game on October 3, 1999. He was 40 years old.
Willie McGee's Career Statistics
- Regular Season Batting
| G | AB | AVG | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SB | SO | SLG | OBP |
| 2201 | 7649 | .295 | 1010 | 2254 | 350 | 94 | 79 | 856 | 448 | 352 | 1238 | .396 | .333 |
- Post Season Batting
| G | AB | AVG | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SB | SO | SLG | OBP |
| 54 | 192 | .276 | 27 | 53 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 7 | 8 | 43 | .411 | .302 |
Willie McGee had a .976 career fielding percentage. This shows how good he was at catching and throwing the ball.
After Playing Baseball
After Willie retired as a player, the Cardinals honored him with a special ceremony. Many fans hope that the Cardinals will retire his uniform number 51.
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In 2013, the St. Louis Cardinals hired Willie McGee as a special assistant. His job was to work with outfielders in the Cardinals' minor league teams. He also helped keep an eye on other minor league players.
Willie McGee was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on August 16, 2014.
In 2017, the Cardinals added Willie to their major league coaching staff. He was an assistant coach, wearing his old number 51. In 2020, he took a break from coaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021. In October 2024, Willie stepped down from his coaching role. He now works in an advisory role for the team's front office.
More About Willie McGee
- List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
