Willie McCovey Career Home Runs Record
The unofficial home run haven beyond Oracle Park's right field wall.
McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, named 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.
Quick Facts
- Primary team
- San Francisco Giants (and San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics)
- Retired number
- 32
- Debut year
- 1959
- Mvp awards
- 2
Lore & Background
The name was coined by sportswriters Mark Purdy and Leonard Koppett. Purdy suggested 'McCovey Channel,' 'McCovey Stream' or 'McCovey Run,' but Koppett proposed the more lyrical 'McCovey Cove.' The name became very popular but has never become official. On game days, fans take to the water in boats and kayaks, often with fishing nets, hoping to collect a home run ball.
Reader's Guide
A 'splash hit' is recorded when a Giants player hits a home run that lands in McCovey Cove on the fly. As of August 26, 2026, 111 splash hits have been hit by 33 Giants players since the park opened; 35 were by Barry Bonds. Eight other Giants have reached the Cove more than twice: Brandon Belt (ten), Pablo Sandoval (eight), Mike Yastrzemski (seven), LaMonte Wade Jr. (six), Denard Span (five), Brandon Crawford (four), Joc Pederson (four), and Rafael Devers (three).
Five additional players have done it twice: Felipe Crespo, Michael Tucker, Ryan Klesko, Aubrey Huff, and Andrés Torres. Nineteen other Giants have done it once. Bonds is the only Giants player to hit the Cove twice in the same game. Two players have gotten splash hits while playing for the Giants and visiting teams: Ryan Klesko and Joc Pederson.
Five splash hits have been walk-off home runs: Barry Bonds (August 19, 2003), Brandon Crawford (April 13, 2014), and Mike Yastrzemski (July 29, 2020, June 19, 2023, and April 9, 2025). Three splash hits have been grand slams: Bonds (August 14, 2001), Michael Tucker (April 9, 2005), and Yastrzemski (June 15, 2021). Denard Span and LaMonte Wade Jr. are the only Giants to lead off with a splash hit. On September 15, 2024, Heliot Ramos became the first right-handed batter to hit a home run into the water. Bonds is the only Giant to record a splash hit in the postseason (October 12, 2002).
Did You Know?
- Brandon Belt has the only walk-off splash hit in Giants history, on September 17, 2021.
- J.T. Snow was the first right-handed batter to hit a home run into McCovey Cove, on May 2, 2000.
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