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Mike McCormick, the San Francisco Giants’ first Cy Young winner, who debuted with the franchise in New York then made his name in San Francisco, died Saturday at his Cornelius, N.C., home after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, the team announced Tuesday. He was 81.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mike McCormick, a true gentleman and forever Giant,” Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said in a statement. “Like many Giants fans, I have many fond childhood memories of watching Mike pitch at Candlestick Park and then was blessed to call him my friend these past 30 years.”
McCormick, a Pasadena native, signed a contract with the New York Giants at just 17, one of the last players of the “Bonus Baby Rule,” which fast-tracked him straight to the majors while bypassing the minors.
McCormick debuted in 1956, before his 18th birthday, and eventually became one of the best pitchers in the league, leading the NL in ERA in 1960, his first of four All-Star nods. He pitched for the Giants from 1956-62, had tours with Baltimore and the Washington Senators, then returned and won the Cy Young with the Giants in ’67, going 22-10 with a 2.85 ERA.
He finished his career in 1971 with the Royals, earning a 134-128 record, 3.73 lifetime ERA and the moniker “Mr. 500.”
McCormick is believed to have hit the 500th home run by an MLB pitcher (he hit seven in his career) and surrendered Hank Aaron’s 500th long ball. He embraced the nickname, personalizing his license plate with “Mr. 500.”
“Following his illustrious playing career, Mike settled in the Bay Area and was a regular presence at Giants games and countless Giants functions, from Giants Community Fund fundraisers, to team reunions, to fantasy camps,” Baer said. “He was the ultimate Giants ambassador and lived life to the fullest. He will be greatly missed by our Giants Family and our thoughts are with Dierdre and the entire McCormick Family.”
McCormick is survived by his wife, Dierdre, their daughter, Tara, and his children Mike Jr., Matthew and Stacy from his first wife, Carolyn, along with six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.