San Francisco Giants: The Best Willie Mac Award Seasons

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Sep 30, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Mike Kruko and Willie McCovey presenting the 2016 Will Mac Award before the start of the game between San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Jack Clark (1980)

Wins Above Replacement: 4.7

The first recipient of the award was Jack Clark in 1980. Clark began his career with the Giants at 19, and by the age of 24, he had already been to two All-Star games and was the best hitter on the Giants. He finished his 1980 season with a slashline of .284/.382/.517 for an OPS of .900.

McCovey played 48 games that season for the Giants, so to honor Clark that season with the inaugural Willie Mac Award not only showed how much the team thought of Clark, but more importantly, what the team thought of McCovey.

Joe Morgan (1982)

Wins Above Replacement: 5.1

Joe Morgan was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, but his time in San Francisco was important to the Giants as well.

The second baseman had a big season in 1982, finishing 16th in the MVP voting. He had won back-to-back MVP’s in 1975 and 1976, but it had been some time since he had had a big season. By the end of the 1982 season, he had a slashline of .289/.400/.438 for an OPS of .838. He also added 14 home runs and 24 stolen bases, despite being 38 years old.

On top of all of that, he hit one of the biggest home runs in team history to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers on the final game of the regular season and spoil the Dodgers chances of making it to the post-season.

It is featured in this Baseball Hall of Fame tribute video about Morgan’s career.