Buster Posey honored with Willie Mac Award

Any true blue Giants fan will tell you that Willie McCovey is far more than the guy they unofficially renamed China Basin after.

In 22 years in the Majors, Stretch hit 521 home-runs and 1,555 RBIs, most of which he racked up while wearing a Giants uniform. But what really set the Hall Of Famer apart from the rest of the pack was his high level of class, both on and off the field.

Hence, the San Francisco Giants give out the Willie Mac Award every year to one player whose mix of hard work and gentlemanly swag stands out.

And who better to win such a coveted award than Buster Posey?

The San Francisco Giants announced via Twitter Friday afternoon that the catcher — and part-time first baseman — will be receiving the award before Friday night’s series opener against the San Diego Padres.

We all know what Buster Posey had to do on the rehabilitation circuit to come back from season-ending injuries in 2011. But he not only came back to play; he came back to catch Matt Cain’s perfect game, become the starting catcher in the 2012 All-Star Game, and grab a NL MVP nod.

Ask the 2010 Rookie Of The Year and World Series champion about any of his accomplishments–either past or in the not-too-distant-future–this season, and he’ll probably say something akin to:

“… so it’s neat. It’s definitely an honor just have your name mentioned.“

A guy that helps the team win and still stays humble? That’s certainly Willie Mac Award-caliber right there.