 Going into the 1980 season, Ivie was considered the Giants' successor at first base to Willie McCovey upon his retirement, but after an off-season accident with a hunting knife in which he sliced part of his fifth finger from his hand, he was unable to perform and became a bench player.He walked away during that season, but a phone call from McCovey convinced him to return and he played out the 1980 season, hitting four home runs.In 1981, when Frank Robinson was given the job as Giants' manager after Dave Bristol was fired after the 1980 season, Ivie's career took a turn.