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Jim Davenport was a professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the San Francisco Giants. He played primarily as a third baseman and was known for his strong defensive skills. Davenport made his major league debut in 1958 and quickly established himself as a reliable player for the Giants. He was a key member of the team that
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Jim Davenport was a professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the San Francisco Giants. He played primarily as a third baseman and was known for his strong defensive skills. Davenport made his major league debut in 1958 and quickly established himself as a reliable player for the Giants. He was a key member of the team that won the National League pennant in 1962 and went on to play in the World Series that year.
Throughout his career, Davenport was known for his consistency and durability. He played in over 1,500 games for the Giants and was a three-time All-Star. He was also a fan favorite and was known for his friendly demeanor and approachability.
Despite his success on the field, Davenport faced some challenges off the field. He suffered a serious injury in 1965 that forced him to miss most of the season, and he struggled with alcoholism later in his career. However, he was able to overcome these challenges and remained a respected member of the Giants organization.
After retiring as a player, Davenport remained involved in baseball as a coach and manager. He spent several years coaching in the Giants minor league system before being named the team's third base coach in 1985. He also managed the Giants for part of the 1985 season after the team's previous manager was fired.
Davenport's contributions to the Giants organization were recognized in 2003 when he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame. He remained a beloved figure among Giants fans until his death in 2016.
Overall, Jim Davenport was a talented and respected player who spent his entire career with the San Francisco Giants. He was known for his strong defensive skills, consistency, and durability, and was a key member of the team that won the National League pennant in 1962. Despite facing some challenges off the field, Davenport remained a respected member of the Giants organization and was recognized for his contributions to the team with his induction into the team's Hall of Fame.
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On Saturday, September 17, 1966, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the...
New York Mets vs San Francisco Giants - Radio Broadcast / On Saturday, September 17, 1966, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the New York Mets at Candlestick Park. The Giants handed the ball to their ace, Juan Marichal, while the Mets countered with Dennis Ribant. The 1966 season had been a challenging one for the Mets, who were still in the early years of their franchise and struggling to find consistent success. The Giants, on the other hand, were a more established team with a solid roster, including the legendary Willie Mays and the power-hitting first baseman Willie McCovey. As for the broader context of the season, the Baltimore Orioles were the team to beat in the American League, while the National League was being dominated by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The game started off as a pitching duel, with both Marichal and Ribant holding their respective opponents scoreless through the first three innings. The Giants broke the deadlock in the fourth, with McCovey launching a solo home run. He would add another solo shot in the fifth, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead. The Mets, however, would not go quietly. In the sixth inning, Ken Boyer and Al Luplow each hit solo home runs to cut the Giants' lead to one. Luplow would again come through in the clutch in the eighth, hitting a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.
The game remained tied until the tenth inning. Jim Hart led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to give the Giants a one-run lead. McCovey then solidified the Giants' victory with his third home run of the game, a two-run shot that sealed the 6-4 win for the Giants. The Mets' late-game rally, highlighted by Luplow's two home runs, was an exciting twist, but ultimately fell short.
In the grand scheme of the 1966 season, this game was a microcosm of the experiences of both teams. The Mets showed flashes of potential but struggled to put it all together, finishing the season in ninth place in the National League. The Giants, meanwhile, finished in second place in the National League, just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers. McCovey's three-home run performance was a highlight of his impressive season, in which he hit .295 with 36 home runs and 96 RBIs. Despite their strong season, the Giants fell short of the postseason, with the Dodgers representing the National League in the World Series against the Orioles.
In the 1962 season, both the New York Giants and the New York Mets experienced...
San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets - Radio Broadcast / In the 1962 season, both the New York Giants and the New York Mets experienced contrasting fortunes in Major League Baseball. The Giants, led by manager Alvin Dark, showcased a strong performance, finishing the regular season with a commendable record of 103 wins and 62 losses. They featured standout players such as Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, who contributed significantly to their success. However, despite their remarkable regular season, the Giants fell short in the World Series, losing to the American League champions, the New York Yankees, in a tightly contested seven-game series.
On the other hand, the newly formed New York Mets had a difficult inaugural season. Managed by Casey Stengel, the Mets struggled to find their footing, concluding the season with a disappointing record of 40 wins and 120 losses. Plagued by inconsistent performances and a lack of experienced players, the Mets faced significant challenges throughout the year. Despite the team's struggles, the 1962 season laid the groundwork for the Mets' future development and eventual rise to success in the years to come.
