Fresno Grizzlies remember former Manager Jim Davenport
The Fresno Grizzlies and Fresno community are mourning the loss of the first manager of the club Jim Davenport. "Davvy" as he was known through the baseball world piloted the Grizzlies in 1998, the first year of AAA baseball in this city. He led the team to a playoff appearance with an 81-62 mark.
Davenport who passed away due to heart failure last Sunday at 82 began his professional playing career in 1955 with the Class C Cotton States League in El Dorado, Arkansas after signing with the New York Giants. He holds the unique distinction of being the first regular season batter in San Francisco Giants history which was also the first meaningful major league baseball game on the west coast. That game in which was also his major league debut he had two hits. It was the first of 1,501 major league regular season games in which he appeared all in a San Francisco uniform. In 1962, Davenport made his lone National League All-Star team which was also the year he was part of the National League pennant winning club. In his lone ASG at-bat he singled as a pinch hitter. That October in the World Series against the Yankees he had three hits, four walks, and an RBI. After the season he was honored by winning the Gold Glove in the National League for third base.
After his playing career Davenport served in many roles with the Giants which included their manager in 1985. He also was a third & first base coach, minor league infield instructor, and managed in their minor league system (AAA-Phoenix, 1973-75; 1995) plus his year in Fresno. He most recently was an administrative assistant in the Giants minor league chain and would make frequent visits to Fresno to evaluate players.
Davenport was born in Siluria, Alabama in 1933 and grew up near Birmingham.. He attended Southern Miss where he was a quarterback in addition to playing baseball.
He is survived by his wife Betty, daughter Cathy and sons Ken, Randy, Don, and Gary. Gary is a coach in the Giants minor league system.