Gary, Jim and Nick Davenport. Photo by Rob Fisher
The Davenport name means a lot to longtime Giant fans who remember Jim Davenport playing third base in San Francisco from 1958-1970 and later managing the club. His youngest son, Gary, is the hitting coach for the San Jose Giants. And if all goes well, a third generation Davenport will be making a name for himself in professional baseball.
Nick Davenport, Gary’s 18-year-old son, has spent the entire season with the San Jose club, catching bullpen, taking batting practice and generally living the life of a minor league player. Nick’s a senior at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, and he’s hoping the experience he got with the Giants will improve his game enough to catch the eye of Major League scouts.
It’s been an unusual path for Nick, who grew up in Italy where Gary coached that country’s Olympic team. He spent this entire season living with his dad in San Carlos and working out with the Giants.
“It’s great coming out here everyday and being around the ballplayers, hit and workout and get some special instruction,” says Nick, who believes realistically that his best shot at the pros will be after he plays college baseball. Gary believes his young son has the right frame for catching and some valuable experience that other young players don’t have.
“Nicky was catching some Triple-A pitchers in spring training when he was 15. I was kind of nervous because he was catching guys with 90+ mph fastballs but it made him a much better catcher.”
Jim is in his 47th year with the San Francisco organization, and has been pleased to see his grandson workout when he visits San Jose on one of his coaching trips. He’s proud of Nick and thinks he’s a pro prospect, but doubts his last name will be an advantage for him.
“I don’t know if being a Davenport is going to help him that much. He’s still gotta produce. It isn’t going to help you hit the ball just because you’re a Davenport.”
It was always a dream of Gary’s to either play for or coach with his dad, and they got that chance when both coached in Italy together. Six years ago, Gary jumped at the chance to return to the U.S. and work for the Giants. Now, the three generations of Davenports are together more often, working in what has become the family business.
“It’s kind of what I did growing up with dad in the Giants in the 1960’s,” says Gary. “I probably spent more time with Dad as a manager. It probably primed me for being a coach than a player whereas Nicky can be more of a player than a coach.”
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