Gary Pettis watched in the distance from the VIP friends-and-family section at 49ers training camp Monday, wearing a light-orange golf shirt, a new 49ers cap and an approving smile.
Imagine his pride as his son, Dante, lined up in the right slot, quickly grabbed a slant pass and never broke stride into the open field for a 60-yard touchdown.
Now imagine Gary Pettis 30 years ago showing similar traits, racing back to the center-field wall and making a home-run-saving catch en route to one of his five Gold Gloves.
“For the longest time, I never thought it could translate over, his hands, from baseball to football,” Dante Pettis said.