SAN CARLOS -- Jim Davenport, the slick-fielding third baseman who went on to serve the Giants organization for the better part of a half-century, died Thursday night. He was 82.
Davenport spent his entire 13-year playing career with the Giants and later worked in capacities that included scout, coach, minor league instructor, big-league manager and, finally, a special assistant for player development. Though overshadowed during his playing days by teammates such as Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda, the soft-spoken Alabaman was a steady contributor for the powerhouse teams of the early 1960s. Davenport led National League third baseman in fielding percentage three consecutive…
