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 times starting in 1959 and won the Gold Glove for defensive excellence in 1962.