SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants honored two of their most distinguished players, third baseman Jim Davenport and outfielder Monte Irvin, in a pregame ceremony Thursday. Both passed away during the offseason.
The observance for Davenport was highly symbolic. For this AT&T Park home opener against the archrival Los Angeles Dodgers, third base was emblazoned with the jersey number 12 that Davenport wore during his 13-year playing career, which began with the franchise's inaugural season in San Francisco in 1958.
The Giants' starting infielders, all drafted and developed by the club and tutored by Davenport as Minor Leaguers, accompanied members of his family onto the field as third base was planted in its spot.