Jim Davenport
Born: 8/17/1933 in Siluria, AL, USA
Died: 2/18/2016 in Redwood City, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1958-04-15 | Final Game: 1970-06-23
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: James Houston Davenport
Biography
Jim Davenport was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1958 to 1970. Born in 1933, he made a notable impact during his time with the San Francisco Giants, where he became known for his versatility on the field and his solid defensive skills. Over the course of 1,501 games, Davenport recorded 1,142 hits, 77 home runs, and 456 RBIs, finishing his career with a batting average of .258. His ability to contribute both offensively and defensively earned him a single All-Star selection, highlighting his status among his peers during a competitive era of baseball.
Davenport's playing style was characterized by his steady presence at third base and his intelligent approach to hitting. He was part of the Giants' roster during a transformative period in baseball, witnessing the transition from the legendary Polo Grounds to the newly constructed Candlestick Park. With a total of 16 stolen bases, he showcased a level of speed that complemented his strong batting, making him a well-rounded player. After retiring in 1970, Davenport left behind a legacy as a reliable player who contributed to the Giants' success during a pivotal time in the franchise's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1501 | 4427 | 552 | 1142 | 177 | 37 | 77 | 456 | 16 | 382 | 673 | 0.258 | 0.318 | 0.367 | 0.684 | -1574.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | SFG | NL | 134 | 434 | 70 | 111 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 41 | 1 | 33 | 64 | 0.256 | -12.9 |
| 1959 | SFG | NL | 123 | 469 | 65 | 121 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 0 | 28 | 65 | 0.258 | -937.8 |
| 1960 | SFG | NL | 112 | 363 | 43 | 91 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 38 | 0 | 26 | 58 | 0.251 | -479.8 |
| 1961 | SFG | NL | 137 | 436 | 64 | 121 | 28 | 4 | 12 | 65 | 4 | 45 | 65 | 0.278 | 602.8 |
| 1962 | SFG | NL | 144 | 485 | 83 | 144 | 25 | 5 | 14 | 58 | 2 | 45 | 76 | 0.297 | 1235.4 |
| 1963 | SFG | NL | 147 | 460 | 40 | 116 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 5 | 32 | 87 | 0.252 | -714.7 |
| 1964 | SFG | NL | 116 | 297 | 24 | 70 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 29 | 46 | 0.236 | -528.4 |
| 1965 | SFG | NL | 106 | 271 | 29 | 68 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 21 | 47 | 0.251 | -119.9 |
| 1966 | SFG | NL | 111 | 305 | 42 | 76 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 30 | 1 | 22 | 40 | 0.249 | -137.3 |
| 1967 | SFG | NL | 124 | 295 | 42 | 81 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 1 | 39 | 50 | 0.275 | 822.9 |
| 1968 | SFG | NL | 113 | 272 | 27 | 61 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 26 | 32 | 0.224 | -633.1 |
| 1969 | SFG | NL | 112 | 303 | 20 | 73 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 0 | 29 | 37 | 0.241 | -671.8 |
| 1970 | SFG | NL | 22 | 37 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0.243 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0.136 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | WS | SFN | 7 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0.136 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2B | 112 | 60 | 138 | 181 | 12 | 28 |
| 3B | 1130 | 892 | 863 | 1816 | 100 | 155 |
| OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 219 | 141 | 220 | 435 | 23 | 66 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | SFN | 3B | 130 | 104 | 92 | 221 | 13 | 19 |
| 1958 | SFN | SS | 5 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | SFN | 3B | 121 | 112 | 91 | 221 | 7 | 15 |
| 1959 | SFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | SFN | 3B | 103 | 90 | 77 | 171 | 10 | 12 |
| 1960 | SFN | SS | 7 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 1961 | SFN | 3B | 132 | 120 | 119 | 235 | 13 | 25 |
| 1962 | SFN | 3B | 141 | 132 | 125 | 256 | 19 | 28 |
| 1963 | SFN | 2B | 22 | 20 | 30 | 47 | 1 | 7 |
| 1963 | SFN | 3B | 127 | 99 | 122 | 183 | 12 | 9 |
| 1963 | SFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1964 | SFN | 2B | 30 | 22 | 47 | 65 | 4 | 10 |
| 1964 | SFN | 3B | 41 | 16 | 26 | 53 | 3 | 4 |
| 1964 | SFN | SS | 64 | 38 | 65 | 119 | 4 | 15 |
| 1965 | SFN | 2B | 26 | 9 | 21 | 33 | 5 | 5 |
| 1965 | SFN | 3B | 39 | 22 | 26 | 48 | 4 | 3 |
| 1965 | SFN | SS | 37 | 32 | 50 | 66 | 5 | 13 |
| 1966 | SFN | 1B | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 | SFN | 2B | 21 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 2 | 2 |
| 1966 | SFN | 3B | 36 | 19 | 15 | 43 | 4 | 5 |
| 1966 | SFN | SS | 58 | 41 | 62 | 135 | 8 | 19 |
| 1967 | SFN | 2B | 12 | 4 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 4 |
| 1967 | SFN | 3B | 64 | 45 | 37 | 100 | 0 | 8 |
| 1967 | SFN | SS | 28 | 18 | 24 | 79 | 4 | 12 |
| 1968 | SFN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | SFN | 3B | 82 | 59 | 49 | 120 | 7 | 12 |
| 1968 | SFN | SS | 17 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 5 |
| 1969 | SFN | 1B | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 | SFN | 3B | 104 | 68 | 77 | 158 | 8 | 15 |
| 1969 | SFN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1969 | SFN | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | SFN | 3B | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 114 |
| Third Base | 1124 |
| Shortstop | 222 |
| Left Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Gold Glove | 3B |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg | MS | 1952, 1953, 1954 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 3.0 | 280 | 0 |