Death threats, bigotry, courage: Behind Giants historic hiring of Frank Robinson
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Frank Robinson is hired by the San Francisco Giants to be manager. To his left os Giants owner Bob Lurie, and to his right is wife barbara January 14, 1981 Associated Press Photo Photo ran 1/15/1981, p. 51Associated Press 1981Show MoreShow Less
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Bob Lurie in a 1958 photo dressed in a Giants uniform at his home in Atherton, Calif., on Sunday, February 14, 2021. In 1981, Bob Lurie hired Frank Robinson, the first Black manager in the National League.Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
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Bob and Connie Lurie at their home in Atherton, Calif., on Sunday, February 14, 2021. In 1981, Bob Lurie hired Frank Robinson, the first Black manager in the National League.Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The ChronicleShow MoreShow Less
Popular Giants catcher Mike Sadek, known as the ‘Sheik,’ dies at 74 [San Francisco Chronicle]
Jan. 21 Mike Sadek, a colorful backup catcher for the Giants through much of the 1970s who was well-liked by teammates and fans, died Wednesday in San Andreas (Calaveras County) of heart- and lung-related illnesses. He was 74.
Sadek, who played his entire eight-year career for the Giants, was a master of keeping his teammates and the clubhouse loose. He hit .226 with five homers in his career but was known more for his defense and leadership.
“He was the best catcher I ever threw to,” former Giants pitcher John Montefusco said. “He gave you a good target, way down low, and called a great game. Managers knew we liked throwing to him, and when umpires missed a call, he let them know about it.
The Beacon
Richard Davenport’s sons grew tall on Catawba Island, just like the orchards there. The late Jim Davenport is easy to spot in the front row of his U.S. Army platoon.
John Davenport and his mother, Jane, celebrate the State of Ohio and Catawba Township honoring their brother and son, Army Distinguished Flying Cross hero James M. Davenport with the establishment of the Catawba Island Township Veterans Memorial Highway. (Photo by D’Arcy Patrick Egan)
BY D’ARCY PATRICK EGAN
Catawba Island Township honored two of its U.S. Army war heroes this week with a Catawba Island Township Veterans Memorial Highway Marker for Vietnam War hero James M. Davenport and World War II hero William Galloway.
Tell Tales 1-21-21
As of Jan. 15, 2021, Ottawa County has had a total of 2,785 confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began last February. The number of deaths attributed to the virus remains at 34. On the bright side, 2,293 residents have presumably recovered from the virus.
Also, the Ottawa County Health Department is rolling out Phase 1B of the vaccination process. That means individuals 80 and over can now be vaccinated. Their plan is to establish vaccination clinics throughout the county.
It was so nice to see the Catawba Trustees dedicate a stretch of SR 53 to the two veterans who were killed in action. One of them was Jim Davenport, a classmate of mine. Jim’s mom would pick me up off NW Catawba Rd. and take Jim and I to summer football practice. He was a great guy and I remember that learning of his death made quite an impression on me.
December 30, 2020
Of the thousands of pitchers who have reached the majors, fewer than a hundred mastered the knuckleball that maddeningly erratic, spin-free butterfly well enough to rely upon it as their primary pitch. None of them succeeded to the extent that Phil Niekro did. “Knucksie” learned the pitch from his father, a coal miner and semiprofessional hurler, at the age of eight, and while he didn’t establish himself as a big league starter for another 20 years, he carved out a 24-year-career in the majors, winning 318 games, striking out 3,342 batters, starting more games than all but four pitchers, and earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.