Dave Dravecky Spotted in San Francisco
Categories: Sports
SF Weekly staffers were overcome with nostalgia when former San Francisco Giant Dave Dravecky was spotted strolling through SOMA today.
The southpaw pitcher, for those unfamiliar with team lore, overcame cancer in his pitching arm to start -- and win -- two games for the team in 1989. Horrifically, his arm broke in mid-delivery in in his second start -- and he rebroke the arm during the team's pennant-winning pileup. Worse yet, Dravecky was later forced to undergo the amputation of his left arm when his cancer returned.
In his years after baseball, the deeply religious John Birch Society member wrote books about life and Christianity and has started a ministry.
Connie Hemmer, who works for Jan and Dave Dravecky's Endurance Ministry in Denver, said the former Giant was here today at the behest of the team for a reunion of former Willie Mac Award winners. Every year, San Francisco's players vote on the honor -- named for Hall of Famer Willie McCovey -- for the teammate best "exemplifying the spirit and leadership" of the award's namesake.
This year's winner will be announced prior to tonight's game.
When asked if he would root for the home team or the visiting San Diego Padres -- for whom Dravecky pitched for most of his brief career -- Hemmer answered "probably the Giants."
God help him if it's not the case.
Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly
The southpaw pitcher, for those unfamiliar with team lore, overcame cancer in his pitching arm to start -- and win -- two games for the team in 1989. Horrifically, his arm broke in mid-delivery in in his second start -- and he rebroke the arm during the team's pennant-winning pileup. Worse yet, Dravecky was later forced to undergo the amputation of his left arm when his cancer returned.
In his years after baseball, the deeply religious John Birch Society member wrote books about life and Christianity and has started a ministry.
Connie Hemmer, who works for Jan and Dave Dravecky's Endurance Ministry in Denver, said the former Giant was here today at the behest of the team for a reunion of former Willie Mac Award winners. Every year, San Francisco's players vote on the honor -- named for Hall of Famer Willie McCovey -- for the teammate best "exemplifying the spirit and leadership" of the award's namesake.
This year's winner will be announced prior to tonight's game.
When asked if he would root for the home team or the visiting San Diego Padres -- for whom Dravecky pitched for most of his brief career -- Hemmer answered "probably the Giants."
God help him if it's not the case.
Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly
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