CHICAGO -- Gary Pettis’ four kids wanted him to keep coaching in the Majors once his 10-year run with the Astros ended at the end of the 2024 season. But the longtime third-base coach preferred to prioritize being close to his family after spending decades working in baseball. He decided to step away from the game and settle into life in San Clemente, Calif., where he finally started to pick up golf last year. But when the Giants came calling to inquire about his interest in filling their third-base coach vacancy earlier this week, Pettis couldn’t turn down the chance to return to his Bay Area roots and suit up for the team he rooted for as a kid. “It was an opportunity to come back home, basically,” said Pettis, who made his Giants coaching debut in Friday afternoon’s 18-3 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. “I grew up in Oakland, Calif., and when I was a kid, I was a huge Giants fan, obviously. Willie Mays was my favorite player, and when I realized that I had an opportunity to come here -- the cream-colored uniforms were always one of my favorites. I always wanted to wear it, and so now, I get the chance.” Pettis, 68, has fond memories of attending Giants games at Candlestick Park when he was growing up, noting that he used to roam around the outfield to try to get an up-close view of Mays in action. “I'm an old, old Candlestick guy, when they had the chain-link fence around the outfield, and they had the aluminum bleachers,” Pettis said. “I could just run right up to the fence and just stand there. The fly ball would be hit, I’d run to the fence, and there he is coming back, catching the ball. It was a thrill.” |
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Pettis ended up developing into quite a talented outfielder in his own right, winning five Gold Glove Awards over his 11-year playing career with the Angels, Tigers, Rangers and Padres. He wore No. 24 in honor of Mays, whom he once got to chat on the phone with thanks to former Giants manager Dusty Baker. "I had no idea who [Baker] was talking to," Pettis recalled. "He turned around and goes, ‘Hey Gary, here.' I said, ‘Who is it?' Right away, I’m thinking Willie Mays. I answered the phone, and I started talking to him. What a dream come true. My idol, and here I am, like 60 years old, but still so excited to talk with him. I remember the last thing he said was, ‘Hey, whenever you’re up here, if you ever need anything, just let me know.’ I was thinking, 'That's so cool, to actually finally meet the guy that I grew up idolizing.'" Pettis served as Baker’s third-base coach for the Astros from 2020-23 and held the same role for Ron Washington's Rangers from 2013-14, which helped put him on the Giants’ radar after they decided to move on from Hector Borg, who was reassigned to a new role in player development following a series of questionable calls in the third-base coach’s box. Joining a new team midway through the season won’t be easy, but Pettis said he plans to lean on Washington and manager Tony Vitello to try to get up to speed on the Giants’ personnel as quickly as possible. |
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How would Pettis describe his coaching philosophy at third base? “Most people would say aggressive,” Pettis said. “That's the way I played, and that's the way I coach. Being a former outfielder, I think I have an idea of what the tough plays might be to make an accurate throw home, whether an outfielder is good going to his right or going to his left, or if he's not so good. Most guys are pretty good coming in, but some guys have maybe a little tail [on their throws] and the ball will sink on them. Those are things that I try to pay attention to.” Pettis also oversaw baserunning and outfield instruction during his time with the Astros, so he could help the Giants push the envelope on the basepaths, where they currently rank last in the Majors in stolen bases. The Giants don’t have a ton of team speed, but Pettis believes there could be opportunities for players to be more aggressive under the right circumstances. “I think it's a desire to want to do it,” Pettis said. “You have to study the pitchers’ pickoff moves, and see if there's something that you can pick up on them. Know which guys are quicker to home plate than others, know which catchers throw better than others. There are a few things that you can do to help the basestealers out, but they have to do some work also. I can't just say, ‘Hey, this is what the pitcher is doing,’ and then you don't go watch it on video. You have to pay attention. You've got to do your part, as well.” |
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Voting for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game -- which will take place on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia -- is officially underway. Nine Giants are on the ballot: catcher Daniel Susac, first baseman Rafael Devers, second baseman Luis Arraez, third baseman Matt Chapman, shortstop Willy Adames, outfielders Heliot Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and Harrison Bader and designated hitter Casey Schmitt. Fans can vote up to five times per day by logging your vote exclusively online and via mobile devices at mlb.com/vote. After submitting a fifth vote on the ballot, fans will be given the option to be redirected to KONAMI's mobile game eBaseball: MLB PRO SPIRIT for an exclusive opportunity to vote for a sixth time. The first phase of voting ends on June 25 at 9:00 a.m. PT. |
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