The Giants announced Tuesday that they’ve hired Gary Pettis as their new third base coach. He’ll replace Hector Borg, who was relieved of third base coaching duties recently and reassigned to a player development role within the organization.
An 11-year major league veteran known for his stellar outfield defense and baserunning prowess, the now 68-year-old Pettis has 27 years of coaching experience, including 22 prior seasons in the majors. The five-time Gold Glove winner served as both a third base coach and first base coach across stints with the White Sox, Angels, Mets, Rangers and Astros. Pettis spent a decade as Houston’s third base coach and was on the staff for both of the Astros’ World Series victories.
Pettis brings a highly experienced dugout veteran to rookie big league manager Tony Vitello’s staff. Notably, he served on the Rangers’ coaching staff under then-manager Ron Washington, who’s now the Giants’ infield coach. In addition to his work as the third base coach, Pettis will have plenty of wisdom to share with the Giants’ lineup about the finer points of baserunning, and he’ll presumably work with the team’s young outfielders as well.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale first reported that the Giants were hiring Pettis as their new third base coach.
Now is it really Gary Pettis or is it going to be his little brother?
Current or former baseball card collectors from the 1980s will understand that reference.
Didn’t they do the same thing to the Leiters?
That was a cool mistake, but not a Leiter. They accidentally used the photo of career minor leaguer Steve George in place of Al Leiter. Al Leiter’s number during that Spring Training was 58. The photographer saw the initials SG on George’s glove and took it for 58 by mistake. So not a relative, but a really cool story nonetheless. And they did correct that one later on. They never corrected the Pettis one.
Hiflew, that was the first thing that went through my mind. I also remember him checking out a ball girl at the Kingdome when he played for the Tigers. If those are my memories of him, God I am old.
Experience really matters in certain positions!
Enjoyed his time with The Tigers near the end of his playing daze….13 SBs, 28 BB in just 48 games….baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettiga01.shtml
But forever tainted by being on the Cheatin’ Astros. Couldn’t they have found someone else?
Bringing a more experienced hand aboard couldn’t hurt as the Giants try to regain respectability under an inexperienced rookie skipper.
I’m just looking forward to the fire sale at this point. Bring up the kids and move on.