San Francisco Giants History: Dave Dravecky Breaks His Arm
By David Hill
It was supposed to be the second start of his comeback tour. Instead, San Francisco Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky had tragedy strike all over again.
Dave Dravecky’s comeback for the San Francisco Giants was a great story. After a cancerous tumor had been found in his pitching arm, he underwent successful surgery to have it removed. Ten months later, Dravecky was back on the mound, giving up three runs in eight innings in his first start back. The comeback tour was off to a great start.
Then, disaster struck. He was pitching well in his second outing, giving up only two runs in his first five innings. He went out for the sixth, and gave up a home run and hit a batter. Then, he threw a wild pitch, collapsing to the ground in agony. His arm was broken, snapping as he threw a fastball because the tumor had returned.
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That pitch would be the final one he would ever throw. His arm healed, but he would break it again in a celebration on the field when the San Francisco Giants won the National League pennant. Eventually, Dravecky would not only lose his pitching arm, but his collarbone and shoulder blade to stop the cancer and a staff infection.
He has refused to let that bad break slow him down. Now a motivational speaker, Dravecky has written two books about his battles with cancer and his comeback attempt, hoping to guide others through the struggles he had also faced. Although he was cut down in the prime of his career, Dravecky refused to allow that to define who he was, becoming a source of inspiration for others.
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Dave Dravecky’s comeback from cancer to pitch for the San Francisco Giants was an inspirational story. His ability to overcome the adversity of seeing his career end as his arm snapped on the mound, and to move forward, is also a source of inspiration for others facing their own challenges with cancer.