Dravecky enters Bay Area HOF

May 3, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Boardman native Dave Dravecky was one of the five inductees on Thursday at the 40th annual Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame enshrinement at San Francisco’s Westin St. Francis Hotel.

“This is truly an amazing honor for me because I played just 27 total games for the San Francisco Giants,” Dravecky said from his home in San Francisco. “I got a call about three months ago from my boss, Mario Alioto, informing me of the great news and I was ecstatic.

“This hall of fame is about more than your playing career,” the former Youngstown State University player said. “It’s also about what you have done beyond your playing or coaching days and that is why this award is so humbling for me.”

The Bay Area HOF goal is to enshrine great athletes of the Bay Area and assist kids playing sports.

Dravecky, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978 and played for the San Diego Padres and Giants from 1982-89, was joined this year by professional tennis player and coach Brad Gilbert (Oakland native), former U. of California and NBA player-coach Jason Kidd, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Keena Turner and Stanford head women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer.

“My wife Jan, and I, just moved to the city and it’s an absolutely beautiful place to live,” Dravecky said. “We’ve met some amazing people already and as an ambassador for the club, I get to visit stadium suites on game days, tell stories, sign autographs, take photos and reminisce.”

For the past 28 years, the Draveckys have been involved in their ministry, Endurance with Jan and Dave Dravecky.

“We come alongside people who hurt, mostly cancer patients but others who perhaps lost a limb and are struggling,” said Dravecky, who lost his arm to cancer. “We are there for comfort, encouragement and hope and send encouragement gift boxes as well.”