Chili Davis grew up in Jamaica, moved to Los Angeles as a kid, and learned baseball on Southern California sandlots before becoming one of the most reliable switch hitters of his era. He debuted with the Giants as a teenager in 1981 and, remarkably, was already facing Hall of Fame pitchers before he could legally drink. By the late 1980s, he had become a central piece of the Oakland A’s powerhouse lineup, helping them win the 1989 World Series while quietly putting together one of the steadiest offensive careers of his generation.

Davis finished with 350 home runs and nearly 1,400 RBIs, numbers built on patience as much as power. He was famous for his calm at-bats and once joked that wearing down a pitcher with foul balls was just as satisfying as taking him deep. One fun twist: he was famously afraid of flying early in his career and often traveled by bus or train when possible.

After retiring, Davis became one of the most respected hitting coaches in baseball, helping stars like Aaron Judge refine their approach. His influence ended up shaping two eras instead of one.