Former San Francisco Giants left-hander Dave Dravecky throws out the first pitch at an Aurora baseball event last week. He was in town for a three-day community service event at First Presbyterian Church and also gave three talks about his life, losing an arm to cancer and his successful recovery. (Photo courtesy Robin Renner).

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky spent a whirlwind weekend in Aurora talking about pain, recovery and Christian values.

But he also had a meaningful encounter at an Aurora park, meeting a young man who in many ways was just like him.

“He had a deformed right hand, it was a birth defect,” said Dravecky, a participant and keynote speaker for a three-day series of community events sponsored by an Aurora congregation. “He was so ashamed talking about this. It was the coolest encounter because, after all, he was looking at me going ‘Dude, I don’t have it as bad as you do.’

“We got engaged in this wonderful, wonderful conversation and as long as I live, I will never forget it.”

Dravecky lost his left arm and shoulder to cancer at the height of his Major League Baseball career. He’s now a Giants team ambassador while also separately traveling the country sharing his story and the role of faith in his recovery and current life.

Now 59, Dravecky typically makes one-day appearances at corporate or nonprofit events. But for Aurora’s First Presbyterian Church he made a full three-day commitment.

“The desire in our hearts should be to take (God’s) love outside the walls of the church and share it in the community,” he said. “I think that’s the beauty of the Christian faith. Oftentimes is gets misunderstand in the wake of the political debate and that arena.

“That’s what First Presbyterian wants to display here in this community. … It starts with understanding God’s love for us and share with others.”

Dravecky lent his support to the congregation’s volunteer efforts while also participating in a free baseball clinic at Solfisburg Park last Saturday.

He spent eight seasons in the major leagues, posting a 64-57 record and 3.13 earned run average. Dravecky broke in with San Diego in 1982 and was a member of the Padres’ 1984 National League East champion and first World Series qualifier.

He joined the Giants in 1987. A cancerous tumor was discovered in his pitching arm the next year, which was later removed. He made a triumphant return on Aug. 10, 1989 and pitched eight innings in a 4-3 victory over Cincinnati.

But five days later in Montreal, Dravecky’s humerus bone in his left arm snapped and ended his season and, ultimately, his career. Later X-rays revealed a tumor had returned and by 1999 his left arm and shoulder were both amputated.

Dravecky said the cancer has not returned.

“It’s been 24 years,” he said.

Dravecky’s appearance was part of First Presbyterian’s Mission Aurora community service weekend.

Congregation members volunteered at a food pantry and homeless shelter, visited seniors at home or in care facilities, worked at a charity resale school and helped out at the baseball camp.

Others were active in ministry, offering pregnancy counseling and services and preparing for upcoming Vacation Bible School through work inside the church as well as neighborhood solicitations.

“It was our opportunity to partner with our community and basically get our folks out of the pews and into the community to share our love of Jesus,” said Pastor Jeff Moore.

Now in its second year, Moore wants the effort to grow beyond an annual event to year-round outreach.

“We want to have sustainable relationships,” he said. “We don’t want it to be a weekend or a week. We want it to be a lifestyle.”

Last week marked Dravecky’s second visit to Aurora. He appeared at a 2002 Neuqua Valley High School baseball fundraising banquet. Robin Renner, the Wildcats varsity baseball coach then and now, helped arranged Dravecky’s return.

— Former MLB star Dravecky talks recovery, values during  Aurora visit —