Thomas Davis

1937 - 2025

Thomas "Tommy" Francis Davis.

Birth: 1937.

Death: 2025.

Thomas "Tommy" Francis Davis, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on November 27, 2025. A longtime resident of Livermore and Ripon, California, Tom was born in Grass Valley before his family moved to Oakland as a young boy. He would graduate from St. Elizabeth High School, where he first revealed the competitive spirit and athletic talent that would guide so much of his life, excelling as a three-sport athlete.

After serving his country in the United States Army, Tom graduated from San Francisco State University and played on the SFSU baseball team. He began his professional career in education as a teacher and would eventually earn a master's degree from Cal State Hayward and move into high school administration as a principal. His dedication to young people extended well beyond the classroom. A gifted and passionate coach, he led football and baseball programs first at St. Vincent High School in Vallejo and later at Livermore High School. As head football coach at Livermore, he guided his teams to back-to-back league championships in 1971 and 1972 and developed a deep love for helping players and fellow coaches reach their potential. He was inducted into the Livermore Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.

That commitment to growth, competition, and mentorship led Tom into what became a remarkable, decades-long career as a professional baseball scout. For over 45 years, and across five major league organizations, he earned a reputation as a respected evaluator–known widely and affectionately throughout the game as "Tommy." His many awards included being named West Coast Scout of the Year by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation in 2010.

Tom built an amazing professional network, shaped by his strengths as an honest, genuine communicator, and he loved connecting players with coaching staffs where he believed they could best develop. He identified talent for his organizations' farm systems and was admired not only for his ability to locate and project the talent and intangibles of emerging players, but also for the way he supported and advised countless scouts, coaches, and athletes. His influence extended far beyond the ballparks he visited.

In retirement, Tom continued to pour his heart into the game and kids he loved by offering instruction, guidance, and encouragement to the high school baseball community in Ripon and other Northern California cities. He enjoyed seeing young players unlock their talents and love for the game. He was a caring friend to all, keeping relationships strong throughout the years and helping those who faced health-related or other challenging circumstances.

Tom is survived by his wife, Carolyn, a loving and supportive partner throughout their life together; his son, Jim and wife Patty, daughter Karen and husband Jon, and daughter Jennifer; Carolyn's son Jeff and wife Andrea, daughter Kristi and husband Brian, and son Steve; along with a total of eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched–as a teacher, coach, scout, mentor, and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony for Tom is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. on January 30, 2026 at the Big League Dreams sports park in Manteca, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Northern California Scouts Association (NCSA), a non-profit group of MLB scouts focused on community outreach, conducting baseball clinics, and supporting local baseball.