In May 1997, Davis was diagnosed with colon cancer. By September, while he was still in treatment, Davis returned to the team. Cancer treatment left him tired, but he worked hard to regain his form and was well enough to hit a game-winning home run in the 1997 American League Championship Series. After the season, he was given the Roberto Clemente Award. He serves as an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.