Phil Garner has passed away at age 76
Longtime major league player and manager Phil Garner has passed away at the age of 76
PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1977: Phil Garner #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during an Major League Baseball game circa 1977 at Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Garner played for the Pirates from 1977-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images Phil Garner, longtime major league infielder and longtime major league manager, has passed away, it was announced.
He was 76. Garner originally came up with the Oakland A’s, and in 1975 and 1976 solidified what had been an unsettled situation at second base for the A’s, including getting an All Star nod in 1976. During spring training, 1977, Garner was dealt, along with Chris Batton and Tommy Helms, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tony Armas (the Elder), Doug Bair, Rick Langford, Mitchell Page, Doc Medich and Dave Giusti.
Garner had a four-plus year run as a key part of the Pirates’ infield, highlighted by his slashing . 472/. 537/.
722 in 10 playoff games in 1979 as the We Are Family Pirates won the World Series. Garner was dealt at the end of August, 1981, to the Houston Astros for prospect Johnny Ray, with the Pirates giving up their second baseman of the present for their second baseman of the future. Garner played with the Astros until the 1987 trade deadline, when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers.