Steve Garvey

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Steve Garvey
First Baseman
Born: December 22 1948 (1948-12-22) (age 60)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1969
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Final game
May 23, 1987
for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics
AVG     .294
Hits     2599
HR     272
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Steven Patrick Garvey (born December 22, 1948) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, and current Southern California businessman. In 1985, Garvey established a Major League Baseball record for most consecutive errorless games by an infielder (193).[1]

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Image:Steve garvey hits.jpg
Steve Garvey at bat in the mid-1970s against Cincinnati, in Dodger Stadium

Born in Tampa, FL, Garvey played football and baseball at Michigan State University. Garvey played his entire career in the National League West for two teams; the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-82) and the San Diego Padres (1983-87). He batted right and threw right. In a 19-year career, Garvey was a .294 hitter with 272 home runs and 1308 RBI in 2332 games played. Garvey was part of the longest starting infield to play together with Ron Cey, Bill Russell and Davey Lopes.

Garvey is one of only two players to have started an All-Star Game as a write-in vote, doing so in 1974.

Garvey set a National League record with 1207 consecutive games played, from September 3, 1975, to July 29, 1983. The streak ended when he broke his thumb in a collision at home plate against the Atlanta Braves.

In the 1978 National League Championship Series, Garvey hit four home runs, and added a double for five extra base hits, both marks tying Bob Robertson's NLCS record (1971). Jeffrey Leonard would hit four in the 1987 NLCS.

In 1981, at a point in his career when it looked like he would one day rank among the game's all-time greats, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time.

On his first trip to Los Angeles as a Padre, he took out a full-page newspaper ad thanking fans for their past support.

On October 6, 1984, during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, Garvey hit a two-run walk-off home run off of Lee Smith in the 9th inning to give the Padres a 7 to 5 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The next day, the Padres won the National League pennant for the first time in franchise history.

Garvey's jersey #6, worn when he was both a Padre and Dodger is retired by the Padres. His number 6 was displayed at the site of his 1984 NLCS home run in right field at Qualcomm Stadium.

[edit] Post-baseball career

Since 1988, he has been running Garvey Communications, mainly involved in television production, including infomercials. He is also the host of Baseball's Greatest Games. In addition he is hired out to do motivational speaking, mainly for corporations.

[edit] Personal

Garvey has been married twice. He was married to Cyndy Garvey from 1971 to 1983. He is currently married to the former Candace Thomas since 1987.[2]

Currently, Garvey works as a greeter for the Los Angeles Dodgers VIP season ticket holders.

Image:SteveGarvey.jpg
Steve Garvey, 2006, taken by Phil Konstantin

[edit] Controversy

During his playing career, Garvey was widely admired for his gentlemanly qualities on and off the field. Shortly after his retirement, however, his image was tarnished when he publicly admitted fathering two children out of wedlock — by two women.[3] More recently, Garvey has been accused of failing to pay a number of personal and professional debts, including child support. [4]

[edit] Trivia

  • Lindsay (California) Junior High School was renamed Steve Garvey Junior High School in 1977.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Placido Polanco's errorless streak. espn.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
  2. ^ Steve Garvey - Brooks International Speakers & Entertainment Bureau
  3. ^ Bryant reminds us we...
  4. ^ Mr. Clean in Trouble Again

[edit] External links

ja:スティーブ・ガービー

pl:Steve Garvey

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