Former three-time All-Star and longtime manager Phil Garner passed away on Saturday at age 76. A statement released by Garner’s family praised the medical care given to Garner during his fight with pancreatic cancer, and said that “Phil never lost his signature spark of life he was so well known for or his love for baseball which was with him until the end.”
Debuting with the Athletics in 1973, Garner hit .260/.323/.389 over 6136 plate appearances and 1860 games with the A’s, Pirates, Astros, Dodgers, and Giants during his 16-year career as a big league player. He became Oakland’s everyday second baseman in 1975 and received his first All-Star nod in 1976, but he was dealt after that season as part of a nine-player trade with the Pirates.
Garner played both second and third base (with some appearances at shortstop) during his four-plus years in Pittsburgh. His best season in terms of both personal and team accomplishments came in 1979, when Garner had a career-best 3.9 fWAR while hitting .293/.359/.441 with 11 homers and 17 steals for the Pirates’ World Series-winning team, which remains the last Buccos club to win a championship. Garner was a huge part of that title run, delivering a phenomenal .472/.537/.722 slash line over 41 PA during the postseason.
The Pirates traded Garner to the Astros partway through the 1981 campaign, and he went on to have several more successful years in a Houston uniform before his production declined in 1987. The Dodgers acquired Garner in a trade partway through the 1987 campaign but the change of scenery didn’t spark his bat, and Garner then played 15 games with the Giants over his final year as a player.
Garner’s gritty and grinding playing style made him a fan favorite, and perhaps all you need to know about Garner is that he was known as “Scrap Iron,” a nickname coined by former Pirates announcer Milo Hamilton. The blunt and tough-but-fair approach stuck with Garner in his post-playing days, as he went onto a successful second career as a manager over 15 seasons with the Brewers, Tigers, and back in Houston with the Astros.
As a skipper, Garner posted a 985-1054 career record, beginning with a 92-win season as Milwaukee’s manager in 1992. This was the only winning record Garner would post in eight seasons with the Brewers and three seasons in Detroit (from 2000-02), but he broke through in 2004 after being hired to take over an Astros team that had a 44-44 record.
Houston went 48-26 the rest of the way under Garner, and fell just short of a World Series appearance after losing the NLCS to the Cardinals in a memorable seven-game battle. The Astros beat St. Louis in a rematch the next season for the first pennant in Houston franchise history, though the Astros were swept by the White Sox in the World Series.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Garner’s family, friends, and many fans.
Loved that mustache back in the day! RIP.
Rest in peace, Scrap Iron.
That was a great nickname.
Pancreatic cancer is tough. My brother lost his battle with it last year on Father’s Day after 4 1/2 years. 51 years old.
It’s been a rough last 12 months for some of us old Bucco fans. Cobra, Maz and now Scrap Iron!! RIP Mr. Garner.
Saw him play for Phoenix Firebirds in ‘88
I don’t recall why he was at AAA then
Rehab from serious back surgery. Played a bit for SF but couldn’t play to his expectations then retired.
RIP Phil Garner.
Phoenix was the Giants AAA team in 1988. He played in 15 games for the big league Giants as per the article, but also 17 for the Firebirds per Baseball Reference.
RIP PG…you’ll always be remembered as being part of some great Pirates teams!
Good Ballplayer- The nickname fit. RIP sir!
Remember Phil Garner well. Sad to see him pass so young. RIP. Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP Scrap-iron
My memory isn’t what it used to be but didn’t he used to dig graves with Richie Hebner to keep in shape in the off season? Or am I totally off base on that one? Thought somebody used to do that with Hebner.
You might be right about another player, but I don’t think that Garner and Hebner ever played together so I would be surprised if he was who you were thinking of. Phil’s first season as a Bucs was ‘77, and he essentially replaced Hebner at 3B; Richie left the Bucs in free agency for the Phillies after the ‘76 season.
Back week for former Brewers managers.
The ’92 Brewers were one of my favorite teams in history. RIP Scrap Iron.
Baseball lover. I only remember him as a manager.
He lived a life he loved.
RIP.
Scrap Iron was a 1979 World Champion.
As a Tigers fan, he’s one of my favorite managers regardless of the level of success achieved in Detroit. He didn’t have much to work with here but did it with class and confidence. Rest in Peace.
Rest in paradise Phil.
One of my favorite players from back in the 80s. He put up solid numbers and always gave it his all when he was playing.
One of my all time favorites!! He was fun to watch and I loved his years coaching Houston! RIP Scrap Iron!
One of the first favorite Pirates, one of the best nicknames ever, and a seriously great mustache to boot. Good player and IMO underrated manager; he did a lot with the talent he was given, just like as a player.
R.I.P.