RIP Scrap Iron (Phil Garner)

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

https://www.mlb.com/news/phil-garner-dies-at-76

Liked him as a player, probably more so because he had a mustache like my father's. Howard Cosell used to call him a Pepperpot.

Sad week for middle infielders from the 70s.

 

[DanOregon]

I was PISSED when Finley traded him to the Pirates, but the trade brought some of the core of the Billyball teams of the early '80s with Lankford, Armas, and Mitchell Page.

Plus - involved in the rare Manager v. Manager brawl. Pretty sure it was moustache envy.

 

[mpcincal]

Sad week for middle infielders from the 70s.

Both of whom sported Major League 'staches for most of their careers.
I remember Garner when he was part of the double-play combo with Tim Foli on the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates that won the World Series.
I remember the A's and the Pirates being frequent trade partners in the '70s, and Garner was one of the guys who passed through that portal, along Tony Armas, Rick Langford, Manny Sanguillen, and even manager Chuck Tanner. [I see Dan remembers that too]
RIP to a guy who, even back in his playing days had "future MLB manager" written all over him.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Was the Tigers manager for a fleeting moment when they weren’t very good

 

[MarkWatney]

Garner managed the Tigers during the brief interlude when they weren't trying to cut payroll and go bargain basement, but they hadn't really decided to spend any money either. They had some money to spend because of the brief attendance bonanza attendant to the move to Comerica Park.

They spent the money to bring in Juan Gonzalez, and when he turned out to be only cashing paychecks, they decided to give up on paying players altogether (a decision that lasted about five years).

I got the impression Garner had come in with the impression the team was going to try to win, and got frustrated when it developed they weren't.

 

[Bubbler]

Rough week for ex-Brewers managers.

First and foremost, I also recall him being a glue guy on the ‘79 Pirates. Also an All-Star with the Astros. Always had the leader rep.

With the Brewers, for one season, he stole bases like mad and kind of unlocked the limitations of a team that was in the last hurrah of the Molitor-Yount years.

The 1992 Brewers were fun as hell and had solid pitching too. They chased the Blue Jays down to the final weekend, but fell just short. In today’s system they would have been dangerous as a wild card as they played their best baseball at the end.

Alas, the team stopped spending/trying just as Selig ascended to commissioner. Molitor left, Yount retired and the Brewers were run basically as the poster children for “small markets can’t compete”. I will always be convinced Selig kept spending low on purpose in this era for this reason.

It coincided with the rest of Garner’s regime. He never had another winning season in Milwaukee, though he dragged some pretty mediocre Brewers teams to near .500 in their last AL seasons. Always respected by his peers and scribes, I’m glad a serious organization (Houston) gave him the chance to enjoy real success. Pair Garner with today’s Brewers ownership and he would’ve thrived.

RIP.

 

[garrow]

RIP to a tough competitor.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I remember Garner from those Pirates team from back in the day. I could almost recite their lineup like I could the Big Red Machine.

 

[TigerVols]

Garner was pretty much the only former Vol worth noting in MLB before Todd Helton came around. RIP VFL.