Steve Garvey

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#083c6b
bgcolor2=#083c6b
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Steve Garvey


caption=
position=First Baseman
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1948|12|22
Tampa, Florida
debutdate=September 1
debutyear=by|1969
debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
finaldate=May 23
finalyear=by|1987
finalteam=San Diego Padres
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.294
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=2,599
stat3label=Home runs
stat3value=272
teams=
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|1969-by|1982)
*San Diego Padres (by|1983-by|1987)
highlights=
* 10x All-Star selection (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985)
* World Series champion (1981)
* 4x Gold Glove Award winner (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
* 1974 NL MVP
* 2x All-Star Game MVP (1974, 1978)
* 2x NLCS MVP (1978, 1984)
* 1981 Roberto Clemente Award
* 1984 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
* San Diego Padres #6 retired

Steven Patrick Garvey (born December 22, 1948) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, and current Southern California businessman. In by|1985, Garvey established a Major League Baseball record for most consecutive errorless games by an infielder (193).cite web |title=Placido Polanco's errorless streak |work=espn.com |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2991265 |accessdate=2007-08-25] . This record stood until April 2, 2008, when it was bested by Kevin Youkilis.cite web |title=Red Sox vs. Athletics - Recap|work=espn.com |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280402111|accessdate=2008-04-02] .

Playing career

Born in Tampa, FL to parents who had recently relocated from Long Island, New York [WFAN radio interview Steve Garvey on "Mike and the Mad Dog", April 18, 2008 ] , from 1956 to 1961, Garvey was a bat boy for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. Garvey played football and baseball at Michigan State University after graduating from Chamberlain High School. 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.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Garvey was part of the most enduring infield in baseball history, along with third baseman Ron Cey, shortstop Bill Russell and second baseman Davey Lopes. The four infielders stayed together as the Dodgers' starters for eight and a half years.

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

Garvey set a National League record with 1207 consecutive games played, from September 3, by|1975, to July 29, by|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 1971 NLCS record; Jeffrey Leonard would tie the NLCS home run record in the 1987 NLCS.

In by|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".

an Diego Padres

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, by|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 wound up being named the 1984 NLCS' Most Valuable Player.

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.

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.

Currently, Garvey works as a greeter for the Los Angeles Dodgers VIP season ticket holders. He also tries to maintain a low profile by residing in Utah.

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 1990. [ [http://www.brooksinternational.com/sports/Steve_Garvey_586.htm Steve Garvey] - Brooks International Speakers & Entertainment Bureau]

In 1989, Cyndy Garvey published a tell-all book in which she revealed the details of her marriage with Steve. This included details regarding his sexual affairs. Coincidentally, two paternity suits were filed against Steve at the time, and he admitted to fathering children to two mothers. [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/10/Columns/Bryant_reminds_us_we_.shtml] - St. Petersburg Times] [ [http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940926/09240029.htm] - Virginian Pilot] . Garvey made a number of television appearances from 1977 through 2006. [ [http://www.tv.com/steve-garvey/person/1065/appearances.html TV.com - Steve Gavey television credits] ] [ [http://www.stevegarvey.com/biography.html Steve Gavey Biography] ]

ee also

* List of major league players with 2,000 hits
* MLB consecutive games played streaks

References

External links

* [http://www.stevegarvey.com/ Steve Garvey.com]
*baseball-reference|id=g/garvest01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/G/Garvey_Steve.stm Baseball Library] - biography and career highlights
* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/pp/garveysteve/ The Baseball Page] - profile and career analysis
* [http://i.cnn.net/si/si_online/covers/images/1983/0425_large.jpgGarvey's record-breaking 1,118^th cover @ Sports Illustrated (25 April 1983)]
* [http://www.thediamondangle.com/sitt/garvey.html The Diamond Angle (article), By Ken Haag with James Floto and David Marasco; should Garvey be in the Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.losangelesdodgersonline.com/stevegarvey.php Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers Online]
* [http://www.sonsofstevegarvey.com/ Sons of Steve Garvey]