Garner got his first taste of the Big Leagues with nine games, getting five plate appearances without a hit along with three strikeouts.
Nevertheless, he would go on to a very nice 16-year career as a player, along with another eight as a manager during the 1990’s and 2000’s, even guiding the Houston Astros to a National League Pennant in 2005 when they eventually lost to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
As a player, he was a part of the 1979 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates team, as well as a member of the 1973 and 1974 World Champ Oakland A’s, though not a cog or even a regular by any means.
By the time he retired after the 1988 season, the three-time All-Star finished with a career .260 average, with 1594 hits over 6136 at-bats and 1860 games.
