Phil Garner, a three-time MLB All-Star and former player and manager, has passed away at the age of 76 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. His family announced his death on April 11, and former teams have paid tribute to him.
Phil Garner
Credit: ustin K. Aller/Getty
Phil Garner, the former Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros infielder, has died at age 76.
His family confirmed in a statement, via MLB.com, that he died on Saturday, April 11 in The Woodlands, Texas, "surrounded by family and love after a two-plus-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
"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," the statement continued, his family also thanking the medical professionals who cared for him during his illness.
His former teams also lined up to pay their respects. The Houston Astros paid tribute in a social media post, with owner and chairman Jim Crane saying that Garner's "contributions to the Houston Astros, the city of Houston and to the game of baseball will not be forgotten."
The Pittsburgh Pirates, meanwhile, described him as a "beloved member of the Pirates family" in an X post, and the Milwaukee Brewers, who he managed for seven years, described him as a "very highly respected and beloved individual who was known for his caring nature, wisdom and sense of humor" on the social media platform.
Garner was born on April 30, 1949 in Jefferson City, Tenn. and attended the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship, per The Athletic. He made his professional debut for the Oakland Athletics in 1973 and played for the team until 1976, according to ESPN.
The infielder, who was nicknamed "Scrap-Iron" for his gritty, no-nonsense style of play, then played for the Pirates from 1977 to 1981, winning the 1979 World Series. He then represented the Astros from 1981 to 1987 before shorter stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, ESPN reported.
Garner then went into management, first with the Brewers from 1992 to 1999 before joining the Detroit Tigers and then the Astros, leading them to the 2005 World Series, MLB.com reported.
The Astros honored the three-time MLB All-Star last year, for his 76th birthday, when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game. "Astros legends in the house!" an Instagram post read. "Thrilled to have Phil Garner throw out today’s Ceremonial First Pitch to Roger Clemens."
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Garner is survived by his wife, Carol; two sons, Eric and Tyler; and a daughter, Bethany. He had six grandchildren.
Read the original article on People
Phil Garner died from pancreatic cancer after a two-year battle with the disease.
Phil Garner played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros during his MLB career.
Phil Garner passed away on April 11 at the age of 76.
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