2025 Classic Baseball Era Committee Candidate: Steve Garvey

The next article is a part of a sequence regarding the 2025 Basic Baseball Period Committee poll, overlaying long-retired gamers, managers, executives, and umpires whose candidacies shall be voted upon on December 8. First written for FanGraphs in 2019, it has been up to date with further analysis. For an introduction to the poll, see right here, and for an introduction to JAWS, see right here. All WAR figures seek advice from the Baseball-Reference model until in any other case indicated.

From his matinee-idol attractiveness as he crammed out his pink, white, and Dodger blue uniform to the round-numbered triple-crown stats on the again of his baseball card, Steve Garvey seemed like a Corridor of Famer within the making for a lot of his 19-year enjoying profession (1969–87). A remarkably constant and sturdy participant, he had a clockwork capacity to rap out 200 hits, bat .300 with 20 homers, and drive in 100 runs, all whereas sustaining perfectly-coiffed hair and by no means lacking a sport. He holds the NL report for consecutive video games performed (1,207 from September 3, 1975, to July 29, 1983), a streak that’s nonetheless the majors’ fourth-longest after these of Cal Ripken Jr., Lou Gehrig, and Everett Scott. A ten-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, two-time NLCS MVP, and the 1974 common season NL MVP, he was essentially the most adorned member of the Dodgers’ legendary Longest-Working Infield. He was an All-Star in every of the eight full seasons (1974–81) he spent enjoying alongside second baseman Davey Lopes, shortstop Invoice Russell, and third baseman Ron Cey, a unit that helped energy the crew to 4 pennants and a championship. After transferring from Los Angeles to San Diego, Garvey made two extra All-Star groups whereas serving to the Padres to their first pennant.

As the preferred participant on my favourite childhood crew, and the one who appeared to shine most brightly on the most important levels, Garvey felt bigger than life. An Adidas poster of him standing upon what was alleged to be the moon, captioned, “The tougher you hit it, the additional it goes,” held on the wall of my youthful brother’s bed room. But once I started studying Invoice James within the early Nineteen Eighties, I used to be struck by the extent to which the brand new numbers took Garvey down a peg — although to be honest, he’d entered his mid-30s having already begun his decline, postseason heroics apart.

Likewise, once I started writing concerning the Corridor of Fame in early 2002, Garvey’s lack of traction on the poll in his 9 earlier tries stood out. After debuting with 41.6% on the 1993 poll, he topped out at 42.6% two years later, and by the tip of his run was all the way down to 21.1%. The offensive increase of the Nineties and 2000s had made his stats seem much less spectacular, with the rising sabermetric motion underscoring that standpoint. However that plunge additionally owed lots to the high-profile off-field points that punctured Garvey’s All-American aura, together with a really messy private life (as Rick Reilly summarized in 1989, “Within the house of eight months, he had affairs with three ladies without delay, impregnated two and married a fourth”) and monetary woes that forestalled his political ambitions till this 12 months. Earlier this week, operating because the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the loss of life of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the 75-year-old Garvey misplaced decisively to Democratic Consultant Adam Schiff, 57.6% to 42.4% at this writing.

After getting older off the BBWAA poll, Garvey is now on his fifth Period Committee look up to now decade and a half. He’s by no means come near being elected earlier than, and it seems like we’re due for a repeat of that historical past given the presence of stronger candidates who’ve come a lot nearer to being enshrined. It’s tough to see him as greater than a bystander on this poll, albeit one who might play the spoiler by siphoning off a couple of votes.

Steven Patrick Garvey was born in Tampa, Florida on December 22, 1948 to transplanted Lengthy Islanders Joe and Mildred Garvey. After serving within the Navy throughout World Struggle II, Joe started driving buses for Greyhound in 1955, and the very subsequent 12 months, he was assigned to drive constitution buses for the defending world champions at their Vero Seashore spring coaching base. He organized for his seven-year-old son to function a bat boy for the crew, a place younger Steve occupied for the following six springs.

Rising up, Garvey idolized first baseman Gil Hodges and dreamed of enjoying for Los Angeles. Although small for a highschool athlete (5-foot-7, 165 kilos; he would develop to 5-foot-10, 192 kilos), he excelled at baseball and soccer at Tampa’s Chamberlain Excessive Faculty. Bypassing an opportunity to hitch the Twins after being drafted within the third spherical in 1966, he drew a scholarship to Michigan State College.

In 1968, the Dodgers selected Garvey — then a 3rd baseman — within the first spherical of the secondary section of the June draft, for earlier draftees who hadn’t signed; two rounds later, they added Cey. They’d already drafted Lopes and pitcher Geoff Zahn within the secondary section of that 12 months’s January draft, in addition to infielder Bobby Valentine, first baseman Invoice Buckner, outfielders Tom Paciorek and Joe Ferguson, and pitcher Doyle Alexander within the major June draft. All of these gamers would go on to substantial main league careers save for Valentine (whom accidents derailed) making that the most important draft haul within the historical past of the game, with MLB.com’s Jim Callis counting 23 All-Star appearances and 234.8 WAR amongst them.

Garvey, Buckner, Paciorek, and Valentine started their skilled careers enjoying collectively in 1968 below future Dodgers supervisor Tommy Lasorda for the crew’s rookie-level affiliate in Ogden, Utah. Garvey tore up the league, homering 20 instances and slugging .699 in 62 video games, however it was Valentine who gained league MVP honors. After hitting .373/.396/.576 for Double-A Albuquerque in 1969, Garvey received a quick cup of espresso with the Dodgers, accumulating a single off the Astros’ Denny Lemaster on September 10, his solely hit in three plate appearances that month. He performed 34 video games for the Dodgers in 1970 after spending a lot of the season at Triple-A Spokane, once more below Lasorda and alongside Buckner, Paciorek and Valentine in addition to Russell and Lopes. He reached the majors for good the next 12 months, however defensive woes at third base, together with 42 errors in 164 video games in 1971-72, doomed him to part-time standing and led the Dodgers to briefly experiment with him in left subject.

Garvey continued to journey the pine by the primary two and a half months of the 1973 season, whereas Cey took over third base; on the time, Buckner was enjoying first. Within the second sport of a June 23 doubleheader, supervisor Walter Alston wrote Garvey in as the primary baseman; he went 2-for-4 with a double in a 5-1 win over the Reds, and the Longest Working Infield started its reign, whereas Buckner — who had urged the place swap to Alston, recalling the teammates’ time at Albuquerque — settled in left subject thereafter. Garvey hit .304/.328/.438 (115 OPS+) that 12 months, his first of seven instances batting .300 or higher. He began the 1974 season so sizzling that regardless of not being listed on the All-Star poll, he beat out Tony Perez by almost 20,000 votes as a part of a write-in marketing campaign, then gained All-Star MVP honors by going 2-for-4 with a game-tying double off Luis Tiant.

Garvey completed the season with 200 hits, the primary of six instances he would attain that plateau, gained his first of 4 consecutive Gold Gloves, and took residence NL MVP honors with a .312/.342/.469 line, 21 homers, 111 RBI, a 130 OPS+, and 4.4 WAR; of these numbers, solely his batting common (seventh), slugging proportion (fourth), and RBI whole (third) cracked the highest 10. The Dodgers gained 102 video games and their first NL West title, beating out the Reds — as in, the Massive Purple Machine starring Perez, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose — for the one time within the 1972–76 span. Garvey hit .385/.400/.564 within the postseason, highlighted by a two-homer, four-hit efficiency within the clinching Recreation 4 of the NLCS. Regardless of going 8-for-21 within the World Sequence, he drove in only one run and scored two because the Dodgers fell to the A’s in 5 video games.

From 1974-80, the ever-dependable Garvey hit .311/.348/.480 whereas averaging 23 homers and 104 RBI. His triple crown numbers positioned him among the many sport’s elite; his 730 RBI for the span ranked second (two ribbies behind Mike Schmidt), his batting common sixth, and his 130 homers twelfth. By a extra fashionable reckoning, nevertheless, his 130 OPS+ was simply twenty fourth for the interval, and his 28.7 WAR (4.1 per 12 months) twentieth. Extra on that juxtaposition under.

Garvey helped the Dodgers surpass the getting older Reds to not solely win the NL West in 1977 and ’78, Lasorda’s first two years on the helm, however to win pennants as properly, although they fell to the Yankees within the World Sequence every time. He set a profession excessive with 33 homers in 1977, when he was joined by Cey (30), Dusty Baker, (30), and Reggie Smith (32) as the primary quartet of teammates to achieve 30 homers in a season. In 1978, Garvey turned the primary participant to win All-Star MVP honors a second time, a part of a exceptional observe report within the Midsummer Basic; in 10 video games, he hit .393/.433/.821 with two doubles, two triples, and a homer in 30 PA.

For as common as Garvey was turning into, he drew the resentment of his teammates, who felt that he was judgmental of them in his abstinence from smoking and consuming, and hungry for the highlight in order to generate endorsement alternatives. Issues got here to a head on August 20, 1978, when Garvey was concerned in a extremely publicized clubhouse tussle with teammate (and future Corridor of Famer) Don Sutton within the wake of the pitcher’s public feedback concerning the first baseman. “All you hear about on our crew is Steve Garvey, the All-American boy. Nicely, the most effective participant on this crew for the final two years — and everyone knows it — is Reggie Smith. As Reggie goes, so goes us,” he instructed the Washington Put up’s Thomas Boswell, referring to the crew’s slugging proper fielder (legitimately a stronger hitter by about 30 to 40 factors of OPS+). “Reggie’s not a facade or a Madison Avenue picture,” added Sutton, apparently referring to Garvey.

Garvey waited till after Sutton’s subsequent flip within the rotation, then confronted him within the Shea Stadium customer’s locker room. The verbal battle escalated when, irritated by the way in which Garvey was jabbing his finger into his chest, Sutton made a comment concerning the first baseman’s spouse, Cyndy. The 2 gamers scuffled, with Garvey struggling facial scratches and Sutton a bruised cheek. Sutton apologized publicly, however Garvey refused to simply accept, saying he by no means apologized personally.

The combat — termed “The Grapple within the Apple” — occurred simply because the Dodgers had moved into first place within the NL West. It didn’t derail them. Garvey went on to win NLCS MVP honors by hitting 4 homers and driving in seven runs in 4 video games towards the Phillies, however the Yankees restricted him to simply 5 hits, together with a double, and nil RBI within the six-game World Sequence.

Garvey’s efficiency started to slide after 1978; although he hit .300 two extra instances, his OPS+ declined, and he by no means topped 3.0 WAR once more. He hit a modest .283/.322/.411 (110 OPS+) with 10 homers within the strike-shortened 1981 season, although he once more sparkled in October (.359/.379/.547, together with a team-high 10 hits within the World Sequence however with no single RBI, once more) whereas serving to the Dodgers beat the Yankees to say their first championship in 16 years. The Longest Working Infield broke up after that triumph when Lopes was traded to the A’s; Garvey himself would spend only one extra 12 months in Los Angeles, slipping to a 101 OPS+ and 1.9 WAR in 1982 earlier than reaching free company.

Regardless of his decline, it rated as a shock when the Padres outbid the Dodgers’ four-year, $6 million provide by providing the 34-year-old Garvey 5 years and $6.6 million. He donned the brown and yellow uniform, joked that he “seemed like a taco,” and rebounded to his strongest offensive efficiency since 1980 (.294/.344/.459, 124 OPS+), although his season and his consecutive sport streak resulted in late July because of a damaged left thumb. In his Baseball Summary 1984, James, who ranked Garvey 14th out of 26 first basemen, wrote of him, “[D]oesn’t have Grade An influence, grounds into numerous double performs, by no means walks, hasn’t hit .300 for 3 years… he may do issues that can provide help to promote tickets. Personally, I want gamers who do issues that can provide help to win ballgames.”

Till 1984, the Padres had been afterthoughts within the NL West race. Of their first 15 years of existence (beginning in 1969), that they had completed above .500 simply as soon as, going 84-78 (.519) in 1978, although they eked out 81-81 data in each ’82 and ’83. With Garvey and former Yankees nemeses Wealthy Gossage and Graig Nettles enjoying the sage veterans to kids like Tony Gwynn and Kevin McReynolds, issues got here collectively for the Padres in 1984, as they gained 92 video games and their first NL West title.

Whereas Garvey made the All-Star crew that 12 months thanks partially to the favored notion of his work, which included a .284 batting common and 86 RBI, he slipped to only a 91 OPS+ through a .307 OBP and .373 SLG, with eight homers and a puny 0.4 WAR. He got here to life within the postseason, nevertheless, once more profitable NLCS MVP honors by hitting .400/.429/.600 towards the Cubs, highlighted by a four-hit, five-RBI Recreation 4 that was capped by a walk-off two-run homer towards Lee Smith.

[Update: As one reader pointed out, Garvey rose to the occasion off the field during the NLCS as well. After Game 1, the Hartford Courant’s Claire Smith — a pioneer who in covering the Yankees became the game’s first female beat reporter and would later become the first woman to win the Spink Award — was barred from the Padres’ locker room at Wrigley Field by manager Dick Williams. In those days, AL teams had no access restrictions, but NL teams were allowed to set their own policy, and the Padres’ lagged behind the curve. Without access to the players, Smith was unable to conduct interviews for her story. Garvey, upon learning what was transpiring, stepped out of the locker room, told her, ““You’ve got to pull yourself together. You’ve got a job to do,” and gave her the interview she needed. The next day, the league intervened to ensure further access for all reporters.]

The Padres gained the NLCS in 5 video games, sending to them to their first World Sequence, however the Tigers cooled them off. Garvey was held to a .200/.200/.300 line in 21 PA throughout their five-game defeat.

Garvey rebounded considerably (109 OPS+, 1.6 WAR) in 1985 as he made his remaining All-Star crew, however he pale the next 12 months. A torn left biceps tendon sapped his energy and restricted him to simply 27 video games in 1987, his final 12 months below contract. After present process surgical procedure, he determined to retire on the age of 39.

Garvey spent his profession doing the issues that are likely to impress Corridor of Fame voters; he made 10 All-Star groups, gained 4 Gold Gloves and an MVP award, drove in 100 or extra runs 5 instances, hit 20 or extra homers six instances (however topped 30 solely as soon as) and performed a distinguished function on 5 pennant winners, batting .338/.361/.550 with 11 homers and 31 RBI within the postseason. Because of all that, he scores 131 on James’ Corridor of Fame Monitor, which measures how doubtless (however not how deserving) a participant is to be elected by awarding factors for numerous honors, league leads, postseason efficiency and so forth — the issues that are likely to catch voters’ eyes — marking him as “a digital cinch.”

Garvey fares far much less properly through the superior stats. Amongst gamers who amassed no less than 7,000 plate look and spent no less than half their careers at first base, his 117 OPS+ is tied for 52nd with Wally Joyner, Jake Daubert, and Ron Pretty, none of whom have been mistaken for a Corridor of Famer. He ranked amongst his league’s prime 10 in WAR simply twice, topped 5.0 WAR simply as soon as (5.1 in 1975), and 4.0 WAR simply three further instances. For as spectacular as his batting averages had been, his 5.1% stroll price restricted his on-base percentages; his .329 profession mark is only one level above the park-adjusted league common for his time.

Garvey ranks simply 53rd in WAR and 51st in JAWS amongst first basemen, properly under the place his extra underrated teammates Cey, Lopes and Smith sit at their respective positions. From among the many 25 non-Negro Leagues enshrinees at first base, his JAWS outranks simply two dreadful Veterans Committee picks, Jim Bottomley (35.8/29.6/32.7, 57th) and Excessive Pockets Kelly (25.4/24.1/24.8, 97th). Word that the Corridor customary has dipped a bit since his final look, on the 2020 Fashionable Baseball Period Committee poll, through the elections of a blended bag of first basemen together with Hodges:

Garvey moreover has the bottom JAWS of the six non-Negro Leagues gamers on the Basic Baseball poll, and the most important hole between his JAWS and the place customary — a full 20 factors. His postseason performances are value one thing… however not sufficient to considerably shut the hole.

When he first turned eligible on the 1993 BBWAA poll, Garvey pulled a stable 41.6%. Whereas that will not appear notably spectacular, it’s the very best share of the vote by any post-1966 first 12 months candidate who has accomplished his run on the writers’ poll and has but to get elected, both by the writers or a small committee. He inherited that mantle from Lee Smith, who acquired 42.3% in his 2003 poll debut however wasn’t elected till 2019. Carlos Beltrán pulled forward of Garvey in 2023, when he acquired 46.5%; whereas he has but to get elected, he shot to 57.1% in his second 12 months of eligibility, and nonetheless has one other eight through the writers — suggesting this distinction could revert to Garvey quickly sufficient.

Garvey merely couldn’t marshal a lot in the way in which of additional assist from the writers, topping 40% simply two different instances, with a excessive of 42.6% in 1995. The popularization of superior stats and their gradual absorption into Corridor of Fame debates didn’t assist his trigger; as an alternative, they dulled the superficial sheen of his conventional numbers.

So have the off-field points that ran counter to his squeaky clear picture, together with a extremely publicized cut up with spouse Cyndy in 1981, a number of affairs and youngsters out of wedlock, together with a paternity swimsuit in 1989 (yielding everlasting zingers like “Steve Garvey is just not my Padre,” quickly popularized on bumper stickers), and power monetary woes that thwarted his post-career political ambitions and turned him right into a punch line. Though a few of this — together with his marital troubles, and widespread resentment amongst his Dodgers teammates, culminating within the scrap with Sutton – surfaced throughout his profession, his fall from grace after he hung up his spikes was unhappy and gorgeous. It’s not all behind him both; in February, when his determination to run for the Senate got here to mild, three of his kids — one from his marriage to Cyndy, two from subsequent affairs — instructed reporters that he had lower off all contact with them, with one saying that amid his monetary setbacks, he had “unilaterally” lower his baby assist funds in half.

None of that considerably sordid litany is especially disqualifying almost about the Corridor of Fame, which already incorporates greater scoundrels. For as a lot as these things has served as a reminder of the distinction between the floor veneer of Garvey’s profession and the truth — each almost about his public picture and his statistics — his very public struggles, which additionally embrace his being fired from a advertising and neighborhood relations job with the Dodgers by proprietor Frank McCourt after he explored shopping for the crew from the bankrupt (in each sense of the phrase) proprietor and a 2013 battle with prostate most cancers, have humanized a participant who was generally thought of robotic.

In 2019, Garvey was honored as a part of the inaugural Legends of Dodger Baseball class together with Don Newcombe and Fernando Valenzuela. That’s in all probability as excessive because it goes for him, as by now it’s hardly a shock that he has but to be elected to the Corridor. He’s landed on ballots every time he’s been eligible in the course of the Period Committee cycles, specifically the 2011 and ’14 Growth Period ballots in addition to the ’18 and ’20 Fashionable Baseball ones, and this one. Till 2020, when he acquired 37.5% of the vote, he had by no means damaged out of the “acquired fewer than” group, the candidates whose precise ranges of assist are obscured when the totals are introduced in order to keep away from embarrassing anybody (a few of these cutoffs have truly been increased than his 2020 share). Arguably, his spot on the poll might be put to higher use for a extra neglected candidate, whether or not it’s one other modern who outperformed him on the premise of superior stats (Bobby Grich, eighth in JAWS at second base) or somebody of a lot better historic significance (Curt Flood). From baseball’s All-American to poll ballast, it’s been fairly a journey, however maybe we lastly have the participant and the person within the correct perspective.