Gene Garber
Encyclopedia
Henry Eugene Garber is a former sidearm
relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the 20th round of the amateur draft, and pitched for the Pirates, the Kansas City Royals
, the Philadelphia Phillies
, and the Atlanta Braves
.
Upon his retirement in , his 931 career pitching appearances ranked 5th in major league history, trailing Hoyt Wilhelm
(1070), Kent Tekulve
(1013), Lindy McDaniel
(987), and Rollie Fingers
(944).
In 1977, he won his only postseason game. He was the first Philadelphia Phillie to win a postseason game for 62 years: this is a major league record for any team.
On August 1, 1978 just after being traded from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Pete Rose
was on his famous hitting streak
but was hitless going into the 9th. In dramatic fashion, Garber, on a 2-2 change-up ended Rose's hitting streak at 44 consecutive games.
Garber ranks second on the Atlanta Braves all time save list, behind John Smoltz.
His most effective pitch was a change-up, which he effectively delivered from an unusual, herky-jerky motion, turning his back to the batter before delivering the ball in a side-arm, "submarine-style" manner.
His best season came for the 1982 Atlanta Braves
' National League West-division winning team. He recorded a career-high 30 saves, along with a 9-10 won-lost record, and finished seventh in the Cy Young Award
balloting.
In 1979, for the Braves, he recorded 25 saves, but also 16 losses, an unusually high number for a closer
.
Garber is a farmer in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
, where he and his sons raise poultry for eggs, Emu for "Emu Oil" and grow corn, wheat, soybeans and barley. Prior to the 2009 season, he was invited by the Braves to be a guest instructor for a week during spring training, working with fellow side-armer Peter Moylan
.
Garber was formerly the Chairman of the Lancaster County Agricultural Preservation Board and is a member of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, which combined have protected more than 1,000 farms and 75000 acres (303.5 km²) of farmland from development, more than any other county in the United States
He is a 1969 graduate of Elizabethtown College
.
Sidearm
In baseball, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis ....
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the 20th round of the amateur draft, and pitched for the Pirates, the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Upon his retirement in , his 931 career pitching appearances ranked 5th in major league history, trailing Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....
(1070), Kent Tekulve
Kent Tekulve
Kenton Charles Tekulve is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched for three different teams, but spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
(1013), Lindy McDaniel
Lindy McDaniel
Lyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy is a right-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games , had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers...
(987), and Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
(944).
In 1977, he won his only postseason game. He was the first Philadelphia Phillie to win a postseason game for 62 years: this is a major league record for any team.
On August 1, 1978 just after being traded from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
was on his famous hitting streak
Hitting streak
In baseball, a hitting streak refers to the number of consecutive official games in which a player gets at least one base hit.According to the Official Baseball Rules, such a streak is ended when a player has at least 1 plate appearance and no hits...
but was hitless going into the 9th. In dramatic fashion, Garber, on a 2-2 change-up ended Rose's hitting streak at 44 consecutive games.
Garber ranks second on the Atlanta Braves all time save list, behind John Smoltz.
His most effective pitch was a change-up, which he effectively delivered from an unusual, herky-jerky motion, turning his back to the batter before delivering the ball in a side-arm, "submarine-style" manner.
His best season came for the 1982 Atlanta Braves
1982 Atlanta Braves season
- Offseason :* October 5, 1981: Gaylord Perry was released by the Braves.* March 23, 1982: Brian Asselstine was released by the Braves.During the offseason, the Braves acquired manager Joe Torre from the New York Mets in hopes of bringing the Braves their first postseason appearance since 1969.-...
' National League West-division winning team. He recorded a career-high 30 saves, along with a 9-10 won-lost record, and finished seventh in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
balloting.
In 1979, for the Braves, he recorded 25 saves, but also 16 losses, an unusually high number for a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
.
Garber is a farmer in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Elizabethtown is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Harrisburg. Small factories existed at the turn of the century when the population in 1900 was 1,861. There was a slight increase in the next decade, with 1,970 people living in Elizabethtown in 1910. As of the 2000 census,...
, where he and his sons raise poultry for eggs, Emu for "Emu Oil" and grow corn, wheat, soybeans and barley. Prior to the 2009 season, he was invited by the Braves to be a guest instructor for a week during spring training, working with fellow side-armer Peter Moylan
Peter Moylan
Peter Michael Moylan is a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball and throws sidearm.-Early career:...
.
Garber was formerly the Chairman of the Lancaster County Agricultural Preservation Board and is a member of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, which combined have protected more than 1,000 farms and 75000 acres (303.5 km²) of farmland from development, more than any other county in the United States
He is a 1969 graduate of Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College is a small comprehensive college located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. The school was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren...
.