Steve Garvey
⭐ Hall of Fame 2009
Born: 12/22/1948 in Tampa, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1969-09-01 | Final Game: 1987-05-23
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 192 lbs
Full name: Steven Patrick Garvey
Biography
Steve Garvey, born in 1948, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball from 1969 until his retirement in 1987. A skilled position player, Garvey played a total of 2,332 games, amassing 2,599 hits and demonstrating consistent offensive prowess with a batting average of .294. Over his career, he hit 272 home runs and drove in 1,308 RBIs, while also showcasing his speed on the basepaths with 83 stolen bases. Garvey's ability to perform in clutch situations earned him recognition as an All-Star Game MVP and a two-time NLCS MVP, highlighting his significant contributions during the postseason.
Garvey's career is noted for his durability and exceptional performance, culminating in ten All-Star selections. His playing style was characterized by a combination of power and average, making him a versatile threat in the lineup. He became a beloved figure in Los Angeles, where he spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers, before concluding his time in the league with the San Diego Padres. His legacy was further solidified when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, a testament to his impact on the game during a competitive era of baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2332 | 8835 | 1143 | 2599 | 440 | 43 | 272 | 1308 | 83 | 479 | 1003 | 0.294 | 0.329 | 0.446 | 0.775 | 14521.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | LAD | NL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1970 | LAD | NL | 34 | 93 | 8 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 0.269 | -114.8 |
| 1971 | LAD | NL | 81 | 225 | 27 | 51 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 26 | 1 | 21 | 33 | 0.227 | -111.1 |
| 1972 | LAD | NL | 96 | 294 | 36 | 79 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 30 | 4 | 19 | 36 | 0.269 | 431.7 |
| 1973 | LAD | NL | 114 | 349 | 37 | 106 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 50 | 0 | 11 | 42 | 0.304 | 442.2 |
| 1974 | LAD | NL | 156 | 642 | 95 | 200 | 32 | 3 | 21 | 111 | 5 | 31 | 66 | 0.312 | 1865.8 |
| 1975 | LAD | NL | 160 | 659 | 85 | 210 | 38 | 6 | 18 | 95 | 11 | 33 | 66 | 0.319 | 2087.4 |
| 1976 | LAD | NL | 162 | 631 | 85 | 200 | 37 | 4 | 13 | 80 | 19 | 50 | 69 | 0.317 | 2280.9 |
| 1977 | LAD | NL | 162 | 646 | 91 | 192 | 25 | 3 | 33 | 115 | 9 | 38 | 90 | 0.297 | 1721.8 |
| 1978 | LAD | NL | 162 | 639 | 89 | 202 | 36 | 9 | 21 | 113 | 10 | 40 | 70 | 0.316 | 2471.2 |
| 1979 | LAD | NL | 162 | 648 | 92 | 204 | 32 | 1 | 28 | 110 | 3 | 37 | 59 | 0.315 | 2059.6 |
| 1980 | LAD | NL | 163 | 658 | 78 | 200 | 27 | 1 | 26 | 106 | 6 | 36 | 67 | 0.304 | 1637.3 |
| 1981 | LAD | NL | 110 | 431 | 63 | 122 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 64 | 3 | 25 | 49 | 0.283 | 406.8 |
| 1982 | LAD | NL | 162 | 625 | 66 | 176 | 35 | 1 | 16 | 86 | 5 | 20 | 86 | 0.282 | -178.8 |
| 1983 | SDP | NL | 100 | 388 | 76 | 114 | 22 | 0 | 14 | 59 | 4 | 29 | 39 | 0.294 | 839.4 |
| 1984 | SDP | NL | 161 | 617 | 72 | 175 | 27 | 2 | 8 | 86 | 1 | 24 | 64 | 0.284 | -675.7 |
| 1985 | SDP | NL | 162 | 654 | 80 | 184 | 34 | 6 | 17 | 81 | 0 | 35 | 67 | 0.281 | 416.3 |
| 1986 | SDP | NL | 155 | 557 | 58 | 142 | 22 | 0 | 21 | 81 | 1 | 23 | 72 | 0.255 | -638.1 |
| 1987 | SDP | NL | 27 | 76 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0.211 | -420.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 222 | 32 | 75 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 31 | 8 | 32 | 0.338 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | WS | SDN | 5 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.200 |
| 1984 | NLCS | SDN | 5 | 20 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0.400 |
| 1981 | NWDIV | LAN | 5 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0.368 |
| 1981 | WS | LAN | 6 | 24 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.417 |
| 1981 | NLCS | LAN | 5 | 21 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.286 |
| 1978 | WS | LAN | 6 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.208 |
| 1978 | NLCS | LAN | 4 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0.389 |
| 1977 | WS | LAN | 6 | 24 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0.375 |
| 1977 | NLCS | LAN | 4 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.308 |
| 1974 | WS | LAN | 5 | 21 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.381 |
| 1974 | NLCS | LAN | 4 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0.389 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2059 | 2043 | 18844 | 1026 | 81 | 1498 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 191 | 155 | 147 | 407 | 47 | 33 |
| OF | 10 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | LAN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | LAN | 3B | 27 | 22 | 23 | 59 | 5 | 4 |
| 1971 | LAN | 3B | 79 | 60 | 53 | 161 | 14 | 11 |
| 1972 | LAN | 1B | 3 | 3 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1972 | LAN | 3B | 85 | 73 | 71 | 187 | 28 | 18 |
| 1973 | LAN | 1B | 76 | 72 | 718 | 26 | 5 | 58 |
| 1973 | LAN | OF | 10 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | LAN | 1B | 156 | 156 | 1536 | 62 | 8 | 108 |
| 1975 | LAN | 1B | 160 | 160 | 1500 | 77 | 8 | 96 |
| 1976 | LAN | 1B | 162 | 162 | 1583 | 67 | 3 | 138 |
| 1977 | LAN | 1B | 160 | 160 | 1606 | 55 | 8 | 137 |
| 1978 | LAN | 1B | 161 | 162 | 1546 | 74 | 9 | 121 |
| 1979 | LAN | 1B | 162 | 162 | 1402 | 93 | 7 | 101 |
| 1980 | LAN | 1B | 162 | 162 | 1502 | 112 | 6 | 122 |
| 1981 | LAN | 1B | 110 | 110 | 1019 | 55 | 1 | 84 |
| 1982 | LAN | 1B | 158 | 156 | 1539 | 111 | 8 | 102 |
| 1983 | SDN | 1B | 100 | 100 | 888 | 49 | 6 | 69 |
| 1984 | SDN | 1B | 159 | 159 | 1232 | 87 | 0 | 117 |
| 1985 | SDN | 1B | 162 | 162 | 1442 | 92 | 5 | 138 |
| 1986 | SDN | 1B | 148 | 138 | 1160 | 53 | 7 | 94 |
| 1987 | SDN | 1B | 20 | 19 | 138 | 11 | 0 | 10 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2057 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 191 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 8 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | |
| 1984 | NLCS MVP | |
| 1983 | Player of the Week | Week of 1983-04-15 |
| 1981 | Roberto Clemente Award | |
| 1978 | All-Star Game MVP | |
| 1978 | NLCS MVP | |
| 1978 | Player of the Week | Week of 1978-08-18 |
| 1978 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1977 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1977 | Player of the Week | Week of 1977-06-24 |
| 1977 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1976 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1976 | Player of the Month | September |
| 1976 | Player of the Week | Week of 1976-05-21 |
| 1975 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1975 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1974 | All-Star Game MVP | |
| 1974 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1974 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1974 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | SDN | NL | $1,450,000 |
| 1986 | SDN | NL | $1,250,000 |
| 1985 | SDN | NL | $975,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $3,675,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State University | East Lansing | MI | 1967, 1968 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 5.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1981 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1980 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 131.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1979 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 14th | 30.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1978 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 194.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1977 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 98.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1976 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 51.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1975 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 50.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1974 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 270.0 | 336 | 13 |