Steve Garvey had a lot of big hits in his 19-year baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, and he was a big hit at Western Nevada Community College's first major athletic fund-raising event Wednesday night at Carson City Comunity Center.
It was a big coup to get the 46-year-old Garvey, who was a 10-time all-star selection, a two-time National League Most Valuable Player and collected 2,599 hits during his distinguished career. Garvey, the keynote speaker at last night's dinner, retired in 1987 at age 38.
Between bouncing from interviews with the various print and electronic media on hand, Garvey patiently signed autographs and posed for pictures with adoring fans for approximately 90 minutes, pausing every once in a while to take a sip from a Diet Coke. He was truly gracious the whole time, especially with the kids, who kept timidly approaching him for his autograph. He always sent them away with a smile on their little faces.
Garvey was always known as a media darling during his days in Los Angeles, and with good reason. He was approachable, extremely well-spoken, unlike many professional athletes. There was always talk that he would eventually go into politics.
Does he like where the game is going?
"I like the parity except for the Yankees," he said. "I'm concerned primarily if an owner owns a cable company (like George Steinbrenner) it give you a big edge and enbales you to buy what you need.
"There are a lot of middle market teams out there. You can't count the A's as a small-market team because they're from the Bay Area. Look at Minnesota and how competitive they are."
And, Garvey said baseball will never get a salary cup because the player's union, which was started by Marvin Miller, is too strong. Garvey said athletes in other sports don't have nearly the same power that baseball has.
When asked about his biggest thrill, Garvey didn't hesitate very long.
"The last out of the sixth game of the (1977) World Series," said Garvey, whose Los Angeles Dodgers were done in by three Reggie Jackson homers that night. "The other is the homer against Lee Smith in the fourth game of the playoffs (1984) that enabled us to get to a fifth game. People come up to me all the time and tell me where they were when I hit the homer. It was voted the greatest moment in San Diego sports history."
The three-run shot gave the Padres a 7-5 come-from-behind win, and propelled the team into the 1984 World Series where they lost in five games to the Detroit Tigers. He eventually had his number retired by the Padres in 1988 even though he played for the team just four years.
Garvey also is proud of his two all-star MVP selections, and the fact that the National League was 10-0 when he played. His last all-star game was in 1984 when he sparked the National League to a 3-1 win at Candlestick Park. Garvey singled and scored the NL's first run when he bowled over Lance Parrish at the plate. He also threw a runner out at the plate in the game.
The ex-Dodger and Padres star has stayed busy since his departure from the game in 1987. He does about 40 motivational talks a year, works with the Dodgers as a consultant and has done some television production work.
Outwardly, it doesn't sound like he misses the game a great deal.Being a father of seven - Krisha (29), Whitney (27), Shaunna (22), Taylor (21), Ryan (10), Olivia (9) and Sean Fitzpatrick (5) - takes up a lot of his time. Garvey and his wife, Candace, currently live in Park City, Utah.
Garvey jokingly refers to Ryan as the "immaculate conception," because he was the first boy after four girls.
"I have him playing all sports," Garvey said. "I think his favorite is baseball, though. He's a line-drive hitter like Dad and has his mother's speed. He loves the game."
And, Garvey doesn't think there will be the pressure of Ryan, or Sean for that matter, having to deal with having a famous athlete as a father.
"It won't be like the Griffeys or Bonds," he said. "There's enough of a spread it won't be as bad."
Garvey also is known for his volunteer work with the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the UCLA Division of Neurosurgery, the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Blind Children Center and the ALS Foundation (Lou Gehrig disease). He's given back to the community more than many athletes ever will.