Steve Garvey

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Garvey began his major league career with the Dodgers in 1969. He won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award in 1974 and was the National League Championship Series MVP in 1978. Garvey was also a member of the 1981 World Series-winning Dodgers. He signed with the Padres in December 1982 and remained with the team until 1987. In 1984, Garvey was once again named a National League Championship Series MVP; he hit a dramatic walk-off home run to win Game Four of the Championship Series for the Padres. Garvey was a National League All-Star for ten seasons, with nine selections as starter at first base. He holds the NL record for consecutive games played with 1,207. The Padres retired Garvey's No. 6 in 1988. During his time as a baseball player, Garvey also served as vice president of the philanthropic organization No Greater Love. In October 2023, Garvey announced his candidacy as a Republican for U.S. Senate from California in the 2024 election. He finished a close second in the March 2024 top-two primary, 3,478 votes behind Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, advancing them both to the general election. Garvey finished first in the partial-term special-election primary to replace interim senator Laphonza Butler in December 2024 with that term ending in January 2025. He was defeated by Schiff in the November election for both the special election and the full Senate term.

In Their Own Story

In the 1978 National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Garvey delivered a historic performance that earned him his first NLCS MVP Award. He hit four home runs and added a triple for five extra-base hits, tying Bob Robertson's 1971 record. The drama of his Dodgers tenure extended beyond the field into the media spotlight, where his cheerful demeanor clashed with some teammates' perceptions. In October 2023, long after his playing days ended, Garvey announced a candidacy for the U.S. Senate from California as a Republican. He finished second in the March 2024 primary behind Adam Schiff and also won a partial-term special-election primary in December 2024 to replace Laphonza Butler, though he was defeated by Schiff in both November general elections.

Reader's Guide

Garvey was born in Tampa, Florida, on December 22, 1948, the only child of Mildred (Millie) Garvey and Joseph (Joe) Garvey. He is Irish-American on his father's side; his father's ancestry is from County Cork, Ireland. From 1956 to 1961, Garvey was a batboy for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers during spring training. He graduated from George D. Chamberlain High School in Tampa in 1966. After high school, Garvey played football and baseball at Michigan State University. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1st round of the 1968 MLB draft (June secondary phase). He made his Major League debut on September 1, 1969. He played third base for the Dodgers in 1970 and moved to first base in 1973. Garvey was part of one of the most enduring infields in baseball history, along with third baseman Ron Cey, shortstop Bill Russell, and second baseman Davey Lopes. With the Dodgers, Garvey played in 1,727 games over 14 seasons and hit .301 with 211 homers and 992 RBI. He was selected to eight All-Star Games and won the All-Star Game MVP Award for the 1974 and 1978 games. He also won four straight Gold Glove Awards from 1974 to 1977, won the 1981 Roberto Clemente Award, and finished in the top 10 in the NL MVP Award voting five times. After Garvey signed with the San Diego Padres in 1982, the Dodgers kept his number 6 out of circulation for 21 years until it was given to utility player Jolbert Cabrera in 2003. In December 1982, Garvey signed with the Padres for $6.6 million over five years. His first season in San Diego allowed him to break the National League record for consecutive games played. The streak ended at 1,207 consecutive games played (from September 3, 1975, to July 29, 1983) when he broke his thumb in a collision at home plate against the Atlanta Braves. In 1984, Garvey became the only first baseman in MLB history to commit no errors while playing 150 or more games.

Did You Know?

• Garvey holds the NL record for consecutive games played with 1,207.
• He is one of only two players to have started an All-Star Game as a write-in vote, doing so in 1974.
• Garvey was a batboy for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers during spring training from 1956 to 1961.
• He received a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from Michigan State University in 1971.