Gary Matthews

Former MLB left fielder for five teams, 1973 Rookie of the Year, and 1983 NLCS MVP.

Gary Nathaniel Matthews Sr. (born July 5, 1950), nicknamed "Sarge", is an American former professional baseball left fielder, who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants (1972–76), Atlanta Braves (1977–80), Philadelphia Phillies (1981–83), Chicago Cubs (1984–87), and Seattle Mariners (1987).

Quick Facts

Position

Left Fielder

Franchises

Giants
Braves
Phillies
Cubs
Mariners

Playing style

Power hitter, contact hitter

Career span

Early 1970s – late 1980s

Known for

Hitting and power, consistent bat-to-ball contact

Lore & Background

Matthews was selected in the first round of the June 1968 draft by the San Francisco Giants. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1973. He signed a five-year, $1,875,000 contract with the Braves on November 17, 1976. He had his best overall season with the Braves in 1979, going to the All-Star Game. He was acquired by the Phillies from the Braves for Bob Walk on March 25, 1981. He was traded from the Phillies to the Cubs on March 27, 1984. He was a key contributor to the Cubs' NL Eastern Division title in 1984. He was traded in mid-season 1987 to Seattle for minor league pitcher Dave Hartnett.

Reader's Guide

Matthews batted .281 during his 16-season major league career. He appeared in 2,033 games and recorded 2,011 hits, 234 homers, 978 RBI, and 1,083 runs scored. He had 183 career stolen bases, 319 doubles, and a lifetime .364 OBP. In 19 postseason games, he batted .323 with 7 home runs and 15 RBI. He posted a .968 fielding percentage as an outfielder. After retiring, he worked as a minor league hitting coordinator for the Cubs, hitting coach for Toronto and Milwaukee, and a coach for the Cubs. He served as a color analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2007 to 2013.