Gary Pettis

Career

Pettis attended Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, and was selected by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1979 draft. He played minor league baseball for the Salinas Spurs of the class A California League in 1980 and the Holyoke Millers of the double A Eastern League in 1981. Promoted to the Angels in 1982, he spent his first six major league seasons with them. After the 1987 season, he played two seasons with the Detroit Tigers, 1988 through 1989.

He then joined the Texas Rangers for two seasons, 1990–91. In 1992, his final major league season, Pettis played for the Texas Rangers, then the San Diego Padres, and ended the year back with the Tigers. Throughout his career, Pettis hit for low averages and struck out often but excelled defensively, earning five Gold Glove Awards. He was known for making spectacular leaping or diving catches and was called "The man who made center field look easy."

He stole over 40 bases in five seasons and held the Angels' club record for stolen bases for nearly 20 years until Chone Figgins broke it on July 15, 2007. In 1986, a local radio station listener call-in contest gave him the nickname "Pac Man" Pettis, referencing his speed in the outfield. On his 1985 Topps baseball card, the pictured player is actually his younger brother, Lynn. In 2022, the Astros won 106 games, advanced to the World Series, and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, giving Pettis his second World Series title as an Astro.

After the 2024 season, the Astros did not renew his contract for 2025. On June 2, 2026, the San Francisco Giants hired Pettis as their third base coach.

Personal life

Pettis's nephew, Austin Pettis, is a former wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers. He has four children: Paige, Kyler, Shaye, and Dante. Dante plays wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and set the NCAA record for most career punt return touchdowns while at the University of Washington. Kyler is an actor who appeared on the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives. His brother Stacey Pettis was drafted 94th overall in the 4th round of the 1981 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the Pirates and Angels systems; Stacey has worked as a scout for the Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals.