Garry Templeton

Garry Templeton
Shortstop
Born: (1956-03-24) March 24, 1956
Lockney, Texas
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 9, 1976, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
October 5, 1991, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average .271
Hits 2,096
Home runs 70
Runs batted in 728
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Garry Lewis Templeton, nicknamed "Jumpsteady", (born March 24, 1956 in Lockney, Texas) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 to 1991. Templeton had good batting numbers in an era when shortstops did not provide much offense.

Playing career

He was hailed by many as one of the best players in baseball early in his career, which featured All-Star Game selections in 1977 and 1979. In the latter year, Templeton made history as the first switch-hitter to collect 100 hits from each side of the plate, a feat achieved only once more by Willie Wilson. His total of 211 hits led the National League, and with 19 triples, he led the league for a third consecutive season. He led the Cardinals in hits in 1977, 1978, and 1979.[1] He caused some controversy in 1979 when, despite having better numbers than either Dave Concepción or Larry Bowa, two of the National League's premier shortstops at the time, he wasn't selected to start at shortstop for the National League All-Star team. He was named to the team as a reserve, but refused to go. In response, he made his now-infamous quote, "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin'!"

He continued to hit well in 1980 and 1981, but was not popular with Cardinals fans. During an August 26, 1981 home game in St. Louis, Templeton made an obscene gesture to some fans who had allegedly been heckling him after he had failed to run to first on a ground ball. This proved to be too much for the Cardinals' management to accept, with manager Whitey Herzog physically pulling Templeton off the field following the incident, and after the end of the season traded him to the Padres for Ozzie Smith. The trade was welcomed by everyone involved, as Smith was (then) a light-hitting defensive wizard and the Cardinals needed to improve their defense. He was also embroiled in a contract dispute with Padres' management. Templeton, while not as strong afield, was a much better hitter going to a team with a struggling offense.

He was named team captain of the Padres by manager Larry Bowa in 1987, and assumed that role until he was traded to the New York Mets for Tim Teufel in 1991.

Templeton was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame on August 8, 2015.[2]

Managing career

After his retirement as an active player in 1991, Templeton stayed in the game as a coach and minor-league manager. From 1998 through 2001, he managed in the Anaheim Angels organization for four different teams, posting a 294-272 record. From 2003 to 2004, he managed the Gary Railcats of the Northern League, moving on to manage the Golden Baseball League's Fullerton Flyers in 2005. After three years with the Flyers, he would move on to manage the Arizona Winter League's Palm Springs Chill in 2008, then would return to the GBL to manage the Long Beach Armada in 2009. He managed the Chico Outlaws to the GBL Championship in 2010.[3][4] On January 8, 2013, Templeton was named manager of the Newark Bears of the independent Can-Am League.[5]

Year-by-year managerial record

Year Team League Record Finish Playoffs
1998 Cedar Rapids Kernels Midwest League 71-69 8th Did not qualify
1999 Erie SeaWolves Eastern League 81-61 2nd Lost in first round
2000 Edmonton Trappers Pacific Coast League 63-78 12th Did not qualify
2001 Salt Lake Stingers Pacific Coast League 79-64 4th Did not qualify
2003 Gary SouthShore RailCats Northern League 36-54 9th Did not qualify
2004 Gary SouthShore RailCats Northern League 31-65 10th Did not qualify
2005 Fullerton Flyers Golden Baseball League 34-56 7th Did not qualify
2006 Fullerton Flyers Golden Baseball League 43-37 2nd Lost league finals
2007 Fullerton Flyers Golden Baseball League 37-39 4th Did not qualify
2008 Palm Springs Chill Arizona Winter League 15-4 1st Lost in first round
2009 Long Beach Armada Golden Baseball League 41-35 3rd Did not qualify
2010 Chico Outlaws Golden Baseball League 54-30 1st Won league finals
2011 Maui Na Koa Ikaika North American League 29-40 5th

Personal

His son, Garry Templeton, Jr. played minor league baseball from 1999–2007 and became a manager for the Hawaii Stars in 2012.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jim Tommey and Kip Ingle, ed. (1987). St. Louis Cardinals 1987 Media Guide. St. Louis National Baseball Club. p. 151.
  2. ↑ Lin, Dennis (July 9, 2015). "Santiago, Templeton elected to Padres HOF". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Templeton to manage Na Koa". The Maui News. December 17, 2010.
  4. ↑ http://www.yumasun.com/news/new-76533-team-panthers.html
  5. ↑ "The Newark Star Ledger January 9, 2013".
  6. ↑ Templeton has eyes on solid season for Hawaii Stars

External links

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