Wayne Garrett

Ronald Wayne Garrett

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 183 lb.
• High School Sarasota High School
• Debut April 12, 1969
• Final Game September 26, 1978
• Born December 3, 1947 in Brooksville, FL USA

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Biographical Information

The younger brother of Adrian Garrett and Jimmy Garrett and uncle of Jason Garrett, Wayne Garrett's major league career spanned ten years from 1969 to 1978. His best seasons came with the New York Mets.

Playing Career

As a 21-year-old rookie, Wayne was a member of the 1969 World Champion Miracle Mets. Early in the 1969 season, with veteran third baseman Ed Charles already tiring, Garrett was approached by Met Manager Gil Hodges. "Hodges came up to me and asked if I had ever played third base. I said 'Yeah' and he said, 'Well, you're playing third base. You're in the game right now." For the remainder of the 'season, Garrett platooned with Charles at third base; Wayne faced the righties and Charles faced the lefties.

In the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Wayne played flawlessly at third base, while batting .385, slugging .769 and hitting a two-run homer off Pat Jarvis in Game 3 in front of 53,195 Shea Stadium fans to launch the Mets into a World Series showdown with the Baltimore Orioles. Ironically, Jarvis was a former roommate of Wayne's older brother Adrian.

In June of 1970, Wayne put together the finest one-month performances of his career. He batted .429, had a slugging percentage of .776, an on base percentage of .576 and an OPS of 1.352. He missed half of the 1971 season due to military service obligations in the Army Reserve.

Wayne also had an exceptional month of September in 1973, helping the Mets in their drive to win the National League Pennant. His totals for the month? A batting average of .315, slugging percentage of .598, an on base percentage of .407, an OPS of 1.005, 6 home runs and 17 RBI. On September 7th, Wayne did something only 7 other National Leaguers had previously ever done. In the first game of a doubleheader against the Montreal Expos, Wayne hit lead-off for the visiting Mets who sent Jon Matlack to the mound opposite Steve Renko. Leading off the game, Wayne hit a home run, which proved to be the only score for the entire game as the Mets won the game, 1-0. For the entire 1973 season, Wayne hit 16 home runs for the Mets, finishing second on the team behind John Milner in this category. Wayne showed good power while in the majors with an OPS+ greater than 100 for all or parts of 6 seasons.

Wayne was the Mets starting third baseman from 1972 through 1975. He also saw action at second base and some time at shortstop. His lifetime fielding percentages are above average at all three positions, showing his versatility and dependability. The 1973 Mets won the NL East and then defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series, three games to two. This series was highlighted by an on-field brawl that included Pete Rose, Bud Harrelson and Wayne. The Mets were defeated in the World Series by the Oakland A's. Wayne played third base and hit 2 home runs in the Mets' losing cause.

On July 21, 1976, Wayne was traded, along with Del Unser, to the Montreal Expos for Jim Dwyer and Pepe Mangual. He was mainly a backup in Montreal, at second base in 1976, and third base, sharing playing time with Larry Parrish, in 1977 and 1978. He was also frequently used as a pinch-hitter. Two years to the day after the trade, Wayne's contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals. Wayne finished out the 1978 season with the Cardinals before moving on to Japan for two years (1979 and 1980).

In Japan, Wayne played second and third base for the Chunichi Dragons. During his two years with the Dragons, Wayne hit .241, had an on-base percentage of .327 and a slugging percentage of .427. In 1989, playing for the Bradenton Explorers of the Senior Professional Baseball Association, Wayne hit .246 in 26 games. The Explorers were managed by an old nemesis from the 1969 Championship Series, Clete Boyer.

Originally from Brooksville, FL, Wayne and his wife Connie now reside in Sarasota, FL.

A Family Affair

Wayne's oldest brother Adrian was originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves and saw action in the bigs with the Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and California Angels. Adrian played in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp from 1977 through 1979, hitting 102 home run in 3 seasons. The Carp won the 1979 Nippon Series against Charlie Manuel and the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

Another older brother, Charlie, was also signed by the Milwaukee Braves and played five years in the minor leagues, (missing two years due to military service), reaching Double A. Wayne's nephew, Jason Garrett, played four years in the minor leagues for the Florida Marlins organization, reaching High A ball.

Career Highlights

• Drafted by the Milwaukee Braves in the 6th round (104th overall) of the 1965 amateur draft. Of all players drafted by the Braves in the 1965 amateur draft, Wayne had the longest Major League career.
• Begins career in 1965 as a 17-year-old playing in his home town of Sarasota for the Braves in the Florida Rookie League. He is the youngest player on the team.
• Gets 4 hits in his first 4 at bats for the Braves during his rookie minor league campaign
• All three Garrett brothers were signed by Milwaukee Braves scout and former Major League manager Zack Taylor.
• Drafted by the New York Mets from the Atlanta Braves in the 1968 Rule V Draft.
• First alumni of Sarasota High School to achieve the following: major league hit, major league home run and World Series ring.
• Hit a two-run homer off Pat Jarvis and the Atlanta Braves in the 1969 Championship Series to put the Mets into the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
• Hit 2 home runs during the 1973 World Series in a losing cause against the Oakland Athletics.
• Drove in 4 runs in a game 5 times during his career and drove in 3 runs in a game 23 times.
• Scored 3 runs in a game 6 times in his career (all with the Mets), and scored 2 runs in a game 60 times in his career.
• Tied a National League record by walking twice in one inning on May 11, 1969 (2nd game, 1st inning)
• Played more games at third base for the New York Mets than anyone in history before him.
• Tied for Mets lead in sacrifice flies with 5 in 1969.
• Led Mets in walks with 70 in 1972 and with 89 in 1974.
• Had the highest WAR (Wins Above Replacement) rating of any non-pitching Met in 1973 (4.3).
• During his career with the Mets (1969-1976), Wayne ranked 4th in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) rating, behind Bud Harrelson, Tommie Agee and Cleon Jones.
• 2nd on the Mets in Home Runs in 1973 with 16.
• Led Mets in stolen bases in 1973.
• The ONLY Mets third baseman to appear in two World Series (1969 & 1973).
• Winner of National League Player of the Week award, September 23, 1973.
• Tied for Mets lead in games with 151 in 1974.
• Led Mets in strikeouts with 96 in 1974.
• Led Mets in on base percentage in 1975 with .379 and was tied for 2nd with .348 in 1973.
• Finished 20th in the National League in on base percentage in 1976 with a mark of .356
• Had 4 or more hits in a game 4 times in his Major League career.
• Hit 2 Home Runs in a game once in his Major League career on July 26th, 1970 in a losing cause against Don Sutton and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• During the decade of the 1970s, led the Mets in walks (442) and runs (351).
• The most hits Wayne had off any one pitcher was Bob Gibson with 22 followed by 18 off of Rick Reuschel and 17 off of Jim Lonborg.
• Hit well against these All-Star pitchers: Milt Pappas (.389), Jim Lonborg (.362), Rick Reuschel (.360), Bob Gibson (.333) and Jim Bunning (.308).
• Homered 12 times off these Hall of Famers: Rollie Fingers, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton and Hoyt Wilhelm.

Notable Achievements

• Won a World Series with the New York Mets in 1969.

Quotes

Quotes about Wayne

"The surprise of the year." Gil Hodges, former New York Mets Manager, on Wayne's contributions to the Mets in 1969 with no prior Major League experience

"A year ago at this time, Garrett was just getting started in the Arizona Instructional League..." Jack Lang, The Sporting News commenting on how Wayne went from the minors in 1968 to being a part of the World Champion Mets in 1969.

"I think that kid Garrett is going to make a heck of a third baseman." Johnny Murphy, former Mets General Manager and six-time World Series winner with the New York Yankees

"Garrett's slugging this year has everyone shocked." Jack Lang, The Sporting News, commenting on Wayne's power surge from 1969 to 1970 (12 homers vs 1 homer)

Quotes from Wayne

"You talk about timing, I was there." Wayne talking about being being on the World Champion Mets during his rookie year

"Being in the right place at the right time and having the right people see you and having them like you. That's the way life is." Wayne talking about the New York Mets taking a chance on him due to Bud Harrelson having knee surgery.

"There's a lot better teams that have won World Series... but ours was remembered." Wayne reminiscing about 1969's Miracle Mets.

Sources

Japanbaseballdaily.com, Retrosheet, Baseball-Reference, The Sporting News, The Baseball Cube, Ultimatemets.com, Paper of Record, Herald-Tribune.com Interview

Related Sites

• Wayne Garrett at the SABR Bio Project