World Series champ Phil Garner dead at 76 after cancer battle

Phil Garner, a erstwhile MLB All-Star and World Series champion, has died, his family said connected Sunday. He was 76.

Garner died Saturday aft battling pancreatic cancer for much than 2 years, his family said.

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Tim Foli and Phil Garner, members of nan 1979 World Championship Pittsburgh Pirates, be a pre-game ceremonial honoring nan team's accomplishment earlier a crippled against nan Philadelphia Phillies successful Pittsburgh connected July 20, 2019. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

"Phil ne'er mislaid his signature spark of life," Ty Garner, Phil’s son, said successful a statement. "He was truthful good known for his emotion for baseball, which was pinch him until nan end."

The Oakland Athletics selected Garner successful nan first information of nan MLB Draft’s secondary shape successful 1971. He was called up much than 2 years later, making his awesome convention debut successful September 1973.

Garner played 4 seasons pinch nan A’s, earning his first All-Star action successful 1976 earlier he was traded to nan Pittsburgh Pirates successful nan offseason anterior to nan 1977 season. He was past traded to nan Houston Astros successful August 1981.

The versatile infielder earned 2 much All-Star selections while he was pinch nan Pirates. He helped nan squad to a World Series title successful 1979 against nan Baltimore Orioles. He deed .500 successful nan seven-game bid against Baltimore. He had 4 doubles and 5 RBI.

Houston Astros' Phil Garner scores nan winning tally arsenic Luis Pujols greets him successful nan 11th inning of Game 2 of nan National League West playoffs against nan Los Angeles Dodgers successful Houston connected Oct. 7, 1981. (F. Carter Smith/AP)

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"Phil Garner was a fierce competitor, a respected leader, and a cherished portion of nan Pirates family," Pirates president Bob Nutting said successful a statement. "His contributions to nan 1979 World Series title squad will everlastingly beryllium portion of Pirates history. We ever appreciated welcoming Phil backmost to Pittsburgh, and it was evident really profoundly this city, this team, his teammates, and our fans meant to him.

"He will beryllium remembered not only for nan grit, passion, and bosom he brought to nan game, but besides for nan measurement he carried himself arsenic a devoted family man and respected personnel of nan shot community."

He played portion of nan 1987 play pinch nan Los Angeles Dodgers and past played 15 games for nan San Francisco Giants earlier his playing profession was finished.

Garner was a life .260 hitter pinch 109 location runs and 738 RBI.

He made his MLB managerial debut pinch nan Milwaukee Brewers successful 1992 and managed them until 1999. He past managed nan Detroit Tigers from 2000 to 2002.

Pirates subordinate Phil Garner dives for a shot deed by Al Bumbry of nan Baltimore Orioles during nan 5th inning of nan 3rd crippled of nan World Series successful Pittsburgh connected Oct. 12, 1979. (AP Photo)

Garner had awesome occurrence managing nan Astros. He was their skipper from 2004 to 2007, guiding them to their first World Series quality successful 2005 – only to suffer to nan Chicago White Sox.

He was 985-1,054 arsenic a manager.

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"He was a very highly respected and beloved individual who was known for his caring nature, contented and consciousness of humor," nan Brewers added.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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