FAVORITE BRAVES PLAYERS OF THE 1970'S
#7 GENE GARBER
ATLANTA BRAVES 1978-1987
Gene "Geno" Garber spent 10 of his 19 seasons with the Braves and I remember when he first came over and really loving his windup where he would twist his body completely away from the hitter before slinging the ball side arm to the hitter. Garber was mostly effective, though he did have some rough outings as well. His first parital season with the Braves in 1978 he saved 22 games. In 1979, he saved 25. On the downside, he did lose 16 games in relief in 1979.
However, his most memorable moment is easy. August 1, 1978, Pete Rose had a 44-game hitting streak, the longest since Joe Dimaggio in 1941. The Braves were pounding the Reds 16-4 (a 70's rarity in itself) when a hitless Pete Rose comes up against Geno with two outs in the ninth. With two strikes on him, Garber throws a pitch just off the plate which Rose whiffs at for strike three. The great streak is over. Garber jumps in the air in celebration and Rose later complains about Geno pitching like it was the seventh game of the World Series. Well, that's as close as the Braves were going to get to the series in 1978 and thanks to Garber for providing us with that moment.
I think Gene's celebration was just indicative of how much Pete Rose was not liked.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that no player has topped Rose's 44, let alone DiMaggio's record of 56 since.
ReplyDelete