Wayne Garrett

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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
Resides in Sarasota, FL USA

BR page

1 Biographical Information
2 Playing Career
3 A Family Affair
4 Career Highlights
5 Notable Achievement
6 Quotes
7 Sources
8 Related Sites

[edit] 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.

[edit] Playing Career

As a rookie, Wayne was a member of the 1969 Miracle Mets. In the 1969 Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, Wayne played flawlessly at 3rd Base, while batting .385, slugging .769 and hitting a 2 run homer in Game 3 in front of 53,195 Shea Stadium fans to launch the Mets into a World Series showdown with the Baltimore Orioles. Wayne showed good power while in the majors with an OPS+ of greater than 100 for all or parts of 6 seasons.

In June of 1970, Wayne put together the finest 1 month performance of his career. He batted .429, had a slugging percentage of .776, an on base percentage of .576 and an OPS of 1.352

Wayne missed half of the 1971 season due to military service obligations.

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's. On September 7th, 1973, Wayne did something only 7 other National Leaguers had previously ever done. In game 1 of a double header 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. His home run held up and the Mets won the game 1 to 0. For the entire 1973 season, Wayne hit 16 home runs for the Mets, finishing 2nd on the team behind John Milner in this category.

Wayne was the Mets starting third baseman from 1972 through 1975. He also saw action at second base and spent 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 the 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. Two years later to the day, 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 2nd and 3rd 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 Clete Boyer.

[edit] A Family Affair

Wayne's oldest brother Adrian was originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves and saw action in the Major Leagues with the Braves, Cubs, Athletics and 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. Wayne's other older brother Charlie was also signed by the Milwaukee Braves and played 5 years in the minor leagues, (missing 2 years due to military service), reaching class AA. Wayne's nephew Jason Garrett played four years in the minor leagues for the Florida Marlins organization, reaching high class A.

[edit] Career Highlights

Drafted by the Milwaukee Braves in the 6th round (104th overall) of the 1965 amateur draft.
None of the 5 players drafted ahead of Wayne by the Braves in the 1965 amateur draft made it to the Major Leagues.
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.
Began his professional career in 1965 by getting 4 hits in his first 4 at bats for the Braves in the Florida Rookie League.
Hit a 2 run homer off of 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 11th, 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.
2nd on the Mets in Home Runs in 1973 with 16.
Led Mets in stolen bases in 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.
Had 4 or more hits in a game 4 times in his Major League career.
During the decade of the '70's, led the Mets in these categories: Walks (442) and Runs (351).
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 of these Hall of Famers: Rollie Fingers, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Juan Marichal, Phil Niekro, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton and Hoyt Wilhelm.

[edit] Notable Achievement

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

[edit] Quotes

"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)