Phil Garner, the former three-time All-Star and longtime manager known for his spark and love of baseball, died Saturday at the age of 76.
His family released a statement saying Garner had been battling pancreatic cancer and praised the medical care he received during that fight. They said he never lost the signature spark of life he was known for, or his love of baseball, which stayed with him until the end.
Garner’s death closes the book on a career that stretched from his days as a standout player to years in the dugout as a manager. He was identified by his family as both a three-time All-Star and a longtime manager, a reminder of how long he remained part of the sport he loved.
The family’s tribute also left a quieter note behind the news: even as pancreatic cancer took its toll, Garner stayed connected to baseball and the energy that defined him. That is the image his loved ones chose to preserve, and the one that will likely follow phil garner now.
