Steve Garvey Speaker Biography
National Baseball League MVP, Ten Time All-Star Player nicknamed the "Iron Man"
One of baseball’s most popular and durable players during one of baseball’s greatest era’s, Garvey is known to even the most casual of baseball fans. A 10-time All Star and 1974 National League MVP, Garvey is destined for enshrinement to the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York. Starring for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in his illustrious career, Garvey was nicknamed the "Iron Man" for setting the National League consecutive games record with 1,207 straight. Simply put, Garvey was a complete player – equally adept with the bat and glove – hitting for average and power to go along with his nearly flawless defense. Overall, Garvey garnered four Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence; had 200 or more hits in six seasons; batted an unbelievable .393 in ten All-Star Games on his way to twice winning the prestigious All Star Game MVP Award (1974, 1978); was named NL Playoff MVP and of course, the aforementioned 1974 MVP Award, his crowning achievement. Garvey posted remarkable career numbers with a .294 batting average and a .996 fielding percentage at first base, a Major League Baseball record. Garvey also played 193 consecutive, errorless games at first base, yet another MLB record, and is the only player in the history of baseball to have played an errorless season at the position.
For eight years, Steve Garvey was the cornerstone of the "Fabulous Four" infield of the Los Angeles Dodgers that also included Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. This famous infield combination are still one the longest standing and most successful infield combinations in baseball history. The "Fabulous Four" infield and the arm of Fernando Valenzuela brought the Dodgers a World Series Championship in 1981.
The most dramatic moment of Garvey’s career is easily his game-winning home run in the ninth inning of the pivotal Game Four of the 1984 NL Championship Series. The blast beat the Chicago Cubs and ultimately propelled the Padres to its first ever National League Pennant and World Series appearance. Garvey’s blast has been called one of baseball’s most memorable home runs, living on in baseball lore as much for its importance as also being a key moment in the history of the famously cursed Chicago Cubs and their run of postseason futility. Garvey was named NL Playoff MVP for the third time in his career (1974, 1977). On April 18, 1988 the San Diego Padres retired Garvey’s #6 jersey in his honor.
Post Retirement
That same year, Garvey retired from baseball and is now involved with his own company, Garvey Management Group. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 90s and has concentrated on television production with the "Prime Ticket Network" and also hosted the weekly series "Baseball’s Greatest Games." Garvey is also a highly acclaimed motivational speaker, traveling the world over to speak at corporate functions. Drawing from the same incredible drive that enabled him to play in 1,207 consecutive games, Garvey uses his experiences and lessons learned to motivate audiences around the world to become the most successful people or corporations they can be. Sure, Garvey’s playing field is no longer the diamond; it has changed to corporate boardrooms and lecture halls. But the qualities that Garvey was famous for throughout his career – integrity, intensity and devotion – have also served him well in business. These qualities are always evident in all that Steve Garvey does, no matter the playing field.
To focus solely on Steve Garvey’s baseball accomplishments would leave out a lifetime of achievements as a businessman, philanthropist, volunteer and most importantly a devoted family man. As a father, Garvey understands that in the ever-changing world we live in there is a great necessity of being a man of honor, integrity and quality.
Philastrophic Efforts
Giving back to the community has always been an important Steve Garvey trademark. He succeeded Frank Sinatra as the National Campaign Chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and serves on the Board of Directors for the UCLA Division of Neurosurgery and also for ‘B.A.T’, (Baseball Assistance Team) which provides services and financial aide for former MLB players and their families. Garvey also volunteers his time and assists in causes such as the Special Olympics, Juvenile Diabetes, The Blind Children Center, the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the ALS Foundation (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and the The Sisters of Carondelet.
Garvey also holds or has held positions on numerous civic committees and corporate boards, including the Retenitis Pigmentosa Foundation, the Catholic University of America, the University of San Diego, The Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Foundation. It is this devotion and generosity that has earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Lou Gehrig Award and The Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s highest honor for humanitarian service. Steve has also received Little League’s most prestigious honor, The "William A. (Bill) Shea Award," for contribution to our national pastime by a former little leaguer. Garvey was also chosen as one of Disney’s 30th Anniversary "American Hero’s".
Steve Garvey has been a spokesman for an impressive list corporations and their products since his rookie year in 1970. He has endorsed and done promotional campaigns for companies like Pepsi-Cola, Chevrolet, Gillette, McDonald’s, Adidas,, Nestle,, TransAmerica, Anheuser-Busch, Jockey, Cardservice International, John Hancock and Team Nabisco in association with Wal-Mart
Steve Garvey Speaking Topics
