Former MLB player and manager Phil Garner has died at 76.
Garner died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family said in a statement. He “passed away peacefully” while surrounded by family.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, where Garner spent the most memorable portion of his playing career, paid tribute to the former second baseman with a tribute to a “beloved member of the Pirates family.”
It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the passing of former Pirates infielder Phil Garner.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 12, 2026
"Scrap Iron” was a beloved member of the Pirates family as he spent five of his 16 Major League seasons playing with the Pirates (1977-1981), capturing a World Series championship in… pic.twitter.com/qqNnVVGCqv
Garner was a three-time All-Star during his playing career. A lifetime .260 hitter, he won a World Series with the Pirates in 1979, and also played for Oakland, Houston, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles Dodgers during his career.
Garner also had a successful 15-year career as a manager. He posted a lifetime 985-1054 record with the Brewers, Tigers, and Astros. He is best remembered for his time with Houston, where he led the team to a World Series appearance in 2005.
