Phil Garner, a World Series champion with the Pittsburgh Pirates and former Houston Astros manager, died on April 11 at age 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.
Known as “Scrap Iron” for his tough playing style, he debuted in MLB in 1973 with the Oakland Athletics and won a World Series that same year. He later became a key player in the Pirates’ 1979 championship team and played 16 seasons, earning over 1,500 hits.
After retiring, Garner became a manager, leading teams like the Brewers, Tigers, and Astros, and guiding Houston to its first World Series appearance in 2005.