Phil Garner, a three-time All-Star baseball lifer, died at the age of 76 in The Woodlands, Texas, on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Garner, a three-time All-Star infielder, managed the Astros to their first World Series appearance.
Garner battled pancreatic cancer for over two years, according to his son Ty, in a statement issued by the Pittsburg Pirates.
“Phil never lost his characteristic spark of life. He was so known for his love of baseball that stayed with him until the end,” Garner’s son Ty said.
Phil Garner gave baseball 16 years of his career playing for the Oakland Athletics (1973-76), then moved on to the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977-81), Astros (1981-87), Los Angeles Dodgers (1987) and San Francisco Giants (1988).
Pirates chairman Bob Nutting paid tribute to Garner, saying: “Phil Garner was a fierce competitor, a respected leader and a beloved part of the Pirates family.”
“His contribution to the 1979 World Series championship will forever be a part of Pirates history. We always appreciated welcoming Phil back to Pittsburgh, and it was clear how much this city, this team, his teammates and our fans meant to him,” Nutting added.
Garner made All-Star teams with Oakland in 1976 and Pittsburgh in 1980 and 1981.
As a player, he appeared in 150 games and had an .800 OPS for Pittsburgh during the Pirates’ 1979 World Series championship season.
He posted .417 in the National League Championship Series sweep of the Reds and hit .500 in the World Series, helping the Pirates overcome a 3-1 hole to beat the Orioles.
Garner spent a decade and a half managing in the major leagues, posting a 985-1,054 record with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Detroit Tigers (2000-02) and Astros (2004-07).
He held the Brewers’ franchise record for most managerial wins until Craig Counsell passed him in 2002.
