Win–loss record 22–27 Role Baseball player Name Mike Garman | Strikeouts 213 Earned run average 3.63 Date drafted 1967 | |
Michael Douglas "Mike" Garman (born September 16, 1949) is a former professional baseball player, a relief pitcher for five major league teams in the 1970s. Born and raised in Caldwell, Idaho, he was the third overall selection in the 1967 MLB Draft, chosen by the Boston Red Sox. His brother, Stephen, spent two seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization.
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Boston Red Sox
Garman signed with the Red Sox upon graduation at age 17 from Caldwell High School, and was assigned to the Greenville Red Sox of the Western Carolinas League. He lost the only game he appeared in for Greenville, giving up three hits and two walks in the only inning he pitched. He was then reassigned to the Winston-Salem Red Sox, where he went 1–3 with a 6.75 earned run average.
After three seasons in Boston's farm system, Garman debuted with the BoSox as a September call-up in 1969, and won his major league debut against the New York Yankees just six days after his twentieth birthday. After spending all of 1970 in the minors, he joined the Sox as a September call-up in 1971 and 1972 as well, and made the big league roster out of the bullpen in 1973. He had no decisions in twelve appearances as manager Eddie Kasko used him mostly in mop up roles.
Following his only full season with the BoSox, he was traded with John Curtis and Lynn McGlothen to the St. Louis Cardinals for Reggie Cleveland, Terry Hughes and Diego Segui.
St. Louis Cardinals
It was with the Cardinals that Garman enjoyed his best seasons. He was 7–2 with a 2.64 ERA and six saves in 1974. Though his record dipped to 3–8 in 1975, his ERA did as well, to 2.39. He also collected ten saves. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs with a player to be named later for Don Kessinger. In his only season in Chicago, Garman made two emergency starts in the second games of double headers, losing both.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 11, 1977, the Cubs sent Garman and Rick Monday to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Bill Buckner, Ivan De Jesus and Jeff Albert. He reached the post season for the only time in his career with the Dodgers, appearing in two games of the 1977 National League Championship Series and two games in the 1977 World Series without giving up an earned run.
Garman was traded during the 1978 season to the Montreal Expos for Gerry Hannahs and Larry Landreth. After one season with the Expos, he failed to make the team in Spring training 1979. He signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and also spent part of the season with the Cleveland Indians' triple A affiliate before retiring.