Adrian Garrett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adrian Garrett |
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| Utility player | |||
| Born: January 3, 1943 Brooksville, Florida, U.S. |
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| Died: April 22, 2021 (aged 78) Kyle, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 13, 1966, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 11, 1976, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .185 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Runs batted in | 37 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .260 | ||
| Home runs | 102 | ||
| Runs batted in | 247 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Henry Adrian Garrett Jr. (born January 3, 1943 – died April 22, 2021) was a professional baseball player and coach. People often called him "Pat" or "Smokey." He was known as a utility player, meaning he could play many different positions on the field.
Adrian Garrett played in Major League Baseball for eight seasons. He was with teams like the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds.
Early Life and High School Sports
Adrian Garrett was born in Brooksville, Florida, on January 3, 1943. His parents were Henry Sr. and Ida Garrett. When he was six years old, his family moved to Sarasota, Florida.
Adrian went to Sarasota High School. There, he was a talented athlete. He played both baseball and football. After he finished high school in 1961, he signed a contract to play baseball. He joined the Milwaukee Braves as a young player.
Playing Baseball
Adrian Garrett started his baseball journey in the minor leagues. He played there from 1961 until 1966. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on April 13, 1966. He was 23 years old at the time.
In his first game, he came in as a pinch hitter. This means he batted in place of another player. He didn't get a hit in that game. He played only a few games for the Braves that year. He didn't get his first major league hit until 1971, when he played for the Oakland Athletics.
Adrian Garrett played many roles in the major leagues. He was a pinch hitter, a designated hitter, and played in the outfielder, catcher, and first baseman positions. During his time in MLB, he had a batting average of .185. He hit 11 home runs and had 37 runs batted in.
After his time in Major League Baseball, Garrett became a big star in Japan. He played for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball. In just three seasons, he hit an amazing 102 home runs! In 1979, his team, the Hiroshima Carp, won the Japan Series. This is like the World Series in Japan. He also set a record in Venezuela by getting a hit in 28 games in a row.
Coaching Baseball
After his playing career, Adrian Garrett became a baseball coach. He started coaching in 1982 in the Chicago White Sox' minor league system. He then became a hitting instructor for the White Sox.
From 1988 to 1992, he coached in the major leagues. He was the third-base coach and hitting coach for the Kansas City Royals. Later, he worked for the Florida Marlins organization for ten years. He coached in their minor league teams.
More recently, he was the hitting coach for the Louisville Bats. This team is a Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. He coached them from 2003 to 2011. From 2012 to 2015, he continued to help the Reds as a part-time batting instructor.
Personal Life
Adrian Garrett married Linda Jean Thurman in 1968. They had two children, Jason and Angela. The family lived in Austin, Texas.
Adrian was honored for his baseball career. He was inducted into the Tacoma Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. Fifteen years later, he was also honored in the Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame. His younger brother, Wayne Garrett, also played in Major League Baseball. Wayne was a third baseman and won the 1969 World Series with the New York Mets.
Adrian Garrett passed away on April 22, 2021, at the age of 78.
