On this day in 1949, Phil Garner was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He played 16 major league seasons between 1973 and '88 with the Astros, Pirates and three other teams, playing primarily at second base.
Garner had only been coaching for three seasons when he was hired for his first managerial gig, succeeding Tom Trebelhorn with the Brewers. His first season in Milwaukee was one of the better in recent memory: His team won 92 games in 1992, finishing just behind the eventual World Series Champion Blue Jays in the AL East.
Garner went on to manage the Brewers for eight seasons, and is the franchise's all time leader in wins (563) and games managed (1180). He later went on to manage in seven more seasons with the Tigers and Astros.
Interestingly enough, the Brewers were pretty good at celebrating Garner's birthday for a while: They won on April 30 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Then they lost on April 30 1996, 1997 and 1999. They were off in 1998.
Happy birthday today to:
- 1961-63 Milwaukee Brave Bob Hendley, who turns 72.
- Milwaukee native Chet Laabs, who would have turned 99. Laabs played eleven major league seasons between 1937-47 with the St. Louis Browns and two other teams.