Garry Templeton

Infobox MLB retired
name=Garry Templeton
position=Shortstop
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1956|3|24
city-state|Lockney|Texas
debutdate=August 9
debutyear=by|1976
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=October 5
finalyear=by|1991
finalteam=New York Mets
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.271
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=2,096
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=728
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (by|1976-by|1981)
* San Diego Padres (by|1982-by|1991)
* New York Mets (by|1991)
highlights=
* 3x All-Star selection (1977, 1979, 1985)
* 2x Silver Slugger Award winner (1980, 1984)

Garry Lewis Templeton (born March 24 1956 in Lockney, Texas) is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 to 1991. Templeton had good batting numbers in an era when shortstops did not provide much offense.

He was hailed by many as one of the best players in baseball early in his career, which featured All-Star Game appearances in by|1977 and by|1979. In the latter year, Templeton made history as the first switch-hitter to collect 100 hits from each side of the plate, a feat achieved only once more since then. His total of 211 hits led the National League, and with 19 triples, he led the league for a third consecutive season. He caused some controversy in 1979 when, despite having better numbers than either Dave Concepción or Larry Bowa, two of the National League's premier shortstops at the time, he wasn't selected to start at shortstop for the National League All-Star team. He was named to the team as a reserve, but refused to go. In response, he made his now-infamous quote, "If I ain't startin', I ain't departin'!"

He continued to hit well in by|1980 and by|1981, but wasn't popular with Cardinals fans. During the 1981 season, Templeton made an obscene gesture to some fans who had allegedly been heckling him. This proved to be too much for the Cardinals' management to accept – having a player insult the team's fans is never a good idea, and even more so in St. Louis where fans are considered to be among baseball's most knowledgeable and loyal. Therefore, manager Whitey Herzog pulled Templeton off the field, and after the end of the season traded him to the Padres for Ozzie Smith. The trade was welcomed by everyone involved, as Smith was (then) a light-hitting defensive wizard and the Cardinals needed to improve their defense. He was also embroiled in a contract dispute with Padres' management. Templeton, while not as strong afield, was a much better hitter going to a team with a struggling offense.

Unfortunately for Templeton and the Padres, Smith developed into a better hitter with the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Templeton played well enough to keep the starting shortstop job in San Diego for many years, but knee problems diminished his ability as a hitter. As a result, Templeton is unfairly maligned for being part of what was considered a lopsided trade.

Ironically, Templeton, who began his career as an unpopular player in St. Louis, went on to become one of the most popular players in Padres history, and was considered an emotional leader on the by|1984 National League championship team. He was named team captain of the Padres by manager Larry Bowa in 1987, and assumed that role until he was traded to the New York Mets in 1991.

After his retirement as an active player in 1991, Templeton stayed in the game as a coach and minor-league manager. From 1998 through 2001, he managed the Salt Lake Stingers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, posting a 294-272 record. From 2003 to 2004, he managed the Gary Railcats of the Northern League, moving on to manage the Golden Baseball League's Fullerton Flyers in 2005. After three years with the Flyers, he would move on to manage the Arizona Winter League's Palm Springs Chill in 2008.

ee also

*List of major league players with 2,000 hits
*List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
*List of Major League Baseball triples champions

External links

*baseball-reference|id=t/templga01