Steve Garvey, a stalwart figure in Major League baseball during the 1970s and 1980s, initially showcased his athletic prowess as a talented football player during his college days at Michigan State University.
After being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969, Garvey patiently waited over four years to establish himself as a regular player, his persistence eventually yielding dividends in 1974 when he surprisingly earned a starting position at first base for the National League as a write-in candidate.
Garvey's remarkable performance at the plate and in the field soon earned him a spot on the annual All-Star roster, and he played a crucial role in the Dodgers' four National League pennants and one World Championship victory in 1981.
In 1983, Garvey was traded to the San Diego Padres, where he continued to excel, helping the team reach the National League Championship the following season. Throughout his illustrious career, Garvey achieved the milestone of 200 hits in a single season on six occasions, accumulated 1,308 career RBIs, and maintained a respectable career batting average of.294.
As his playing days drew to a close, Garvey's impressive on-field accomplishments made him a shoo-in for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with his sights now set on a potential career in politics.
