University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Mourns the Loss of Baseball Legend Phil Garner
April 13, 2026 | Baseball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – One of the most accomplished individuals in Tennessee baseball history, Phil Garner, has passed away at the age of 76.
Garner passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Saturday, April 11, after a two-plus-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
A two-time All-SEC selection during his playing days with the Volunteers from 1968-70, Garner went on to have a long and illustrious professional baseball career after being selected third overall in the 1971 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
Garner was a three-time MLB All-Star (1976, 1980, 1981) during a 16-year playing career with the A's, Pirates, Astros, Dodgers and Giants. Nicknamed "Scrap Iron" because of his trademark toughness, Garner had one of the greatest strings of postseason performances in MLB history to help lead the Pittsburgh to the 1979 World Series title and earn MVP honors in the process.
Following his playing days, Garner spent parts of 15 years as a manager for the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Detroit Tigers (2000-02) and Houston Astros (2004-07), compiling 985 career victories while leading the Astros to the 2005 National League pennant and the club's first ever appearance in the World Series.
Garner is a member of the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame (1995), the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (2016) and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2002). He is also one of three former Vols to have his jersey retired by UT.
Garner passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on Saturday, April 11, after a two-plus-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
A two-time All-SEC selection during his playing days with the Volunteers from 1968-70, Garner went on to have a long and illustrious professional baseball career after being selected third overall in the 1971 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics.
Garner was a three-time MLB All-Star (1976, 1980, 1981) during a 16-year playing career with the A's, Pirates, Astros, Dodgers and Giants. Nicknamed "Scrap Iron" because of his trademark toughness, Garner had one of the greatest strings of postseason performances in MLB history to help lead the Pittsburgh to the 1979 World Series title and earn MVP honors in the process.
Following his playing days, Garner spent parts of 15 years as a manager for the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Detroit Tigers (2000-02) and Houston Astros (2004-07), compiling 985 career victories while leading the Astros to the 2005 National League pennant and the club's first ever appearance in the World Series.
Garner is a member of the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame (1995), the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (2016) and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2002). He is also one of three former Vols to have his jersey retired by UT.
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