Garvey in Unusual Position--on Bench

Everything was the same. Steve Garvey got dressed as usual, pulled on his cap as usual, warmed up as usual and signed autographs as usual.

“Hey Steve,” a kid screamed. “Get a hit today!”

A nod.

And then the game began.

Steve Garvey sat on the bench.

Padre Manager Steve Boros lived up to his promise. He had said in spring training that Garvey would start about 150 games this year, reasoning that Garvey would stay fresher in September this way. And Saturday, it happened, the first time Garvey had missed a start since Sept. 29, 1984.

That’s 175 consecutive games.

“Are you kidding? I was going crazy,” said Garvey, describing his thoughts as Dane Iorg took his place on the field. “For someone who hasn’t missed more than two starts in the last 15 years, it was quite different.”

He doesn’t rest easy. From 1973, when he first became a Dodger regular, through 1983, Garvey played 1,207 consecutive baseball games. The streak ended when he broke his thumb in a collision at the plate in 1983, but he played all but one game in 1984, sitting out only when Manager Dick Williams decided to rest his starters one day right before the playoffs.

In 1985, he started every one.

“You know,” he said Saturday, “this is the first time I’ve ever been rested (for something other than an injury or an upcoming playoff series) . . . You’d need a decade calender to check that one out. But I understand his (Boros’) reasons. Whatever makes Steve’s job easier is fine. I understand his philosophy, and you all know mine. I just want to get in somehow.

“Boy, was I antsy today. I’m a poor sitter to begin with.”

Then, it happened. In the eighth inning, Boros asked Garvey to pinch-hit for Iorg. He ran out there and blooped a single to center field.

He kept his promise to that kid.