Phil Garner Sees That the End Is Near

Phil Garner has thoughts about what he wants to do once he stops playing major league baseball, but the 39-year-old infielder isn’t preparing any farewell speech yet.

“If I’m going to help anybody, I have to get back into it this year,” he said. “One of my goals was to play into my 40s, but after this year, it’s going to be tough for somebody to give me a job.”

Garner is playing for the San Francisco Giant’s Pacific Coast Leauge farm club, the Phoenix Firebirds, while on 20-day rehabilitation status after recuperating nearly months following early season back surgery.

By the time Garner chose surgery, his sciatic nerve was affected, costing him feeling in arms and legs.

“I had to go to school to learn how to use my back properly, tilting my hips, bending my legs and keeping the back straight,” Garner said. “Fielding as many ground balls as I have over the years has taken a toll on my back and hips.”

After helping coach his sons’ Little League teams in Houston, Phil is intrigued by the idea of coaching or managing professionally.

“I’ve tried to be the consummate professional throughout my career, and now I want to put as much back into the game as I’ve taken from it.”

A member of the 1979 world champion Pittsburgh Pirates, Garner would rather talk about former teammates than himself.

“I often think how fortunate I’ve been to play with and against so many great ballplayers. I’ve collected more than 40 autographed bats from recent and future Hall of Famers. I’ve been blessed with a lot of joy.”

Garner has two reasons for being in Phoenix: “To prove to a couple of doctors that I can play again and get another championship ring. Then I want to show young people what a great game this is.”

Through three games at second base and two as designated hitter, he hit .231, getting on base six times in 15 plate appearances for the Firebirds.