Ned Garvin

Virgil Lee Garvin

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3½", Weight 160 lb.

• School Chicago College of Dentistry

• Debut July 13, 1896
• Final Game September 16, 1904
• Born January 1, 1874 in Navasota, TX USA
• Died June 16, 1908 in Fresno, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Ned Garvin was the tough-luck pitcher of the decade, if not the hard-luck pitcher of all time . . . He was pretty much the tough-luck pitcher of the year every year." - The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract

Ned Garvin, nicknamed "The Navasota Tarantula," pitched seven seasons in the big leagues, appearing with six different teams.

In spite of winning less than 38% of his decisions, he was often in the top ten in the league in ERA. In 1900 when he went 10-18 he was second in the league in ERA and in 1904 when he went 5-15 during most of the season in the 1904 National League, he was again second in that league. He was also fifth in the league in 1902 and tenth in 1899.

In 1901 he led the league in strikeouts-per-nine innings, and in 1900 he was second in the league in that category.

Ned also pitched several years in the minors. As a young player he spent several years in the Atlantic League. After his major league days he went 25-20 for the Portland Giants in 1905 and 20-19 for the Portland Beavers and Seattle Siwashes in 1906. With Butte in 1907 he also won 20 games.

Garvin was also known for his bad attitude and quick temper which got his name in headlines a few times. He was once thrown out of a hotel after he beat up a man for ignoring him when he tried to start a conversation, and once placed a glass cup on Tom Daly's face and stomped on it after Daly told him to "go back to Texas." Garvin was also a known racist too and attacked a black shoe shiner and made racist remarks at the man, before shooting at him.

He died in June 1908 of consumption.