Ralph Garr

Ralph Allen Garr
(Road Runner or Gator)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School Grambling State University
• High School Lincoln High School (Ruston)
• Debut September 3, 1968
• Final Game June 4, 1980
• Born December 12, 1945 in Monroe, LA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Nicknamed "Road Runner" due to his speed, outfielder Ralph Garr hit .306 over thirteen years in the majors and won the National League batting crown in 1974.

Garr played baseball and football at Grambling State University, hitting .582 in the regular season in 1966 to lead college baseball. He was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 1967 amateur draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the Austin Braves and went on to lead the Texas League with 32 stolen bases. Two years later with the Richmond Braves, he led the International League with a .329 average and 63 steals, and in 1970, he was hitting .386 with 39 stolen bases when he reached the majors for good.

As Atlanta's regular left fielder in 1971, Garr hit .343 (second in the NL) and stole 30 bases. After hitting .325 (second in the NL again) in 1972 and .299 with 35 steals in 1973, he hit .353 in 1974 to win the National League batting crown and earned a spot on the All-Star team. He also led the NL with 17 triples in 1974 and 11 in 1975.

Garr was traded to the Chicago White Sox after the 1975 season and hit exactly .300 in his first two years there. He was the first hitter to bat against the Toronto Blue Jays, and ended his career with the California Angels.

Despite his speed, Garr was regarded as somewhat defensively challenged in the outfield.

Garr has worked in the Atlanta Braves scouting department since 1985. His son Ralph Garr Jr. followed him into both playing and scouting. In 2006, Ralph Sr. became a member of the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame, and in 2008, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame. Through 2009, he has the most hits of any MLB player from Grambling State (with no one else particularly close).

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1974)
• NL Batting Average Leader (1974)
• NL Hits Leader (1974)
• NL Singles Leader (1971)
• 2-time NL Triples Leader (1974 & 1975)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1971)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 3 (1971, 1973 & 1974)

Records Held

• Most at bats, extra inning game, 11, 5/4/73 (tied)

Related Sites

• Ralph Garr at the SABR Bio Project
• Garr in 1971 and reflecting on his career