Philip M. Garner was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in 1949 but spent his youth in Rutledge, Tennessee. He moved to Knoxville in his junior year of high school, graduating from Bearden High School where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He attended UT on a baseball scholarship and completed a degree in business administration as part of the class of 1972.
Garner signed a professional baseball contract in 1971 with the Oakland A’s. He played professional baseball for five different teams—the Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants—over a 16-year playing career. His playing career highlights include three All-Star appearances and a record batting average in the 1979 World Series of .500 (12 hits in 24 at bats), helping the Pirates to a World Series title. Garner is one of just three UT baseball players honored with a retired number. Garner’s jersey, number 18, was retired in 2009 and is displayed in left field in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
After retiring as a player, Garner became a major league manager. He managed three different teams over 15 years including the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros. His highlights include managing the Brewers to a second-place finish in the American League East in 1992 and earning runner-up for American League Manager of the Year. He managed the Astros to their first-ever National League Division title in 2004 and their first-ever National League Championship in 2005.
Garner and his wife, Carol (’72), have been very active with several charities in the Houston community. Most notably, they were co-chairs in a community effort that raised $175 million to build Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands. Texas Children’s Hospital is considered one of the most preeminent children’s hospitals in the world.
The couple make their home in The Woodlands, Texas, along with their three children and six grandchildren. Although residing in Texas, they have remained lifelong Tennessee fans!
