You can buy an autographed baseball in a million places, but you can buy a $75 autographed baseball from a US Senate candidate in one place.
The candidate, of course, is Steve Garvey, who is a household name in California not because of a life spent in politics, but because of a distinguished career for the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
In the race against Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), Garvey is the decided underdog. No Republican has won a California Senate seat since 1988.
On Saturday — a month before Election Day — Garvey’s two teams played to open the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. That made it a good day to check in with Garvey.
Dodgers. Padres. Who will win?
My team is going to win. (He laughs.)
You spent most of your life with the Dodgers. You were a batboy for the Dodgers long before you were a first baseman – eight-time All-Star, most valuable player, World Series winner. How did you become a major player in Padres history?
Back when the Dodgers made me an offer I could refuse (Garvey was a free agent after the 1982 season), I ended up with (Padres owner and McDonald’s baron) Ray Kroc at the clifftop house. He said: ‘Stevie, I wish you were here. I know what you can do in the field, but this community needs someone who understands the relationship between people and cities. We don’t have it yet.’
He said there was only one problem: ‘I can only pay you in Big Macs and french fries.’
In 1983, your first year in San Diego, the Padres finished at .500. The team had a winning streak spanning 15 seasons. In 1984, the Padres went to the World Series.
In the second year, we’ve got (closer Goose) Gossage and (third baseman Graig) Nettles. Tony Gwynn is in his third year. We had (shortstop Garry) Templeton and (catcher Terry) Kennedy and (outfielder Kevin) McReynolds, and (second baseman Alan) Wiggins showed up, and the pitching staff was good doggone good.
’84 was the year. It is a kind of emergence from the history of Padre. Being part of the Dodger organization, from batboy in ’56 for all the years I was part of a great historic franchise, being part of it and making a significant contribution, and then going to San Diego and helping to win. for the first time and build that history, I take a lot of pride in it.
Who would have thought I wouldn’t be a Dodger my whole career? And life happens. Having it that way is great.
The Padres’ most memorable moment has to be the home run in Game 4 of the 1984 NL championship series, which put the team one win away from the World Series.
Everywhere I go, people tell me where they are, which is always a sign of a historical moment.
And his most memorable moment with the Dodgers?
The ’81 world championship was really the highlight of my career. If you play a team sport, winning the world championship is the most important thing. We were frustrated in ’74, ’77 and ’78. Then in ’81, with the way they did with the attack, it looked like a team of destiny.
Are you wondering if your number has been retired by the Padres but not by the Dodgers?
With Don Newcombe and (Fernando Valenzuela) and I, we were the first class of Legends of Dodger Baseball, which has come out in the last few years. This is also an honor.
Everyone always asks me: ‘Why isn’t your number retired?’ It is totally up to the organization. I’m proud that San Diego and the Padres retired my number. I have said it will probably happen in the future. I don’t wake up every day and think about it.
Did you get heckled while campaigning in the San Francisco Bay Area?
I don’t. We just came from Northern California. His nature is amazing. Some people will say, ‘Oh, they beat us.’ But a lot of people are going to say, ‘Garvey, we hate the Dodgers, but we’re going to vote for you. It’s bad here, and we know you well enough.’
Our theme has been – and my wife, Candace, came up with – I never took the field for Democrats or Republicans, but for all fans.
In the best interest of California, do you have plans to make it giant again?
Giants again?
That would give the state three big National League teams.
He has that streak (three championships in five years), which is a statement for this millennium in Giants history. When your rivalry is good, it’s good for the game and good for both teams.
That’s why the rise of the Padres is good: everyone has been waiting for a time when they really equaled the Dodgers.
On the other side of the San Francisco Bay, the major league team has left Oakland and is planning to leave the entire country, to go to Las Vegas. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) has introduce the bill which requires the team that leaves the community to compensate the community, due to the support of the team and often donates to the stadium. Do you support the bill?
It is a will and a choice. It’s a business. That’s capitalism. If you own a smaller market, you know the challenges and restrictions. In the end, it is up to the ownership to decide their future fate.
It’s obviously very emotional for him, and for the people of Oakland, and the great players that have come out of there – Dave Stewart and Dusty Baker and all those guys. But it is purely a business decision made by the owner. People don’t necessarily like it because they’re local, and they have a good history there. It’s just the nature of business in America.
So you don’t see a role for the federal government in franchise relocation?
No, God, low taxes, smaller government, and the pursuit of happiness. That’s what Ronald Reagan told me.
In sports, your team works together to beat the other team. That’s what’s happening in Congress right now. In Washington, that leads to dysfunction. How can your sports background help you solve these problems?
Our theme is common sense, compassion and consensus. I have said, when I am elected US senator from California, I will begin, on the first day, to all 99 other senators – to go to the office, put my hand out and say, ‘I am Steve Garvey, and I want to work with you for the good of my country. , your country and my country.’ I don’t think too many people are willing to do that, or have.
One last try: Dodgers. Padres. Who are you rooting for in this series?
My team is going to win. (He laughs again.)
Dodging questions? You can only have a future in politics.
I hope so. Six years, at least. One term.
