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LUBBOCK, Texas — Grambling State University baseball legend, Ralph Garr, was enshrined into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday during the Night of Champions at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Garr
During his recognition, Garr discussed the recognition the College Baseball Hall of Fame has been able to give to sport on the collegiate.
“I think baseball is really is gaining momentum at being the No. 1 sport and I hope that continues and I think what they’re doing here in Lubbock is a wonderful thing,” Garr said.
Garr joins six other 2013 National College Baseball Hall of Fame enshrined which include players: Sal Bando (Arizona State), Tino Martinez (University of Tampa - New York Yankees), Roy Smalley (USC), Tom Borland (Oklahoma State University) with head coaches Don Schaly (Marietta College) and John Winkin (University of Maine).
Garr was selected by the Black Legends and Pioneers Committee, which is designed to honor players and coaches at Historically Black Colleges and Universities whose careers began prior to 1975. Garr joins Danny Goodwin (Southern), and Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame enshrinees, Lou Brock (Southern) and Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones (Grambling State), as previous honorees in this category.
For his career, he led Grambling State to a 103-11 record, highlighted by a 33-1 record and a third place finish at the 1967 NAIA baseball championship. His .582 batting average as a senior led the nation and set a national record, as did his 11 triples, on the way to first team NAIA All-American honors.
After his collegeiate career, Garr played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball serving stints with the Atlanta Braves (1968-1975), Chicago White Sox (1976-1979) and California Angels (1979-1980). His career numbers include .306 batting average, 75 home runs and 408 RBI. He also tallied more than 1,500 career hits.
He was named the National League Batting Champion in 1974 the same season he made his only N.L. All-Star apperance.