Gil Garrido – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Gil Garrido wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1972 after eight seasons in Major League Baseball. The Panamanian infielder spent most of his time at shortstop for the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves between 1964 and 1972.

Born on June 26, 1941, Garrido stood 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 150 pounds. He batted and threw right-handed throughout his career, which was pretty common for middle infielders back then.

Garrido ended his MLB run with a .237 batting average, one home run, and 51 RBIs across 334 games over six seasons. His final season in 1972 turned out to be his best at the plate, hitting .267 in 40 games with the Atlanta Braves.

He spent nearly a decade in professional baseball, including time in the minors both before and after his big-league years.

Let’s take a closer look at Garrido’s career—his stats, what led up to his 1972 retirement, and what he did after baseball. From his debut with the Giants to his last season with the Braves, Garrido’s journey feels familiar for a lot of utility players who contributed to their teams despite modest offensive numbers. There’s also the collectibles and memorabilia that keep his baseball legacy alive today.

Gil Garrido’s Baseball Career Overview

Gil Garrido played professional baseball for six seasons between 1964 and 1972, mostly as a shortstop for the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves.

He put together a .237 batting average and 51 RBIs across 334 games in the majors.

Early Years and Entry into Major League Baseball

Gil Gonzalo Garrido Jr. was born on June 26, 1941, in Panama City, Panama. His dad, Gil Garrido Sr., played in the Negro Leagues, so baseball was kind of in his blood.

The San Francisco Giants signed Garrido as an amateur free agent in 1960. He spent four years working his way through their minor league system before finally making his major league debut.

MLB Debut Details:

• Date: April 24, 1964
• Team: San Francisco Giants
• Age: 22 years old

Garrido’s first taste of the majors was short. He played in just 14 games during the 1964 season and went 2-for-25 at the plate.

He stood 5 feet 9 inches and weighed 150 pounds, batting and throwing right-handed. That was pretty typical for infielders at the time.

Teams Played For and Positions

Garrido played for two major league teams during his career. He split his time between the Giants and the Braves.

San Francisco Giants (1964)

• Played 14 games as a rookie
• Filled in as a utility infielder
• Hit just .080 in limited chances

Atlanta Braves (1968-1972)

• Joined the team after a 1966 trade
• Spent five seasons with Atlanta
• Served as their main backup shortstop

The Giants traded Garrido to the Braves on May 5, 1966. Marv Breeding and $15,000 went to San Francisco in exchange for Garrido.

Garrido mainly played shortstop but filled in at other infield spots when needed. His defense made him valuable as a utility guy who could handle several roles.

Major Career Highlights

Garrido had his best season in 1970 with the Atlanta Braves. He set career highs in several categories that year.

1970 Season Statistics:

• Games: 101
• Batting Average: .264
• Runs: 38
• RBIs: 19
• Hits: 97

He hit his only major league home run on May 27, 1970, at Atlanta Stadium against Houston Astros pitcher Denny Lemaster.

Garrido played in the 1969 National League Championship Series. The New York Mets swept Atlanta 3-0, and he went 2-for-10 in those playoff games.

Career Totals:

• Batting Average: .237
• Home Runs: 1
• RBIs: 51
• Games: 334
• Hits: 207

He played his last big-league game on October 3, 1972, with the Braves. After he retired, stats from places like Retrosheet helped keep his career record alive for baseball fans and researchers.

Statistical Performance and Achievements

Garrido’s six-season career gave him a .237 batting average and not a ton of offensive highlights, but his defense at shortstop had its moments. That lone home run and steady infield work across multiple positions kind of sum up his legacy.

Batting Average and Offensive Records

He finished with a .237 batting average over 334 games from 1964 to 1972. His offensive production stayed steady, but let’s be honest, it was never flashy.

His best year with the bat came in 1970, when he hit .264 in 101 games for Atlanta. That season, he had 97 hits and 19 RBIs.

Gil Garrido’s career offensive totals:

• 207 hits in 872 at-bats
• 1 home run (in 1970)
• 51 RBIs
• 81 runs scored

His only home run came during that 1970 season. Power just wasn’t his thing—he finished with 14 doubles and 5 triples for his whole career.

Garrido drew 61 walks and struck out 54 times. His on-base percentage was .286, showing he could make contact even if he didn’t slug much.

Notable Fielding Performances

Garrido’s defensive skills changed a lot depending on the year and position. Shortstop was his main spot, and some seasons were definitely better than others.

His 1968 fielding performance at shortstop stands out. In 17 games, he posted a .987 fielding percentage, which was well above the league average of .962 that year.

Key defensive statistics:

• Career fielding percentage: .973 at shortstop
• 36 double plays in 1970 (career high)
• Played shortstop, second base, and third base

The 1970 season was probably his best all-around defensively. He handled 361 chances at short with a .975 fielding percentage and turned 36 double plays.

Garrido’s ability to play all over the infield made him a solid option for managers. His range factor numbers usually hovered near league averages, so he was steady, if not flashy.

1972 Final Season and Retirement

Gil Garrido’s last season in Major League Baseball came in 1972 with the Atlanta Braves. His performance that year had ups and downs, and at 31, he decided to call it a career.

Performance in 1972

Garrido played in 40 games during the 1972 season with Atlanta. His last campaign really was a story of two halves—home and away.

Home vs. Road Statistics:

At home, Garrido struggled, hitting just .176 with only 3 hits in 17 at-bats and no RBIs.

On the road, things looked better. He batted .293 away from Atlanta, picking up 17 hits in 58 at-bats, with 7 RBIs and 10 runs scored.

He hit one double in his final season and, as usual, didn’t go deep. That kept his career total at just 1 home run.

Factors Leading to Retirement

Several things probably led Garrido to retire after 1972. He saw less playing time, which showed the Braves wanted younger players at his spot.

At 31, he’d already spent nine seasons in the big leagues. His career batting average of .237 really reflected his role as a defensive specialist more than a hitter.

His uneven 1972 season hinted that his skills were slipping. The big gap between his home and road stats made it clear he wasn’t as reliable as before.

With only 40 games played that final year, Garrido probably realized opportunities were drying up.

The mix of age, less playing time, and inconsistent results made 1972 the right time to step away from pro baseball.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

After his playing days, Gil Garrido moved into coaching and scouting roles with baseball organizations. Even though he didn’t have a star’s numbers, his impact on the game continued as he helped develop future talent.

Life After Baseball

Garrido stayed involved in baseball long after he retired in 1972. In 1990, he coached for the single-A Burlington Braves, working with young players in the Atlanta farm system.

That coaching role came almost 20 years after his last game, so he probably did other things before coming back to baseball officially.

He also worked as a scout for pro teams. Scouts are key for finding and evaluating talent at all levels, and Garrido’s experience in the majors gave him a good eye for prospects.

Moving from player to coach and scout is a common path for ex-athletes. Garrido’s baseball smarts and understanding of what it takes to make it helped him mentor the next generation.

Impact on the Game

Garrido’s impact goes beyond his stats. As the son of Negro League player Gil Garrido Sr., he bridged different eras of pro baseball.

He played six seasons in the majors, and while he didn’t put up huge numbers, he showed the perseverance it takes to make it in pro sports. Garrido once said, “When they call you, you’ve got to be ready. You can’t wait for tomorrow.”

That attitude really captures the mindset of utility players, always staying ready for a chance. Garrido’s ability to handle multiple infield spots made him a useful teammate.

His work as a coach and scout after playing helped shape future players. These behind-the-scenes roles don’t usually get much attention, but they’re vital for baseball’s growth.

Data Sources and Baseball Statistics Platforms

Modern baseball research leans heavily on big databases and stats platforms that keep detailed records of player performance. Retrosheet is the main source for historical play-by-play data, and several other platforms make it easy for fans and researchers to dig into players like Gil Garrido.

Role of Retrosheet and retrosheet.org

Retrosheet stands out as the top database for historical baseball info. The organization offers free access to game logs, play-by-play data, and stats going back to the 1800s.

Baseball-Reference.com relies a lot on Retrosheet data. The site credits Retrosheet for much of its play-by-play info and transaction records, which helps ensure accurate historical data for players like Garrido.

Volunteers at Retrosheet collect and check data from scorebooks and newspaper stories. They enter every play from games to build complete statistical records.

That process can take years, but it creates the most accurate baseball database out there.

The data covers batting stats, fielding records, and game situations. Researchers can find info about specific at-bats, defensive plays, and roster moves. This kind of detail helps create thorough player profiles.

Importance of Data Sources in Baseball Research

You need multiple data sources to really build out solid player profiles. Baseball-Reference, Baseball Almanac, and StatsCrew all pull from similar databases, but they each present the info in their own way.

Each platform has its own strengths. Baseball-Reference digs deep into stats and advanced metrics. Baseball Almanac leans into biographical details and career highlights. StatsCrew? It’s more about career totals and the basics.

Source verification makes a big difference for data accuracy. Baseball-Reference usually points out whether the info comes from official records or just estimates. That kind of transparency lets researchers judge how much to trust the numbers.

Modern baseball analysis can’t survive on just one or two stats. Metrics like Win Expectancy and Leverage Index come from specialized sources, especially Tom Tango’s work. These advanced numbers add layers to the old-school stats and give a richer look at a player’s impact.

Affiliate Programs and Collectibles Related to Gil Garrido

You can still find Gil Garrido memorabilia on several online platforms that rely on affiliate marketing programs. The eBay Partner Network connects collectors with authenticated baseball cards and signed items from Garrido’s days on the field.

eBay Partner Network and Baseball Memorabilia

The eBay Partner Network acts as a main hub for Gil Garrido collectibles. Sports memorabilia sites get a commission when collectors buy through their affiliate links.

Current Gil Garrido items you might spot include:

• 1970 Topps #48 autographed cards ($21.24)
• 1971 Topps signed cards ($8.64)
• 1972 Topps #758 signed cards (high-number series)

Someone paid $135.50 in December 2009 for the priciest Gil Garrido item—a PSA-graded 1972 Topps signed card. On the other end, the cheapest item went for just $0.99 in February 2023.

Most Garrido autographs average about $6.95. March 2011 saw the most sales, with four items moving that month. December 2009 holds the record for highest average selling price at $70.58.

Affiliate Programs in Sports Collecting

Sports collecting websites often use affiliate programs to make money from their Gil Garrido content. These programs connect collectors directly with authenticated memorabilia, and they help the sites pull in some revenue at the same time.

You’ll see the eBay Partner Network mentioned a lot on Gil Garrido memorabilia sites. Trading card databases and price guides usually join these programs too.

Popular Gil Garrido collectibles include:

• Topps baseball cards from 1969-1972
• Signed 3×5 index cards
• Team-issued photographs
• Minor league cards

SportsCollectors.Net lists 18 Gil Garrido autographs up for trade. If you want to make through-the-mail autograph requests, you’ll need a premium membership on the site.

Collectors report about a 77% success rate for getting Garrido’s signature, which isn’t too bad, honestly.