Garth Iorg
Encyclopedia
Garth Ray Iorg is a former Major League Baseball
(MLB) player who played his entire career (1978–1987) for the Toronto Blue Jays
.
, Iorg was drafted in the 8th round (181st overall) in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft
by the New York Yankees
. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays
from the Yankees organization in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. He made his MLB debut on April 9, 1978.
Iorg was a solid utility player who spent most of his career as the right-handed half of a third-base platoon with Rance Mulliniks
. During his major league career, he also appeared at 2B, 1B, SS, DH and OF. Although he was an emergency catcher, he never played this position at the major league level. After he retired, he played shortstop
for the Bradenton Explorers
in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
.
Iorg was most recognizable for his strange batting stance, on the toes of his front foot and leaning back toward the catcher
as the ball was being pitched. Usually a singles hitter, Iorg hit well enough to have the highest batting average
(.313) on the Blue Jays in their division-winning 1985 season, along with a .469 slugging percentage.
In his final major league plate appearance, Iorg made Toronto
's last out of the 1987 season when a win would have tied the Blue Jays with Detroit Tigers
for the American League East
title. The Jays collapsed during the last two weeks of the season, losing their last seven games. At the time of his retirement, Iorg was the Blue Jays's career leader in pinch hits.http://www.baseball-reference.com/i/iorgga01.shtml
Iorg served as the Milwaukee Brewers
third base coach for the final 12 games of the 2008 season, after Dale Sveum
became the interim manager.
In his debut season in 1978, he wore uniform number 29. He was in the minor leagues in 1979, and in 1980 he was recalled to the Blue Jays, wearing uniform number 16 until his retirement.
, another former Major League Baseball player. They played against each other in the 1985 American League Championship Series. He is also the father of three sons who either play professional baseball or have been drafted into professional baseball. As well, his daughter played NCAA softball.
He is the founder of the Yard Baseball School in Knoxville, TN. He is honored in his home town of Blue Lake , CA by naming their only baseball field after the Iorg legacy.
Iorg is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) player who played his entire career (1978–1987) for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
Career
After attending College of the RedwoodsCollege of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods is a public two-year community college whose main campus, comprising , is located on the southernmost edge of Eureka in Humboldt County, California. This sprawling site is spacious and distinctive in its modernistic use of massive, exposed wooden support beams in each...
, Iorg was drafted in the 8th round (181st overall) in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft
1973 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :Four dominating players of the late 70s and 80s were selected in the June regular phase...
by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
from the Yankees organization in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. He made his MLB debut on April 9, 1978.
Iorg was a solid utility player who spent most of his career as the right-handed half of a third-base platoon with Rance Mulliniks
Rance Mulliniks
Steven Rance Mulliniks is a former Major League Baseball player.Originally drafted as a shortstop, Mulliniks made his major league debut in for the California Angels, batting .269 in 78 games...
. During his major league career, he also appeared at 2B, 1B, SS, DH and OF. Although he was an emergency catcher, he never played this position at the major league level. After he retired, he played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Bradenton Explorers
Bradenton Explorers
The Bradenton Explorers were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in . That season, the club complied a record of 38-34 and finished in second place in the league's Northern Division, narrowly holding off the Orlando Juice. Jim...
in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
.
Iorg was most recognizable for his strange batting stance, on the toes of his front foot and leaning back toward the catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
as the ball was being pitched. Usually a singles hitter, Iorg hit well enough to have the highest batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.313) on the Blue Jays in their division-winning 1985 season, along with a .469 slugging percentage.
In his final major league plate appearance, Iorg made Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's last out of the 1987 season when a win would have tied the Blue Jays with Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
title. The Jays collapsed during the last two weeks of the season, losing their last seven games. At the time of his retirement, Iorg was the Blue Jays's career leader in pinch hits.http://www.baseball-reference.com/i/iorgga01.shtml
Iorg served as the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
third base coach for the final 12 games of the 2008 season, after Dale Sveum
Dale Sveum
Dale Curtis Sveum is a former Major League Baseball player and the current manager of the Chicago Cubs.-Playing career:A talented athlete, Sveum was an All-State and All-American quarterback while attending Pinole Valley High School, in addition to being a fine baseball player...
became the interim manager.
In his debut season in 1978, he wore uniform number 29. He was in the minor leagues in 1979, and in 1980 he was recalled to the Blue Jays, wearing uniform number 16 until his retirement.
Personal life
Garth Iorg is the brother of Dane IorgDane Iorg
Dane Charles Iorg is a retired Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder. He played for ten seasons for four teams, including eight seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the brother of former third basemen Garth Iorg; they played against each other in the 1985 American League...
, another former Major League Baseball player. They played against each other in the 1985 American League Championship Series. He is also the father of three sons who either play professional baseball or have been drafted into professional baseball. As well, his daughter played NCAA softball.
He is the founder of the Yard Baseball School in Knoxville, TN. He is honored in his home town of Blue Lake , CA by naming their only baseball field after the Iorg legacy.
Iorg is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.