Top 25 Players in Blue Rocks History: Jeff Garber
Wilmington, DE - Although the Top 25 Players List is primarily made up of former Blue Rocks who played on the diamond, there is a coach and manager that made the list due to their great success in the dugout. The first non-player to make the list is the winningest manager in Blue Rocks' history.
Jeff Garber is the lone manager to crack the Top-25 list. After getting national acclaim his senior year at James Madison University for scoring 82 runs in 56 games, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 10th round of the 1988 amateur draft. The McConnellsburg, PA native spent time in the Royals' system from 1988 to 1995. In 1990, he played for the then Baseball City Royals in the Florida State League which was the former Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Royals. He would reach Triple-A three different years including 1991, 1994 and 1995. After his playing days came to an end, he became the skipper of the Spokane Indians, the Short-Season A affiliate of the Royals from 1997-98. Following, Garber moved up to Wilmington to take the helm of the Blue Rocks in 1999.
Many Wilmington fans may remember that 1999 season as it was the last time the Blue Rocks won the Carolina League Championship, albeit shared with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, due to Hurricane Floyd which halted the series at 2-2. However, Garber led the Blue Rocks to a First and Second Half Championship that year and posted a 77-61 record in his first season.
His sophomore campaign the Blue Rocks were unable to post the same success. The team finished 63-76 on the year and missed the playoffs for just the second time during the first six years of Wilmington's existence. Garber and company got back to form in 2001 and posted a 78-62 record and captured the division title. After sweeping Frederick 2-0 in the semifinals, the Blue Rocks lost a hard fought series to Salem in the Carolina League Championship Series and came up short in the five game set. Nonetheless, Garber led the Blue Rocks to the organization's sixth championship series in eight seasons.
In 2002, Garber enjoyed his most successful season in terms of overall record. With an 89-51 record, it still stands as the second best winning percentage in a season by a Blue Rocks manager. For the third time in four years under his leadership, the Blue Rocks finished in first place in each half of the season. The team however fell short of achieving their goal and lost to Lynchburg 2-1 in the three-game semifinals. The 2002 season marked the final season for Garber at the helm of the Blue Rocks.
In his impressive four-year tenure, Garber racked up the accolades. He managed a pair of Carolina All-Star teams in 1999 and 2002, was named the 2002 Carolina League Manager of the Year and is the winnigest coach in Blue Rocks' History with 307 career wins. After a six year hiatus, Garber joined the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League and managed the team for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Currently, Garber serves as a Field Coordinator for the Washington Nationals.
Wilmington opens its 2017 campaign at Frawley Stadium on Thursday, April 6 against the Potomac Nationals. Season seats, mini plans and group packages for the Blue Rocks' 25th season are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit the team's website at www.BlueRocks.com. To learn more about what is on tap for the Rocks' 25th season celebration, check out www.BlueRocks/25thseason.com.
25 Years of Blue Rocks Baseball