Garrett was born in Brooksville, Florida, on January 3, 1943, to parents Henry Sr., a machine operator, and Ida Garrett.[1] His family relocated to nearby Sarasota when he was six years old. Garrett attended Sarasota High School, where he played baseball and football.[2] After graduating in 1961, he was signed as an amateur free agent by Zack Taylor of the Milwaukee Braves on June 15 that same year.[1][2]
Playing career
Garrett played in the minor leagues from the 1961 to 1966 seasons.[3] He made his MLB debut on April 13, 1966, at the age of 23,[1] entering as a pinch hitter and popping out in his only at bat in a 6–0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.[4] However, he appeared in only four games as a Brave that year and went hitless in three at bats.[1] He did not return to MLB until September 1970 as a member of the Cubs, going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts as a pinch hitter.[5]
Garrett began his off-field career in 1982 as a minor-league manager in the Chicago White Sox' farm system. He then became a hitting instructor in the ChiSox' organization, and served for five seasons (1988–1992) at the big-league level as the third-base and hitting coach of the Kansas City Royals. He then moved into the Florida Marlins' organization, spending ten years as a minor league coach. More recently, he was hitting coach for the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, from 2003 to 2011. From 2012 to 2015, Garrett was a part-time batting instructor for Cincinnati during spring training, post-draft mini-camp, instructional league and the regular season.[2][8]
Personal life
Garrett met Linda Jean Thurman in 1963. They married five years later and had two children, Jason and Angela. The family resided in Austin,[2] and he remained married until his death.[8] He was inducted into the Tacoma Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. Fifteen years later, he was honored in the Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame.[2] His younger brother Wayne was an MLB third baseman and a member of the 1969 World Series champion New York Mets.[1]
Garrett died on April 22, 2021, at the Ascension Seton Hays Hospital in Kyle, Texas. He was 78, and suffered from pneumonia prior to his death.[8]