Steve Garvey, who starred for the Dodgers playing first base from 1969 to 1982, is battling prostate cancer.
The 64-year-old couched the announcement in a press release for an upcoming memorabilia auction. Garvey, Rollie Fingers, Bret Saberhagen and basketball star John Havlicek will be auctioning items from their personal collections online April 10.
“This past fall I was thrown a nasty curve and battled prostate cancer,” Garvey said in the release. “I decided on a radical prostectomy operation at UCLA, and through God’s grace it went well. I will continue to monitor my progress, but will now dedicate a significant amount of time and resources to prostate awareness. Through SCP Auctions, the Garvey family will also continue to share our great love for baseball by donating time and dollars to youth baseball programs.”
A radical prostectomy (or prostatectomy) is an operation performed to remove the prostate gland and some of the tissue around it.
Garvey made eight consecutive all-star teams from 1974-81 and led the Dodgers to the 1977 and 1981 World Series. He played in 1,207 consecutive games, still a National League record. He played the final five of his 19 major-league seasons with the San Diego Padres (1983-87).
Garvey still lives in Southern California and is a frequent visitor to Dodger Stadium.
Among the items he is auctioning:
- 1974 National League Most Valuable Player Award
- 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Championship Ring
- 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers National League Championship Ring
- 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers National League Championship Ring
- 1974 National League Gold Glove Award
- 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers Miniature World Series Trophy
- Historic 1984 NLCS Game 4 Walk-Off Home Run Bat Inscribed by Garvey (Voted Greatest Moment in San Diego Sports History)
- 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Trophy
- Nine Major League Baseball All-Star Rings
- 1982 Signed Last Los Angeles Dodgers Game-Worn Warm-Up Jacket
“I have been blessed to win a number of awards and be involved in numerous historical baseball moments over my 20-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres,” Garvey said in the release. “I feel it’s time to share several pieces of history with those fans who inspired me to those wonderful achievements.”
Bidding will be open to registered bidders on Wednesday, April 10 and conclude on Saturday, April 27. The auction will be conducted online at SCPAuctions.com.
For more information on how to participate, visit www.scpauctions.com or call (949) 831-3700.
