HOUSTON -- Few players defined the rainbow-jersey era of the 1980s Astros more than Alan Ashby and Phil Garner, both of whom began their career elsewhere before becoming fan favorites in Houston and mainstays on the field during a time when the franchise was coming into its own.
Ashby -- a switch-hitting catcher who had a front-row seat to many of the greatest moments in club history before his long run as a club broadcaster -- and Garner -- a hard-nosed infielder who later managed the Astros to their first World Series berth -- were both inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame in an on-field ceremony prior to Saturday’s 10-5 loss to the Mariners at Daikin Park.
“What a guy to be able to be inducted with, Phil Garner, who I played with, respected and loved,” Ashby said.
Garner, who died April 11 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, was represented by his family, including his wife, Carol, sons Eric and Ty, and daughter Bethany, as well as six grandchildren. Both Garner and Ashby will have Hall of Fame plaques installed in Hall of Fame Alley at Daikin Park.
“I want to start where Phil would have started, with gratitude,” Carol Garner said. “Phil was so grateful for the game of baseball. … Phil learned about this honor not long before he passed, and he wasn’t smiling in those days. But for that, he did. And I know he would appreciate it.”
Garner won a World Series title as a player with the “We Are Family” Pirates in 1979, earning the nickname “Scrap Iron” from teammate Willie Stargell. Garner was acquired by Houston in 1981 and spent the next seven seasons playing for the Astros, helping them win the NL West title in ‘86. He coached the Astros from 1989-91 immediately after his playing days were over, and later managed the Brewers and Tigers.
In 2004, after signing Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens in the offseason, the Astros stumbled to a disappointing 44-44 record at the All-Star break and needed a spark. Jimy Williams was then fired as manager and replaced by Garner, who lived in the Houston area.
“Houston wasn’t just a stop for us,” Carol said. “He played, managed and coached in a lot of places, but we made Houston our home and have been here a long time.”
The Astros eventually rallied behind Garner, going 36-10 down the stretch in 2004 to win the NL Wild Card on the final day of the regular season.
“He never stayed down long, and he didn’t let anyone around him stay down,” Carol said.
The Astros beat the Braves for their first playoff series win in franchise history before losing to the Cardinals in the NL Championship Series that year. They returned to the playoffs in 2005 and beat the Cardinals in six games in the NLCS before getting swept by the White Sox in the World Series.
“He loved the sound of this ballpark in October, and I hope we get to hear it again,” Carol said.
Ashby, who played parts of four seasons in Cleveland and two seasons in Toronto before joining the Astros in 1979, played 11 seasons in Houston and caught 900 games, which is the second most in club history at the position, behind only Brad Ausmus’ 1,243. Ashby caught three no-hitters, including Nolan Ryan’s record-breaking fifth no-hitter in 1981, and hit a walk-off home run in the Astrodome off Dave Stewart to beat the rival Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1981 NLDS.
In addition to being the man eventually replaced at catcher by Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, he was the first Astros player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game.
Following his playing career, Ashby spent 13 seasons as an Astros broadcaster, calling games on both radio and television. From 1998-2006, he was the Astros’ color commentator on radio, working alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton. From 2013-16, he called Astros games on television, handling both color and play-by-play duties.
“I’m so overwhelmed to find myself sitting here right now,” said Ashby, shortly after slipping on the orange jacket given to Astros Hall of Fame members. “I guess I hoped the jacket fits, and it fits just fine. It’s me I’m concerned about right now. I hope a lot that I’m fitting in this group and belonging.”