UMass Lowell Athletics Hall of Fame
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(1985) - Coming to Lowell Textile Institute with virtually no knowledge of baseball, John Garner went on to become one of the finest pitchers in Lowell textile Institute history.
Portland Press Herald: Former ace pitcher Garner dies at 98
The Sun: On fields of springtime, he threw the heat
The hard throwing lefthander possessed a fine fastball and a curve ball that had professional scouts attention, including legendary manager Connie Mack of the Philadelphia Athletics. Garner pitched every game for Lowell Textile during his four years posting 23-19 record including a 7-2 mark in 1933.
Elected to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975, Garner closed his four year stint at Textile with a 9-5 win over the University of New Hampshire. Earlier in his career, he struck out 16 batters on one game against New Hampshire.
Working under the tutelage of ULowell Athletic Hall of Famer "Rusty" Yarnall, Garner developed his pitching skills to a very high level. After his graduation from Textile in 1934, he returned to his Kezar Falls, ME home to work the family business and thrill Maine baseball fans with his pitching.
Garner passed away on Feb. 1, 2011. He was 98.
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