Fed-up Dodgers fire Garvey

LOS ANGELES – Steve Garvey, the former iconic first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Friday was fired by the team for his aggressive and public attempts to buy out embattled owner Frank McCourt.

Steve Garvey speaks at an event at Dodger Stadium in May 2011.
(Getty Images)

Twice in recent weeks Garvey has taken his plans to the media, first to Fox, then to ESPN radio. In April he told the Los Angeles Times he’d formed an investment group that included billionaire Ron Burkle, although later he confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report that he’d overstated his financial relationship with Burkle. He has enlisted former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser as part of his prospective management group.

In spite of heavy debt, an ongoing dispute with Major League Baseball and last week’s bankruptcy filing, McCourt has said repeatedly he would not sell the Dodgers.

Though he drew a regular paycheck from McCourt and had been asked by the club to cease efforts that would undermine McCourt’s ownership, Garvey continued to seek community and financial support.

Garvey, 62, worked for the club’s marketing and community relations department. From 1969-1982, he batted .301 with 211 home runs and 992 runs batted in for the Dodgers and played on four World Series teams.

In the early 2000s, Garvey had a series of financial setbacks and left behind a trail of unpaid bills.