Leelanau Sports Guy’s World

Neat article about former major league pitcher Gene Garber and his work to save farm land.

Garber put a stop to Rose’s bid, Former pitcher a long-time farmer

Record Eagle article by Jeff Peek

Elk Rapids - Gene Garber spent most of his baseball career in save situations. He’s continued that role as a farmer. Garber, who pitched in 931 games during 19 major league seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves, was in northern Michigan on Wednesday night to speak to residents about the importance of saving farm land and open spaces. Garber, a “sixth or seventh” generation farmer, is chairman of the Lancaster County (Pa.) Agricultural Preserve Board. Every baseball offseason, he worked on his family’s dairy farm. “I was gone every summer from age 17 to 40,” said Garber, who turns 57 next month. “When I got home, the local township was waging a battle over land use. One farmer wanted to rezone his land and develop it. Read the entire article.