Pictured: A Gene Garber inscribed photo showing the strikeout that ended Pete Rose’s 44-game hit streak
On Aug. 1, 1978, Elizabethtown College History alumnus and former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher Gene Garber ‘69 etched his name in sports lore by striking out Pete Rose with a 2-2 pitch to end his National League record, 44-game hit streak.
Rose was chasing Joe Dimaggio’s MLB record, a 56-game hit streak that was set in 1941 but was retired twice on the night by Garber. An Elizabethtown High School graduate, Garber was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of MLB’s inaugural amateur draft in June 1965. Although he never competed on the Elizabethtown College Baseball team, he enrolled at Etown shortly after being drafted and balanced his school work with a budding career in the minor leagues that included a stint in Class-AA York of the Eastern League.
Garber went on to achieve a successful 19-year major-league career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. When he retired in 1988, Garber’s 931 career pitching appearances ranked fifth in MLB history, while his 218 career saves ranked seventh and he was tops in Braves history with 141.
Throughout Elizabethtown College’s 125th anniversary year, follow along as we share 125 compelling stories about the College’s defining moments, alumni stories, and fun facts since our founding in 1899 at etown.edu.