Player Pages > Garry Templeton > Player Stats

"If I ain't startin', I ain't departin.' " That was the defiant quote from Cardinals shortstop Garry Templeton when he was informed he was a reserve on the National League All-Star team in 1978. His hubris was tolerated as long as he was putting up big numbers in St. Louis, but in 1981, Whitey Herzog shipped the controversial shortstop to the Padres for Ozzie Smith. Smith went on to become a legend in St. Louis, while Templeton spent ten solid seasons in a Padre uniform, but never realized his early potential. In his first few seasons with the Cards, Templeton had collected 200 hits twice (setting switch-hitting records in the process) and batted over .300 three times. In less condusive conditions in San Diego, Templeton never approached those numbers again, and seemed to sleepwalk through the remainder of his career. He did end up with more than 2,000 hits, but his career, which in his early 20s seemed destined for Cooperstown, was a disappointment.