Brett Gardner
Brett Michael Gardner (born August 24, 1983) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who spent his entire 14-year Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees.
| Brett Gardner | |
|---|---|
Gardner with the New York Yankees in 2011 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: August 24, 1983 Holly Hill, South Carolina, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 30, 2008, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2021, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .256 |
| Home runs | 139 |
| Runs batted in | 578 |
| Stolen bases | 274 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Gardner was a walk-on for the College of Charleston's baseball team. Selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2005 MLB draft, Gardner made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2008 and was part of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship team that beat the Philadelphia Phillies. Gardner led the American League in stolen bases in 2011 and in triples in 2013. He was named an All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove Award in 2016. Gardner also won three Fielding Bible Awards.
Gardner was a major leader in the Yankees' clubhouse during his tenure and developed into a fan favorite due to his tenacity, grit, and blue-collar approach. When top prospect Anthony Volpe made the Yankees' roster in 2023, he was offered the number 11 by the team, but he called Gardner for the veteran's blessing before accepting his old number, which Gardner happily obliged.