Garey Ingram

“Chicken Strikes Again” was a newspaper headline after Garey Ingram had a particularly good game with the Pawtucket Red Sox. His manager, Gary Jones, called him “Chicken.” The nickname came from a college teammate who first called him “Blue Chicken” about 10 years earlier. He wondered where that name came from since the team colors were black, gray, and white. Ingram didn’t like “Blue Chicken,” but was okay with “Chicken.” Since then, everyone on campus started calling him “Chicken.” He started writing it on his bat and batting gloves and it stuck.1

Garey Lamar Ingram was born in Columbus, Georgia, on July 25, 1970. As a child, he liked football first, basketball second, and baseball third. One reason he picked baseball over the other sports to pursue was that his uncle was a baseball player, and Garey watched him play while he was growing up. His uncle was a pitcher, but a finger injury kept him from being drafted. However, Garey did not have many baseball friends as a kid because most the other kids he knew got footballs and basketballs as gifts, and not many received baseball equipment.2

Garey was a member of the National Little League All-Stars of South Columbus, District 8. In 1981 the team won the Georgia state Little League championship and advanced to the South Regional Tournament in St. Petersburg, Florida. There, the youngsters from Columbus were eliminated in the opening round by Clemmons (North Carolina) Southwest Forsythe.3

At Columbus High School, Ingram was a teammate of future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas for two years. When Ingram was a freshman, Thomas was a junior.4 Thomas didn’t know it, but Ingram tried to imitate him and his swing, because Ingram knew Thomas was going to be good.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Ingram in the 43rd round of the June 1988 draft but he did not sign, choosing to play for Middle Georgia State University in Macon, Georgia. In 1989 Ingram led the team to the Junior College World Series District 17 Tournament by going 5-for-12 with five runs scored, two RBIs, and a double, while taking home the tournament MVP Award. With the win, Middle Georgia State advanced to the Junior College World Series to meet San Jacinto College.5

In the championship game, Ingram broke up a no-hitter in the sixth inning against San Jacinto’s Robert Henkel. San Jacinto still won the game, 5-0.

The Dodgers drafted Ingram again in 1989, in the 44th round. He didn’t sign until June 3, 1990. Playing for the Great Falls Dodgers of the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 1990, he hit .343 with an on-base percentage of .415 in 56 and was named a league all-star.6 Great Falls visited Salt Lake for the first two games of the best-of-five Pioneer League championship and swept the two games on the road. Ingram hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of the championship-clinching game three at Legion Park in Great Falls to give the Dodgers its third straight league title.7

The 20-year-old started the 1991 season as an outfielder at Bakersfield of the High-A California League and played 118 games there, hitting .297 in 445 at-bats.

The Dodgers made a few September call-ups from the Albuquerque Dukes of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on September 1, and the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League sent four players to Albuquerque to replenish their roster. That left eight nonpitchers to fill a San Antonio nine-man batting order. Ingram was brought up from Bakersfield, but due to bad weather, his flight was delayed. Pitcher Mike Wilkins had to start the game in left field until Ingram arrived in the second inning. Then the game was called after five innings because of rain. It was the last game of the season, so Ingram’s Double-A 1991 stint lasted a total of four innings.8

Ingram returned to San Antonio to begin the 1992 season. But in just the fourth game, he broke a finger when he was hit by a pitch on the right hand. He was out until June.9 He finished the season batting .288 with an on-base percentage of .406 in 65 games. He played 61 games on defense in the outfield.

After losing Eric Young Sr. and Roberto Mejía in the 1992 expansion draft, the Dodgers moved Ingram from center field to second base to begin 1993 with San Antonio.10 “I haven’t played second base in a regular season since I was a sophomore in high school,” said Ingram. “It was a little bit rough at first, but I feel like I’m making strides and picking up things a day at a time.”11

Learning to play second base defensively takes some time, but the on-field change didn’t hurt Ingram’s offensive game. Then injuries started to take their toll. Ingram was placed on the seven-day disabled list on April 26 with a twisted right knee.12 Back in the lineup on May 12, and hitting .359, Ingram was involved in a collision at second base with Shreveport’s Barry Miller. Ingram missed almost a month with a broken bone in his left leg.13 He finished the 1993 season hitting .269 in 84 games.

Ingram started the 1994 season at San Antonio but was called up to the Dodgers in mid-May. But Ingram didn’t believe it, at first.

On May 14, the Missions were playing the Tulsa Drillers in San Antonio. In the eighth inning, San Antonio manager Tom Beyers told Ingram to shower and pack his bags for Los Angeles. His teammates gathered around to give Ingram high-fives, but he wasn’t buying it. With so many pranks played on baseball players, Ingram thought this was just one more. He stayed in the dugout until his turn to bat came up, but he was replaced by a pinch-hitter. Only then did he realize there was no joke.14 The call-up happened because Dave Hansen of the Dodgers had been placed on the 15-day disabled list and Ingram had experience in center field as well as second base.15

Earlier in the season, Dodgers President Peter O’Malley and executive vice president Fred Claire were at a Missions game scouting Korean pitcher Chan Ho Park when they noticed Ingram, who was playing well in the series. They were impressed with Ingram’s progress in learning to play second base as well as his confidence, so he was the choice when Hansen went down. “Yeah, it was a big surprise,” said Ingram.16

On May 15, the day after joining the Dodgers, Ingram entered their game against the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement. On the fifth pitch, the Padres’ Tony Gwynn hit a grounder to Ingram who threw to first to retire Gwynn. After the game, Gwynn presented Ingram with an autographed ball.17

In his next game action, on Thursday, May 19, Ingram was called on to pinch-hit for Orel Hershiser in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Mile High Stadium in Denver, in front of 51,515 fans. On a 2-and-2 pitch from Rockies reliever Mike Munoz, Ingram hit a long drive into the seats in left-center with the wind blowing in from center. With that mighty swing, Ingram became the second Los Angeles Dodger to homer in his first major-league at-bat. (José Offerman was the first.)

“When I hit it, I just took off running, I was so excited,” said Ingram. “Brett Butler was there waiting for me and he was smiling, it made me feel good.” Butler was on deck when Ingram hit the home run. Butler later said, “I told him someday you will be bouncing your grandchildren on your knee, and you will be telling them about your first major league at-bat.”18

On May 25 second baseman Delino DeShields lacerated the middle finger on his left hand. Later in the same game, backup Jeff Treadway sprained his right wrist and Ingram became the Dodgers’ starting second baseman.19 “It’s not that I’m trying to show them I should be starting regularly,” said Ingram, “I’m just here to help us win any way I can. I’m filling in until they are ready, and we don’t have to worry about that right now. Whatever role they want me to play, that’s what I’ll do.”20

On June 3 the Dodgers visited Atlanta to begin a three-game series with the Braves. At least 25 of Ingram’s family and friends were in attendance. They held up a sign that read, “Garey Ingram, Yo’ Mama Is Right Here.” The sign was so big that three or four people were needed to hold it.21 Ingram responded by going 2-for-3 with a walk and scored twice, raising his batting average to .379.

DeShields and Treadway were activated from the disabled list on June 19, and Ingram was sent back to San Antonio. Ingram, who was expected to provide speed off the bench with the Dodgers, had started 21 games at second base, hitting .282 with three home runs and eight runs batted in. “I’m kind of surprised myself,” said the 23-year-old Ingram. “I was kind of nervous at first. I learned more playing in games up here and I think it will help me when I go back to San Antonio.”22 Ingram played in 99 games for the Missions in 1994, hitting .258 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs.

Ingram started 1995 on the Dodgers roster and played third base as well as some second and four games in the outfield. He hit .200 in 66 plate appearances. On May 31 the Dodgers claimed infielder Chad Fonville off waivers from the Montreal Expos and optioned Ingram to Triple-A Albuquerque. In another move, the Dodgers designated Eddie Pye for assignment. Pye had been playing second base at Albuquerque and Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire said, “By optioning Ingram to Albuquerque, it will give him the opportunity to play on an everyday basis so he can gain experience.”23 Playing in 20 of the Dodgers’ 32 games to that point in the season, Ingram registered 10 hits in 40 at-bats, with 3 RBIs. In his 63 games with Albuquerque, he hit .246.

On August 11, the Dodgers placed outfielders Todd Hollandsworth and Chris Gwynn on the disabled list and brought up outfielder Roger Cedeño and Ingram from Albuquerque.24 Ingram remained with the Dodgers for the remainder of the season.

After Ingram was assigned to Albuquerque to begin the 1996 season, a strained right shoulder landed him on the disabled list in April. After shoulder surgery, he missed the rest of the season.25

On November 20, 1996, the Dodgers claimed Nelson Liriano off waivers and designated Ingram for assignment.26

However, he was back in the Dodgers organization for the 1997 season with San Antonio. On August 26 Ingram, batting .299 with 28 doubles, 12 homers, and 52 RBIs in 92 games, and playing second base and left field, was called up to the Dodgers to replace Roger Cedeño, who was out with a broken toe. Charlie Blaney, Dodgers vice president for minor-league operations said, “The big-league club is in a pennant race and they needed someone who can do the kinds of things Garey can do.”27 In 10 plate appearances in 12 games for the Dodgers, Ingram was 4-for-9 with a walk.

Albuquerque was Ingram’s team for 1998. Now 27 years old, in 108 games, he batted .302, with 8 homers, 58 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.

On December 16, 1998, Ingram signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox and was assigned to the Pawtucket Red Sox for the 1999 season. He batted .247 with 9 home runs and 39 RBIs in 85 games. He was back with Pawtucket in 2000, and in 103 games, the 29-year-old hit .238 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs.

In May 2001 Ingram signed with the Elmira Pioneers of the Northern League. In 79 games, he hit .294 with 13 home runs.

Ingram started the 2002 season with the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League, where he hit .318 in 25 games before breaking his wrist. In July he announced that he would be leaving the 51s to coach for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Dodgers in Vero Beach.28

Thus, his playing days behind him, Ingram began his coaching career. Ingram also married and had four children, but the marriage ended in divorce.

In addition to the Gulf Coast Dodgers, Ingram was a hitting coach in the Dodgers organization from 2002 to 2008, with the Class-A South Georgia Waves, Columbus Catfish, andGreat Lakes Loons. Ingram coached future major leaguers Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Eric Stults, Blake DeWitt, Eduardo Pérez, Iván De Jesús Jr., Kenley Jansen, and Clayton Kershaw.

In 2009 Ingram was the hitting coach for the Connecticut Defenders, the San Francisco Giants’ affiliate in the Double-A Eastern League. Ingram worked for the Atlanta Braves from 2010 to 2016, as the hitting coach for the Mississippi Braves of the Double-A Southern League and the Gwinnett Braves of the Triple-a International League.

Some of the future major leaguers Ingram taught along the way were Phil Gosselin, Evan Gattis. Andrelton Simmons, Cory Rasmus, Tommy La Stella, Mallex Smith, Dansby Swanson, and Ozzie Albies.

Ingram was the third-base coach for the Charlotte Knights of the Triple-A International League in 2017 and 2018. The Knights were a Chicago White Sox affiliate.

Ingram was part teacher and part mentor in Charlotte. He said, “In Triple A, it’s a lot different than when you’re at the lower levels because you have older guys who’ve been around the game a longer time.”29 He added, “Some of them are former major leaguers and they know how to prepare themselves on an everyday level to get back to the major leagues. When you’re dealing with the younger levels, you’re dealing with a lot smaller details that you have to pay attention to, especially developing those kids to get to this level.”30

After his coaching career ended, Ingram became a talent acquisition consultant at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. An avid fisherman, he hosts the YouTube channel Cove Ultimate Fishing.

Sources

The author used Retrosheet.org and Baseball-Reference.com for stats and game information, as well as the baseballcube.com for coaching information.

Garey Ingram requested that his family information remain private.

Photo credit: Garey Ingram, SABR-Rucker Archive.

Notes

1 The story of the moniker was recounted by Ingram in a 2017 interview with two radio hosts.  See Jeff Schaefer and Tommy Viola, “Schaefer Baseball Report,” September 30, 2017.  https://soundcloud.com/user-896163922/garey-ingram-on-schaefer-baseball-report. 

2 Schaefer and Viola.

3 “Georgia Little League Champions,” Columbus (Georgia) Ledger, August 16, 1981: 27. See also https://www.unpage.org/south/sr-1981.htm.

4 Schaefer and Viola.

5 Chuck Thompson, “Warriors Silence DeKalb,” Macon Telegraph, May 14, 1989: 12; “Warriors Wary as Play Begins,” Macon Telegraph, May 19, 1989: 41, 45.

6 Scott Mansch, “Dodgers Begin Title Trek on Road,” Great Falls (Montana) Tribune, September 1, 1990: 13, 17. 

7 George Geise, “Dodgers Win Third Pennant,” Great Falls Tribune, September 4, 1990: 1.

8 Tim Griffin, “Missions Go Out in style, Top Diablos,” San Antonio Express News, September 3, 1991: 26; Jerry Briggs, “Missions Wind Up with Win,” San Antonio Light, September 3, 1991: 7.

9 “Missions Report,” San Antonio Light, April 14, 1992: 37.

10 Tim Griffin, “Youthful Missions Open Play Friday,” San Antonio Express News, April 4, 1993: 51.

11 Tim Griffin, “Missions Open Year at Midland,” San Antonio Express News, April 9, 1993: 25.

12 “Missions Notes,” San Antonio Express News, April 27, 1993: 20.

13 “Elster lifts Missions to Victory over Captains,” San Antonio Express News, May 13, 1993: 19; “Missions Notes,” San Antonio Express News, June 10, 1993: 38.

14 Guerry Clegg, “It’s No Joke, Ingram Learns,” Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer, May 17, 1994: 17.

15 Clegg.

16 Clegg.

17 Clegg.

18 Maryann Hudson, “Nervous Rookie Homers First Time Up,” Los Angeles Times, May 20, 1994, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-20-sp-59930-story.html.

19 Associated Press, “LA Rookie Is Looking Good,” Birmingham News, June 15, 1994: 32.

20 “LA Rookie Is Looking Good.”

21 Charles Odum, “Ingram Made Dream Come True,” Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, June 5, 1994: C12.

22 “Dodgers Activate DeShields,” Delaware State News (Dover, Delaware), June 20, 1994: 14.

23 Brian Bujdos, “Infielder Pye to Be Replaced at Second Base,” Albuquerque Tribune, June 1, 1995: 16; “Baseball Focus,” Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican, June 1, 1995: 27.

24 Brian Bujdos, “Look, LA, Daal Didn’t Walk the Guy, But…,” Albuquerque Tribune, August 11, 1995: 34.

25 “Hot Hitting Piazza Slides to a Halt with Bad Knee,” Albuquerque Tribune, May 29, 1996: 16.

26 “Dodgers Sign Infielder,” Hemet (California) News, November 21, 1996: 12.

27 David King, “S.A. Loses Ingram to L.A.,” San Antonio Express News, August 27, 1997: 27.

28 Mark Anderson, “51s’ Chen in Hitting Groove,” Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 2, 2002: 29.

29 Herbert L. White, “Garey Ingram Brings Experience and Mentoring to Knights Bench,” Charlotte (North Carolina) Post, April 13, 2017, https://www.thecharlottepost.com/news/2017/04/13/sports/garey-ingram-brings-experience-and-mentoring-to-knights-bench/.

30 White.