Duluth-Superior staring pitcher Jeremy McGarity went the distance in this July 1997 win, giving up just six hits in the 9-3 win, The Sioux City Journal wrote.
Afterward, McGarity spoke to The Journal about pitching with the lead.
"It seamed like I started loosening up more as the game went on," McGarity told The Journal. "It was hot out there, but I prayed to God for more strength."
McGarity pitched that year in his ninth season as a pro. He saw one more. He topped out at high-A.
McGarity, though, referenced his faith in that game, something he'd later say came to him during his playing days. That has shaped his post-playing days, which he has spent in the ministry.
McGarity's career began in 1989, taken by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the draft out of El Capitan High School in California.
McGarity started with the Cardinals in the rookie Arizona League. He saw 14 outings, 12 starts. He went 4-5, with a 3.98 ERA.
He moved to rookie Johnson City for 1990, then single-A Savannah for 1991. He went 7-12 there, with a 3.44 ERA. He then saw high-A St. Petersburg for 1992 and 1993.
McGarity played 1994 at single-A Madison. He saw 62 relief outings and ended with a 3.97 ERA.
For 1995, he moved to independent ball at Duluth-Superior. He stayed there three seasons. In September 1997, he helped carry his squad into the league championship series throwing a complete game in a win, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote.
"The sinker was working today," McGarity told The Star-Tribune. "This was important early. I've had other complete games, but under the circumstances, this was probably my best gamer ever here."
McGarity saw time in one more season, three outings with the Rangers in 1998 at high-A Port Charlotte, before a shoulder injury ended his career.
McGarity then went into the ministry. He started as a youth pastor, then later, a pastor.
He spoke about the origins of his faith to The San Diego Reader in 2022, tracing it to his baseball career and some of his teammates, including one who selected him to lead the Bible study after that player got traded.
"I thought he was crazy," McGarity told The Reader. "But we opened the Bible – seven guys came to this study – and passed it around the room… The Bible study kept growing – we eventually had 18 of the 21 guys on the team in the Bible study. I realized, that’s the power of the word of God – these guys really wanted to know about the Lord. So, in the off-season, I started attending Bible college."
In 2024, he's listed as the lead pastor at Skyline Church in San Diego.
- Sioux City Journal, July 27, 1997: Dukes smack Explorers, 9-3
- Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Sept. 8, 1997: Dukes close out Saints' season
- San Diego Reader, Aug. 5, 2022: Skyline Church pastor: from baseball to the Bible
Made the Majors:1,419-32.1
Never Made Majors:3,007-67.9%-X
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