Former Phillie Gary Matthews to be inducted into Negro Leagues Hall of Game

Former Phillies left fielder Gary Matthews will be part of the Class of 2026 inductees into the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Hall of Game.

Matthews, 76, will be joined by Ralph Garr, Reggie Smith, and Andre Thornton in the Class of 2026, which will be inducted in a ceremony on Sept. 26 at the Gem Theater in Kansas City.

Matthews played 16 major league seasons, including three with the Phillies, from 1981-83.

Matthews was the National League Championship Series MVP in 1983, after helping the Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers with a .429 batting average, three home runs, and eight RBIs in the series. In his more than 400 games with the Phillies, Matthews had a .279 batting average (.281 for his career).

Nicknamed “Sarge,” Matthews was a first-round draft pick in 1968 by the San Francisco Giants. He also played for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Mariners. He won National League Rookie of the Year in 1973.

Matthews served as a color analyst for the Phillies broadcast team from 2007 to 2013, alongside Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler during some of his career.

His son, Del Matthews, who works as the Senior Vice President of Baseball Development for MLB, said his family made the trip to Kansas City to see his father’s best friend, Dusty Baker, receive the honor, which was an “unforgettable experience.” Now, to see his father enshrined alongside Baker and Jerry Manuel, Cito Gaston, and Willie Randolph, Del Matthews said is “profoundly meaningful to [their] entire family.”

“My father loved this game, but more than that, he believed in opening doors for those who came after him,” Del Matthews said. “We are forever grateful to [President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum] Bob Kendrick, who has worked with us at Major League Baseball to teach our young development players about the legacy, grace, and history of the Negro Leagues. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ensures that the sacrifices, brilliance, and stories of these men continue to inspire generations to come.”

Garr played 13 seasons with the Braves, Chicago White Sox and California Angels. Smith played 17 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants. Thornton had a 14-season career with the Cubs, Montreal Expos and Cleveland.

The second annual JL Wilkinson “Innovator” Award is being presented to longtime sports journalist Rob Parker.

The Hall of Game, established by the museum in 2014, honors former major league greats who embodied the spirit and signature style of the Negro Leagues.