Gary Matthews, also known as "Sarge," was a professional baseball player who played for 16 seasons in the Major Leagues. He was born on July 5, 1950, in San Fernando, California, and attended San Fernando High School. Matthews was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1969 MLB draft and made his debut in 1972.

Matthews played for several teams throughout his career, including the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Seattle Mariners. He was primarily an outfielder and was known for his strong arm and power hitting.

Matthews had a successful career, earning an All-Star selection in 1979 and winning the National League Championship Series MVP award in 1983. He also won a Gold Glove award in 1982 for his defensive skills in the outfield.

One of Matthews' most memorable moments came in Game 3 of the 1983 World Series when he hit a home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Mike Boddicker. The Phillies went on to win the game and eventually the series, giving Matthews his only World Series championship.

Off the field, Matthews was known for his outspoken personality and was often involved in controversies. In 1981, he was suspended for three games after getting into a physical altercation with an umpire. He also made headlines in 1983 when he criticized the Phillies' management for not offering him a contract extension.

Matthews retired from baseball in 1987 with a career batting average of .281, 234 home runs, and 978 RBIs. After his playing career, he worked as a coach and broadcaster for several teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2010, Matthews was named in the Mitchell Report, which detailed the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. He denied the allegations and stated that he never used steroids or any other banned substances during his career.

Overall, Gary Matthews had a successful career in baseball and was a key player on several teams throughout his 16 seasons in the Major Leagues. While he was known for his controversies off the field, he will always be remembered for his contributions to the game of baseball.

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Atlanta Braves vs San Francisco Giants - Radio Broadcast video clip
Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants faced off at Candlestick Park. The Braves sent Jim Bouton to the mound, an experienced right-hander who had a unique career trajectory, transitioning from a successful starter to a knuckleball reliever after a series of arm troubles. The Giants countered with Ed Halicki, a towering 6'7" right-hander known for his no-hitter in 1975. At this point in the season, the Braves were in the middle of the pack in the National League West, while the Giants were struggling to keep pace. The 1978 season was marked by the Yankees and Dodgers' fierce competition, each leading their respective leagues, while Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds was in pursuit of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak record. The game got off to a slow start, with the Braves scoring an unearned run in the second inning due to errors by Halicki and John Tamargo. The Giants responded with a run of their own in the third, capitalizing on an error by Bouton. The Braves' Dale Murphy, who would later become a two-time MVP, made an impact on the base paths by stealing second base and later scoring due to the Giants' errors. In the sixth inning, the Giants threatened to score with a runner on second, but Bouton managed to get out of the jam, maintaining the slim lead. The Braves broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring two more runs thanks to key hits from Glenn Hubbard and Jerry Royster. The Giants, however, struggled to generate offense against the Braves' pitching. After Bouton's solid six innings of work, Craig Skok and Gene Garber held the Giants hitless over the final three innings. The Braves added an insurance run in the eighth, securing a 4-1 victory. The win improved the Braves' standing in the NL West, although they would ultimately finish the season in the middle of the pack. The Giants, meanwhile, continued to struggle, ending the year near the bottom of the division. The 1978 season would conclude with the New York Yankees defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. The Braves' Dale Murphy, despite his team's middling performance, began to show signs of the player he would become in the 1980s, one of the most dominant in the National League. This game, while not a highlight of the season, was a good representation of the Braves' potential and the Giants' struggles in the 1978 season.