Gary Varsho

Gary Andrew Varsho (born June 20, 1961) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, manager, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies.

As player

Varsho was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round (107th overall) of the 1982 June draft as a second baseman and made his MLB debut with the Cubs on July 9, 1988. His first major league hit came off Ed Whitson on July 9, 1988 against the San Diego Padres. After being traded to the Pirates, Varsho connected off the Cubs’ Shawn Boskie for his first big league home run on July 2, 1992, at Wrigley Field.

Varsho appeared for the Pirates in the 1991 and 1992 National League Championship Series; in three postseason games (all as a pinch hitter), he singled twice in three at bats, and spent one defensive inning in right field.

Primarily an outfielder, Varsho played 14 years of pro baseball, including eight seasons in the major leagues (1988–1995).

After playing

Varsho was the Phillies bench coach (2002–2006) and was interim manager for the last two games of the 2004 season, after Larry Bowa was fired. Varsho was fired as the Pirates’ bench coach on August 8, 2010. In 2012, he became a professional scout for the Los Angeles Angels. Since 2016, Varsho has served in the same capacity for the Pirates.

In 1979, Varsho graduated from Marshfield High School in Marshfield, Wisconsin, after which he attended University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1989.

Varsho and his wife, Kay have three children: daughters Andie and Taylor, born October 19, 1991 and April 12, 1994 respectively; and son Daulton, born July 2, 1996, who is a professional baseball catcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.