Gary Matthews, Sr. is headed to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s Hall of Game as part of the 2026 class of inductees.
The museum announced that Matthews, along with Ralph Garr, Reggie Smith and Andre Thornton, will be formally inducted on Saturday, September 26 at the Gem Theater in Kansas City, Missouri. Acclaimed journalist Rob Parker, the creator of MLBbro.com, will also receive the 2nd Annual JL Wilkinson “Innovator” Award.
The 2026 group has a clear theme. Thornton, whose nickname was Thunder, brings the power side of the equation as a first baseman and designated hitter.
Garr, Matthews and Smith give it the other half: speed, versatility and all-around production from the outfield. Garr was known as the “Road Runner,” Matthews as “Sarge,” and Smith as “Spike,” a nod to his tenacity on the field.
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, said: “We are ecstatic and proud to welcome these four dynamic former Major League baseball greats into the Hall of Game,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “They brought a level of speed and power to the game that is very reminiscent of the way the game was played in the Negro Leagues. While their athletic prowess on the field was extraordinary, each of them embody the winning spirit and community leadership of the Negro Leagues, through their many off-field endeavors.”
Matthews’ resume is the one Phillies fans will recognize immediately. A first-round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 1968, he spent 16 seasons with the Giants, Braves, Phillies, Cubs and Mariners.
He won National League Rookie of the Year in 1973 during his first full season, made the All-Star team in 1979 and took home National League Championship Series MVP honors in 1983 after helping the Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished with a .281 lifetime batting average.
The Hall of Game itself dates back to 2014 and annually recognizes former MLB greats who embodied the spirit and signature style of the Negro Leagues. Dick Allen was inducted in 2018. Matthews and Allen did not play in the Negro Leagues, which ended in the 1960s, so the honor is aimed at some of the best Black players from the modern era.
For Phillies fans, Matthews also carries a second life in the booth. He was the club’s color commentator from 2007 to 2013 alongside Harry Kalas and Chris Wheeler, and he handled postgame interviews on the field through 2011.
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