Garry Templeton was traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Mets in exchange for Tim Teufel on May 31, 1991. A major clash with the veteran and the Padres manager Greg Riddoch seemed to have a great deal with Templeton's availability. "I'm happy to be going to a situation where they will let me play," Garry said. "But after 10 years, you would think you would have a chance to do more for the organization before you leave." Templeton would make his Mets debut the next day in St. Louis.In July the Mets faced off against the San Diego club at Shea Stadium. Templeton was the center of discussion. "We've had so many guys come and go around here," Padre right fielder, Tony Gwynn said, "but seeing him in another uniform was the strangest. He was here for so many years, and then to see him in a different uniform, wearing a different number, it just wasn't right." Garry agreed. "That's the part that hurts me so bad," Templeton was quoted that day. "I wanted to stay in San Diego. I wanted to retire a Padre. I wanted to go out just like Flan (Tim Flannery) and Garv (Steve Garvey). But all it takes is one person to spoil the party."
Garry appeared in 80 games for the Mets in 1991. During which he hit two home runs, drove in 20 runs and registered a .228 batting average in 219 plate appearances. New York chose to grant him free agency on November 4, 1991.
After his playing career ended he became a coach and minor-league manager. He managed within the Anaheim Angels organization beginning in 1998. More recently he has skippered the Gary Railcats of the Northern League and several different clubs in the Golden Baseball League.
Garry Templeton signed an index card from a friend who attended a Long Beach Armada game in 2009. The autograph was converted into his card in the set.
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