When Steve Garvey's ex-wife spoke about realities of being married to an MLB star
In a 1980 interview with independent journalist Pat Jordan for Inside Sports magazine, former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey's ex-wife, Cyndy Garvey, spoke about the realities of being married to an MLB player. When the story "Trouble in Paradise" was published, it created an uproar.
Among a series of confessions, Cyndy shed light on the reality of life for MLB players, where professional commitments often override personal milestones. Garvey's ex-wife recalled how Steve was once unable to attend the birth of his child due to a baseball game, clearly displaying the difficulty of managing work and life for MLB players.
"I had a baby while he was playing in the World Series. When they wheeled me back from the delivery room—I’m just coming out of the anesthesia—the nurse is putting on the TV. ‘I thought you’d like to watch your husband playing in the World Series,’ she says.
"I screamed at her to shut it off. Hell, he didn’t come to watch me. I could have died in childbirth, and my man wouldn’t have been there. The burden is always on the wife’s shoulders. Her man is never there."
Cyndy also mentioned how her marriage to Garvey failed to survive due to the nature of her husband’s work.
Steve and Cyndy tied the knot in 1971. However, 12 years later, the pair separated after the former first baseman got romantically involved with his secretary Judith Ross. Steve and Cyndy share two children together, Krisha and Whitney.
Steve Garvey's eldest daughter testified about being unwilling to meet her father
In 1989, former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife, Cyndy. According to Steve, he was required to visit his girls as part of the custody arrangement but was prevented from doing so.
On Sept. 15, 1989, Garvey's eldest daughter, Krisha, expressed her disinterest to meet her father in Superior Court for Los Angeles County when interrogated by lawyers.
Lawyer: "Do you want to see your father?"
Krisha: "I don't want to see him."
Lawyer: "Are you willing to?"
Krisha: "No...."
Lawyer: "Do you love your father (Steve Garvey)?"
Krisha: "No."
Lawyer: "Did you ever love your father?"
Krisha: "When I was little."
Two weeks after her testimony, the court ruled in Steve Garvey's favor, accusing Cyndy of disobeying the court order that was in place to provide him access to Krisha and Whitney.
Cyndy was then placed in handcuffs and hauled away to begin serving a 130-day sentence. She was released the following day, though, and her sentence was eventually suspended.