When Los Angeles Dodgers icon Steve Garvey's post-MLB life turned into a nightmare with piled-up lawsuits
Los Angeles Dodgers icon Steve Garvey's post-game career was plagued with lawsuits after he had a series of infidelity episodes. Garvey's legal woes went to such an extent that he addressed his life as a "midlife disaster."
Apparently, Garvey, who divorced his wife Cynthia Truhan in 1983, was romantically involved with his secretary, Judy Ross. While seeing her, Garvey got involved with CNN assignment editor Rebecka Mendenhall in 1986.
Deftly juggling between Ross and Mendenhall, he started dating medical product sales representative Cheryl Ann Moulton and impregnated her in July 1988. Despite the mess, he proposed to Mendenhall in November 1988 and ended up impregnating her in January 1989.
Later, the former San Diego Padres first baseman broke his engagement with Mendenhall over a phone call. His actions compelled Mendenhell to file a paternity and breach-of-promise lawsuit against him.
Meanwhile, Garvey filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife Truhan to gain custody of his two kids. However, in court, his children gave testimony saying that they did not want to see their father. Dealing with several lawsuits made Garvey's life a living nightmare.
"Some people have a mid-life crisis. I had a midlife disaster," said Garvey in a November 1989 Sports Illustrated interview addressing the plight of his life.
On September 1, 1969, Steve Garvey had made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After playing for 18 years, he retired from major league baseball while playing for the Padres.
Steve Garvey married another woman in middle of all the drama
In the space of eight months, Garvey had affairs with three different women (Ross, Moulton and Mendenhall) and ended up impregnating two.
Interestingly, amidst all the legal troubles, Steve Garvey chose to marry a former high school cheerleader Candace Thomas on February 18, 1989, after meeting her at the Utah Special Olympics.
"Thank you my love for 34 years of love, friendship and dedication to our belief🙏 that in God’s eye’s two truly can become one." - Steve Garvey
Surprisingly, Garvey's marriage with Candace Thomas turned into a happily ever after. The duo is still together and shares three children, Sean, Olivia and Ryan Garvey.