Compared by some to Lou Gehrig because of his good looks and quiet, courteous demeanor, Garvey set an NL record by playing in 1,207 consecutive games from September 3, 1975, until July 29, 1983.

A solid right-handed hitter and outstanding defensive first baseman, Garvey was named the league's most valuable player in 1974, when he batted .312 with 21 home runs and 111 RBI to help lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a pennant. He hit .389 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI as the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3 games to 1 in the league championship series, and he had a .381 average in their 5-game loss to the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.

The muscular, 5-foot-10, 192-pound Garvey joined the Dodgers at the end of the 1969 season and was a part-time player, mostly at third base, until 1973, when he was moved to first. He led the league in hits with 202 in 1978 and 200 in 1980.

The Dodgers traded him to the San Diego Padres in 1983 and he remained there until retiring after the 1987 season. Garvey had 200 or more hits 6 times, 20 or more home runs 6 times, and more than 100 RBI 5 times. He led NL first basemen in fielding percentage 5 times, setting a record in 1984, when he didn't make any errors.