Rico Carty injured his left knee playing Winter ball, and was lost for the entire 1971 season. Garr seized the opportunity, batting over .400 through the middle of May, and earning the NICK-NAME "Road Runner" due to his speed. On May 10, against TOM SEAVER and the METS, Garr hit a HR with two OUTS in the tenth to tie the game. He hit a second home run in the twelfth for the walk-off victory.

He became so popular with fans in ATLANTA that the Braves negotiated exclusive big-league baseball rights with WARNER BROS CARTOONS to use animated scenes of the LOONEY TOONS character ROAD RUNNER on the scoreboard, while the calliope erected behind right field went "beep-beep" like the cartoon character every time Garr reached 1ST BASE. By the end of the season, Garr's batting average cooled off to .343, good for second best in the NL to the JOE TORRE. He also scored a career high 101 RUNS .

Unfortunately, Garr's defensive short-comings (he led N.L. outfielders with eleven ERRORS) caused him to lose his starting job in LF when Carty returned to the Braves in 1972. His .325 batting average was again second best in the league (this time to the BILLY WILLIAMS). At the end of the season, Carty was traded to the RANGERS, opening a permanent spot for Garr.

Garr again put up solid offensive numbers in 1973 (.299 batting average, 11 home runs, 94 RUNS & 55 RBI & 35 stolen bases). Needing to strengthen their INFIELD defense as well, the Braves had a deal in place that would have sent Garr to the PHILLIES FOR LARRY BOWA but it fell through. Instead, he remained in Atlanta, and put together the best season of his career. He flirted with a .400 batting average for much of the first half of the season. He had 149 HITS heading into the ALL STAR break that year, a record that stands to this day, to earn selection to the National League All-Star team (he went 0-for-3). He ended the season with a league best .353 average, and also led the N.L. in hits (214) and TRIPLES (17).

Garr spent much of his early career believing that he was under paid by the Braves. After a career year, Garr sought a raise to $114,500 for the 1975 season, more than double what he received in 1974. The Braves countered with $85,000. The contract dispute went to arbitration, with Garr winning to become the highest paid player on the team, and the first player in major league history to double his salary through arbitration.