Born in San Diego, Garcia spent most of his youth in
Mexico City, Mexico. His family returned to California when he was fifteen. Garcia signed with the expansion
California Sunshine of the
American Soccer League in 1977. In 1979, he and teammate
Joey Fink tied for the league lead in goal scoring with fifteen apiece. Garcia also garnered league MVP and first team All Star recognition. In 1980, he moved from the Sunshine to the
Los Angeles Aztecs of the
North American Soccer League (NASL). After the Aztecs folded following the 1981 season, and Garcia moved to the
Jacksonville Tea Men for the 1982 season. The Tea Men left the NASL and joined the ASL following and Garcia remained with the team through at least the 1983 ASL season.
Indoor years Garcia began his indoor career with the
Cleveland Force of
Major Indoor Soccer League in 1979–80. After one season in MISL, he played NASL indoor with the Aztecs in 1980–81 and the Tea Men for 1981–82. He then moved back to the MISL with the
Los Angeles Lazers for the 1982–83 season. On February 27, 1987, the Lazers traded Garcia and
Jim Kavanaugh to the
St. Louis Steamers for
Don Ebert and
Steve Pecher. The following year, his only full season with the Steamers, he led the team in scoring with 50 goals. When the Steamers folded, Garcia became a free agent and signed with the
San Diego Sockers on September 14, 1988. He began the season with the Sockers, but was traded to the Lazers in exchange for
Waad Hirmez on February 3, 1989. When the Lazers folded at the end of the season, the
St. Louis Storm selected Garcia in the MISL dispersal draft, but did not sign him. ==National team==