Gabe Gabler

From BR Bullpen

William Louis Gabler

Bats Left, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

Debut September 16, 1958
Final Game September 21, 1958
Born August 4, 1930 in St. Louis, MO USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1950 season Gabe Gabler was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent. The 6'1" nineteen year old left hand hitting first baseman, was assigned to the Santa Barbara Dodgers of the class C California League where he appeared in both the 1950-51 seasons, hitting .299 with 10 homers in '50 and .305 with 23 four baggers in 1951.

The first baseman would play until 1958 before getting his chance in the major leagues. He would be with ten different teams in eight different leagues. He was also drafted by the Milwaukee Braves from the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 minor league draft. The Chicago Cubs purchased Gabe from the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 and send him to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a conditional deal. On June 24, 1956 Gabler was returned to the Cubs to complete the transaction.

In 1955 Gabe had a good year with the Pueblo Dodgers of the Western League, hitting .302 with 20 home runs and in 1957 he was second to Harmon Killebrew in the Southern Association home run race, busting out 28 to Harmon's 29. In 1958 he was with the Fort Worth Cats of the AA Texas League, where he made the All-Star team, hitting at a .270 clip with 23 homers when he got his call to bring his bat and glove to Wrigley Field.

Gabe appeared three times as a pinch hitter for the Chicago Cubs at the end of the 1958 season. He struck out in all 3 at bats. On September 16, he struck out against Don Erickson, on September 19, he struck out against Ralph Mauriello and on September 21, he struck out against Fred Kipp. This would complete Gabe's major league career.

It must be said here that Gabler was somewhat more imposing at the plate while with the Fort Worth Cats in a 1954 Texas League Game, when he had 10 RBIs with a bases loaded double, a three-run homer and a Grand Slam in three at-bats in three successive innings.

Gabler played until 1961 when he completed his pro baseball career with the Macon Peaches of the Southern Association and you could say he went out with a bang, leading the league with 30 round- trippers.

Gabe decided to hang up his spikes after the 1961 season, he had been in pro baseball eleven years and despite his bad luck in making the majors he left some very decent minor league stats. Gabe appeared in 1,388 contests, went to bat 4,553 times, had 1,313 base hits, including 213 home runs, with a .288 batting average and a .453 slugging percentage.

As of the last report Gabe still resides in St. Louis, MO, where he was employed with the Mercury Welding Service.