Gilly Campbell
From BR Bullpen
William Gilthorpe Campbell
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 7½", Weight 182 lb.
- Debut April 25, 1933
- Final Game October 2, 1938
- Born February 13, 1908 in Kansas City, KS USA
- Died February 21, 1973 in Los Angeles, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Gilly Campbell was a backup catcher for five years during the 1930s in the National League. As a rookie with the Chicago Cubs in 1933 he backed up Gabby Hartnett, in 1935-1937 he backed up Ernie Lombardi on the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1938 he shared catching duties on the 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers with Babe Phelps and Merv Shea.
His best year with the bat was his rookie year when he hit .281 at age 25. He played in the first night baseball game in the majors, in May 1935.
Campbell had played for Monroe, Beaumont, Shreveport, El Dorado and Memphis from 1927 through 1930. He played for the Los Angeles Angels in 1931, 1932, and 1934, hitting over .300 each time. The 1934 Angels won 137 games. He played for Syracuse in 1937 and for Seattle in 1939-41, came back to the Angels in the middle of 1941 and stayed in 1942, and played for Louisville, Memphis, Portland, and Oakland in 1943 and 1944. While with the Angels, he had a small role in the movie "Pride of the Yankees".
One key source: 1934 Los Angeles Angels.
