Gus Gil

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Tomas Gustavo Gil Guillen

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut April 11, 1967
• Final Game June 30, 1971
• Born April 19, 1939 in Caracas, Venezuela

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[edit] Biographical Information

Infielder Gus Gil played four years in the major leagues. He was a frequently-used back-up on the 1969 Seattle Pilots.

Gus was born in Venezuela in 1939, and came to the majors following in the footsteps of other Venezuelans such as Vic Davalillo, who broke in four years earlier, and Cesar Tovar, who came two years earlier than Gus. According to a Baseball Digest article from July 1968, Gus managed to get Tovar signed because the Reds wanted Gil and were willing to sign Tovar to make Gus happy.

Gil was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1959 and played for their farm clubs through 1966. He didn't show much power but he always hit over .250.

After the 1966 season, the Reds sold him to the Cleveland Indians, who gave him his major league debut in April 1967. He appeared in 51 games at the major league level that year, and 42 in the minors with Portland.

Gus played for Portland in 1968, and then was acquired by the California Angels, who put him at Seattle. He appeared in 135 games that year.

The 1969 Seattle Pilots then made him a frequently-utilized infielder on their inaugural team. He played third, second and short for the team.

Seattle moved to Milwaukee and in 1970 Gil was in 64 games for the team. He hit under .200, though, and spent part of the season at Portland, where he hit .290. In 1971 he was with Evansville for 31 games, hitting .352, and came up to play 11 more games for the 1971 Milwaukee Brewers.

He continued to play in the minors through 1975 in the organizations of the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Later, he managed four years in the minors.

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