Rich Gale

From BR Bullpen

Richard Blackwell Gale

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 7", Weight 225 lb.
School University of New Hampshire
Debut April 30, 1978
Final Game September 28, 1984
Born January 19, 1954 in Littleton, NH USA

1 Biographical Information
2 Career Highlights
3 Notable Achievements
4 Related Sites

[edit] Biographical Information

As a kid from northern New Hampshire, the chances of me ever getting to play professional baseball, much less stick in the Major Leagues and experience some success were pretty slim, really. It was a boyhood dream, a Little League dream. So it was great to have that opportunity." - Rich Gale

Rich Gale played seven years in the major leagues, from 1978-1984. His best year was his rookie year, 1978 when he went 14-8 with a 3.09 ERA. He also started two games in the 1980 World Series for the Kansas City Royals, after going 13-9 in the regular season.

In 1981 during the players' strike Gale was serving as a bartender at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, MO when a disaster happened - a couple skywalks collapsed, killing many people. Gale was near but not on or under the skywalks at the time.

After his major league days, Gale went to Japan in 1985. His team, the Hanshin Tigers, won their first-ever Japan Series in 1985 with Gale pitching the winning game.

In 1989, Gale played for the Fort Myers Sun Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He went 4-5 with the club. In 1990, Gale again played for the Fort Myers Sun Sox; he pitched in 5 games and was 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA when the league folded.

Born in New Hampshire, Gale is the last major league player to have come from the University of New Hampshire as of 2006. He earned honorable mention for New Hampshire Athlete of the Century.