Kelly Wayne Gruber (born February 26, 1962) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays and California Angels from 1984 to 1993. He was a two-time MLB All-Star and won a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award in 1990.
| Kelly Gruber | |
|---|---|
 Gruber in 1992 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: February 26, 1962 Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 20, 1984, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 29, 1993, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .259 |
| Home runs | 117 |
| Runs batted in | 443 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editGruber was born on February 26, 1962.[1] Gruber played baseball at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, where his number was later retired.[citation needed]
Early career
editHe was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft but did not sign with the team. On December 5, 1983, the Toronto Blue Jays picked him up in the Rule 5 draft. Gruber saw his first MLB action shortly thereafter, playing in his first game on April 20, 1984. Over the next three seasons, he split time between MLB and the minor leagues, earning an everyday spot in the Toronto line-up by 1987. The Toronto media quickly nicknamed him "Xanthos" (meaning blonde) after his long flowing blonde hair. During his stay in Toronto he was voted the city's most eligible bachelor.
Best years
editOn April 16, 1989, Gruber was the first Blue Jay in history to hit for the cycle[1] when he got four hits in six at–bats with six RBI and four runs scored.[2] His cycle occurred in the following order: home run, double, triple, and single.[3] He was told to stop at first for his single even though a double was easily attainable. Gruber had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31 home runs, 118 RBIs and 14 stolen bases, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and ending up fourth in MVP balloting that year.
Gruber was a member of the 1992 World Series-winning Blue Jay team, and was involved in one of the most controversial plays in World Series history. In the fourth inning of Game 3, Gruber appeared to make a diving tag on Braves runner Deion Sanders' foot to record the third out of a triple play, which would have been only the second such play in World Series history. However, the second-base umpire ruled Sanders safe. Gruber tore his rotator cuff on the play; however, he hit a key game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and the Jays won the game in walk-off fashion, later taking the series in six games.[4]
Later career
editGruber was traded to the California Angels for Luis Sojo in December 1992.[5] Soon after his arrival, Gruber announced that he had bulging discs in his neck.[6] Just over two months after the trade, Gruber had shoulder surgery to repair a rotator cuff tear. Gruber was expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks. Angels manager Buck Rodgers was angered over the news of Gruber's surgery; he felt that the Blue Jays must have known about the extent of Gruber's injury before they traded him. Rodgers said that Rene Gonzales would be the team's third baseman that year.[5]
Gruber returned to action in June, but after playing in only 18 games, Gruber went back on the disabled list with continued neck and shoulder problems the next month.[6] In September, the team placed Gruber on waivers. He was owed $4 million for the 1993 season, but the Blue Jays agreed to pay $1.7 million of that total.[7]
In 1997, Gruber attempted a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles. While his performance was good enough to impress coaches and staff with the Orioles, Gruber decided to retire for good due to health-related concerns.
See also
editPersonal
editGruber makes public appearances as a motivational speaker for charitable organizations and holds baseball seminars throughout North America.
On June 16, 2018, he made numerous controversial and offensive remarks at a PitchTalks event in Toronto, some directed at moderator Ashley Docking, prompting his uninviting from the upcoming Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame festivities.[8]
In 1992, Gruber published his autobiography, Kelly, At Home on Third.
References
edit- ^ a b Piercy, Justin (February 26, 2014). "Birthday Bio: Kelly Gruber". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "Apr 16, 1989, Royals at Blue Jays Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "AMERICAN LEAGUE; Blue Jays, Down by 6, Defeat Royals, 15-8". NY Times. April 17, 1989. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
- ^ Hughson, Callum (January 17, 2020). "Profiling Former Blue Jays Third Baseman Kelly Gruber". mopupduty.com. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ a b Nightengale, Bob (February 17, 1993). "Rodgers Is incensed by Gruber's surgery: Angels manager decries trade after third baseman undergoes rotator-cuff operation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ a b Foster, Chris (July 3, 1993). "Gruber takes turn for worse: Continuing neck and shoulder problems will sideline the third baseman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ "Gruber is put on waivers, then Angels lose to Tigers". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1993. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ Thompson, Chris (June 16, 2018). "Former Blue Jay Kelly Gruber Disinvited From Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame Festivities After Unbearably Rude, Awkward Panel Appearance". Deadspin. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
Further reading
edit- Gruber, Kelly; Boland, Kevin (1991). Kelly: At Home on third. Viking Press. ISBN 0670839000.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Pelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)
- Kelly Gruber's Baseball Camp website
- Kelly Gruber's website Archived 2016-07-25 at the Wayback Machine