Kelly Gruber

Early life

Gruber was born on February 26, 1962. Gruber played baseball at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, where his number was later retired.

Early career

He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft. 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

On April 16, 1989, Gruber was the first Blue Jay in history to hit for the cycle when he got four hits in six at–bats with six RBI and four runs scored. His cycle occurred in the following order: home run, double, triple, and single. 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. 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. The second-base umpire, however, 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.

Later career

Gruber was traded to the California Angels for Luis Sojo in December 1992. 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.

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.

Personal

In 1992, Gruber published his autobiography, Kelly, At Home on Third. 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.

References

References

1. (February 26, 2014). "Birthday Bio: Kelly Gruber". CBC Sports.
2. "Apr 16, 1989, Royals at Blue Jays Play by Play and Box Score". Sports Reference.
3. (April 17, 1989). "AMERICAN LEAGUE; Blue Jays, Down by 6, Defeat Royals, 15-8". [[NY Times]].
4. Hughson, Callum. (January 17, 2020). "Profiling Former Blue Jays Third Baseman Kelly Gruber".
5. (July 3, 1993). "Gruber takes turn for worse: Continuing neck and shoulder problems will sideline the third baseman". Los Angeles Times.
6. (February 17, 1993). "Rodgers Is incensed by Gruber's surgery: Angels manager decries trade after third baseman undergoes rotator-cuff operation". [[Los Angeles Times]].
7. (September 8, 1993). "Gruber is put on waivers, then Angels lose to Tigers". [[Los Angeles Times]].
8. (June 16, 2018). "Former Blue Jay Kelly Gruber Disinvited From Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame Festivities After Unbearably Rude, Awkward Panel Appearance". Deadspin.