James Elmer Gantner was a Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 player who spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

 (1976–92).

Background

Gantner grew up in Eden, Wisconsin

Eden, Wisconsin

Eden is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 687 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Eden.-Geography:Eden is located at ....

, and attended Campbellsport High School in nearby Campbellsport, Wisconsin

Campbellsport, Wisconsin

Campbellsport is a village in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,913 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbellsport is located at ....

. He played his college baseball at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, where he was enshrined into the Titans' Hall of Fame in 1984.

Baseball career

Gantner was a 12th-round draft pick in the 1974 amateur draft

1974 Major League Baseball draft

-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...

. Gantner spent two years in the minor leagues before being called up to the majors. He was best known for his consistent play, which culminated in a respectable .274 career batting average after 17 seasons. Gantner, or "Gumby" as he was affectionately known because of the way he turned double plays, was the second baseman for the Brewers, who won the American League

American League

The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

 pennant in but fell in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

 in the World Series

1982 World Series

-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1982 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Brewers' left-hander Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits. The Brewers' offense was led by Paul Molitor, who had a World Series-record five hits and two RBIs...

. Gantner scored the go-ahead and ultimate winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the fifth and decisive game of the ALCS, scoring behind Mark Brouhard

Mark Brouhard

Mark Steven Brouhard , is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played in the major leagues for six seasons, from until , all for the Milwaukee Brewers. In and , he played in Japan for the Yakult Swallows....

 on Cecil Cooper

Cecil Cooper

Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...

's RBI single. He comprised a stellar infield throughout much of the '80s beside Hall of Famers Robin Yount

Robin Yount

Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...

 (SS/OF), Paul Molitor

Paul Molitor

Paul Leo Molitor , nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor", is an American former Major League Baseball designated hitter and infielder. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...

 (3B), and former Brewer great Cecil Cooper (1B).

Gantner rarely hit home runs. On September 3, , he hit his first home run since 1987, ending a streak of 1,762 at-bats without one. Gantner's last career home run came on August 14, , in the 13th inning, against Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

 reliever Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

Jeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...

. Gantner hit the first pitch into the right field bleachers in Milwaukee County Stadium

Milwaukee County Stadium

Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...

, giving the Brewers an 8-7 victory. Brewers announcer Bob Uecker

Bob Uecker

Robert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian, and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr. Baseball" by Johnny Carson...

 had the call with, "Here's the pitch to Gantner. He hits one to right and deep. Get up. Get up. Get outta here - gone! A dinger for Klinger! And this game is over. Woah, Jimmy Gantner!"

Gantner pitched an inning of relief against the Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

 on August 29, 1979, allowing two hits. Despite the game being a blowout, he was almost ejected for arguing balls and strikes with the umpire

Umpire (baseball)

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...

.

Gantner pinch-ran

Pinch runner

A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...

 for Hank Aaron in Aaron's final Major League game on October 3, .

Gantner was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame

Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame

The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...

 in 2005.

Coach

Gantner coached several years after he retired as a player. He currently runs Hale Park Automotive Services in Hales Corners, Wisconsin

Hales Corners, Wisconsin

Hales Corners is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hales Corners is located in southwestern Milwaukee County...

. He also is employed by the Brewers' organization. Jim also is partial owner to a bar in Eden, Wisconsin called "Scuds Buds."

Gantner entered his first season as field manager of the Wisconsin Woodchucks

Wisconsin Woodchucks

The Wisconsin Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin...

 in the Northwoods League

Northwoods League

The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...

 in 2007.

Statistics

Career Statistics

Baseball statistics

Statistics play an important role in summarizing baseball performance and evaluating players in the sport.Since the flow of a baseball game has natural breaks to it, and normally players act individually rather than performing in clusters, the sport lends itself to easy record-keeping and statistics...

:

Hitting

G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...	AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...	H	2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....	3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....	HR Home run In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...	R	RBI	BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...	SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....	AVG Batting average Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...	OBP On base percentage In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...	SLG	SB
1,801	6,189	1,696	262	38	47	726	568	383	501	.274	.319	.351	137