Kelly Gruber
Encyclopedia
Kelly Wayne Gruber is a former Major League Baseball
third baseman
.
in Austin, Texas
where his number was later retired. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians
in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft but did not see time with the team. On December 5, 1983, the Toronto Blue Jays
picked him up in the Rule 5 draft
. Kelly saw his first Major League action shortly after, playing in his first game on April 20, 1984. Over the next three seasons, he split time between the Majors and the minors, eventually earning an every day 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.
Kelly had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31 HRs
, 118 RBIs and 14 SBs
, 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 Braves
runner Deion Sanders
on the 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, despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary. Gruber tore his rotator cuff on the play; however, he hit a key game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and the Jays would go on to win the game in walk-off fashion, later taking the series in six games.
Gruber was traded to the California Angels
for Luis Sojo
in 1993. He appeared in interviews to be very bitter about the move, feeling that he deserved better treatment from the team to whom he had been so loyal.
Kelly's career was cut short in 1993 due to a bone spur
on his spine. He played 63 games for the Angels. Due to growing threats of paralysis
, Kelly had surgery performed on the bone spur that ended his career in 1993. The surgery was successful.
In 1997, Gruber attempted a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles
. While his performance was good enough to impress coaches and staff with the Orioles, Kelly decided to retire for good due to health-related concerns.
Today, Kelly Gruber often makes public appearances as a motivational speaker for charitable organizations as well as holding baseball seminars throughout North America.
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...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
.
Early career
Gruber played baseball at Westlake High SchoolWestlake High School (Texas)
Westlake High School is a high school in West Lake Hills, Texas in the Eanes Independent School District. In 2011, it was ranked 72nd on Newsweek Magazine's list of America's top High Schools....
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
where his number was later retired. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft but did not see time with the team. On December 5, 1983, the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
picked him up in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. Kelly saw his first Major League action shortly after, playing in his first game on April 20, 1984. Over the next three seasons, he split time between the Majors and the minors, eventually earning an every day 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, Kelly Gruber was the first Blue Jay in history to hit for the cycle when he went 4 for 6 with 6 RBI and 4 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.Kelly had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31 HRs
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...
, 118 RBIs and 14 SBs
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, 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
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
-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 Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
runner Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
on the foot to record the third out of a triple play
Triple Play
A triple play is a baseball play in which three outs are made as a result of continuous action without any intervening errors between outs.Triple play may also refer to:...
, which would have been only the second such play in World Series history. However, the second-base umpire ruled Sanders safe, despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary. Gruber tore his rotator cuff on the play; however, he hit a key game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and the Jays would go on to win the game in walk-off fashion, later taking the series in six games.
Gruber was traded to the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Luis Sojo
Luis Sojo
Luis Beltrán Sojo Sojo is a former Major League Baseball infielder and right-handed batter who played with the Toronto Blue Jays , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates...
in 1993. He appeared in interviews to be very bitter about the move, feeling that he deserved better treatment from the team to whom he had been so loyal.
Kelly's career was cut short in 1993 due to a bone spur
Bone spur
Osteophytes, commonly referred to as bone spurs, are bony projections that form along joint margins. They should not be confused with enthesophytes, which are bony projections which form at the attachment of a tendon or ligament.-Pathophysiology:...
on his spine. He played 63 games for the Angels. Due to growing threats of paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
, Kelly had surgery performed on the bone spur that ended his career in 1993. The surgery was successful.
In 1997, Gruber attempted a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. While his performance was good enough to impress coaches and staff with the Orioles, Kelly decided to retire for good due to health-related concerns.
Today, Kelly Gruber often makes public appearances as a motivational speaker for charitable organizations as well as holding baseball seminars throughout North America.