Rob Gardner (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Richard Frank Gardner is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He holds the distinction of having been traded twice by the New York Yankees
to the Oakland Athletics
for one of the Alou brothers.
in upon graduation from Binghamton High School
in Binghamton, New York
. He went 17-11 with a 2.46 earned run average
his only season in their farm system. Following the season, he was drafted
by the New York Mets
in the 1963 first-year draft.
, giving up seven runs
(five earned) in a 8-5 loss to the Houston Astros
. However, his most memorable start of the season was his final, in which he pitched fifteen innings of shutout
ball against the Philadelphia Phillies
in a game that was eventually declared a 0-0 tie after eighteen innings.
After getting off to a 2-0 start in , Gardner lost his next six decisions, and was moved into the bullpen
. He earned his first major league save July 26 against the Astros, and finished the season at 4-8 with a 5.12 ERA. He started the season in the minors, and was shipped to the Chicago Cubs
on June 12 with a minor league player to be named later for Bob Hendley
.
, going 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA for the Cubs. Just prior to the start of the season, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for Bobby Tiefenauer
. He went 9-6 with a 4.32 ERA for the Portland Beavers
, and made five appearances for the Indians that September.
Gardner was 0-6 with Portland in when the Indians struck a deal with to the New York Yankees for John Orsino
.
Just prior to the start of the season, the Yankees traded Gardner and Ron Klimkowski
to the Oakland A's for Felipe Alou. On May 26, 1971, he was traded back to the Yankees for Curt Blefary
.
He appeared in twenty games and pitched 97 innings for the Yankees in , which was the most he'd pitched since 1966 with the Mets. Following the season, the Yankees traded him back to the A's with a player to be named later for Matty Alou
.
Garners appeared in three games for the A's in when his contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers
. He appeared in ten games for the Brewers, the last of which, he lasted just a third of an inning and gave up for runs to the A's. Following the game, he was returned to the A's. He spent in the Detroit Tigers
' organization, and bach in the Yankees' farm system before retiring.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He holds the distinction of having been traded twice by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for one of the Alou brothers.
Early years
Gardner originally signed with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in upon graduation from Binghamton High School
Binghamton High School
Binghamton High School, previously known as Binghamton Central High School, is a large public high school located in the center of Binghamton, New York. The school is culturally diverse, with 2000+ students from many different countries, religions, and income levels...
in Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
. He went 17-11 with a 2.46 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
his only season in their farm system. Following the season, he was drafted
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in the 1963 first-year draft.
New York Mets
He went 20-10 with a 3.51 ERA over two seasons in the Mets' farm system to earn a call up to the majors in September . He lasted just three innings in his first major league startStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, giving up seven runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(five earned) in a 8-5 loss to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. However, his most memorable start of the season was his final, in which he pitched fifteen innings of shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
ball against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in a game that was eventually declared a 0-0 tie after eighteen innings.
After getting off to a 2-0 start in , Gardner lost his next six decisions, and was moved into the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. He earned his first major league save July 26 against the Astros, and finished the season at 4-8 with a 5.12 ERA. He started the season in the minors, and was shipped to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on June 12 with a minor league player to be named later for Bob Hendley
Bob Hendley
Charles Robert Hendley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Born in Macon, Georgia, Hendley was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958. After the 1963 season, Hendley was traded to the San Francisco Giants in a six-player deal; one of the three players the Braves...
.
Cubs & Indians
Gardner spent one season in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, going 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA for the Cubs. Just prior to the start of the season, he was traded to 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...
for Bobby Tiefenauer
Bobby Tiefenauer
Bobby Gene Tiefenauer was an American professional baseball player. A knuckleball relief pitcher, he pitched for six Major League teams during a ten-year MLB career that stretched between and : the St...
. He went 9-6 with a 4.32 ERA for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, and made five appearances for the Indians that September.
Gardner was 0-6 with Portland in when the Indians struck a deal with to the New York Yankees for John Orsino
John Orsino
John Joseph Orsino is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season, and played for the San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Washington Senators .Orsino made his major league debut on July 14, 1961 against the...
.
2 Trades for 2 Alou Brothers
Gardner finished the 1969 season with the Yankees' triple A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. He went 16-5 with a 2.53 ERA for Syracuse in , and appeared in one game for the Yankees that September.Just prior to the start of the season, the Yankees traded Gardner and Ron Klimkowski
Ron Klimkowski
Ronald Bernard Klimkowski was a baseball player born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and junkball specialist. He played for the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics during his career.Klimkowski attended college at Morehead State University...
to the Oakland A's for Felipe Alou. On May 26, 1971, he was traded back to the Yankees for Curt Blefary
Curt Blefary
Curtis Le Roy Blefary was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Baltimore Orioles , Houston Astros , New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics and San Diego Padres...
.
He appeared in twenty games and pitched 97 innings for the Yankees in , which was the most he'd pitched since 1966 with the Mets. Following the season, the Yankees traded him back to the A's with a player to be named later for Matty Alou
Matty Alou
Mateo Rojas "Matty" Alou was a Dominican outfielder who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees and San Diego Padres...
.
Garners appeared in three games for the A's in when his contract was purchased by 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...
. He appeared in ten games for the Brewers, the last of which, he lasted just a third of an inning and gave up for runs to the A's. Following the game, he was returned to the A's. He spent in the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' organization, and bach in the Yankees' farm system before retiring.