Tookie Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Harold Joseph "Tookie" Gilbert (April 4, 1929 — June 23, 1967) was an American
first baseman
who had two trials with the New York Giants
of Major League Baseball
. He was the son of former major league outfielder
and longtime minor league manager
Larry Gilbert
, and the brother of Charlie Gilbert
, also an outfielder. Tookie Gilbert, born in New Orleans, Louisiana
, threw right-handed and batted left-handed and stood 6 foot tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) during his playing career.
Gilbert was a formidable slugger during his minor league career in the Class AA Southern Association
, where he played for the Nashville Vols
, and led the American Association
in homers with 29 in 1951 while a member of the Minneapolis Millers
, but as a major leaguer he batted
only .203 in 183 games played and 482 at bats in appearances for the 1950
and 1953
Giants. He hit seven home runs and knocked home 48 runs batted in as a Giant.
After his retirement from baseball, Gilbert was elected civil sheriff of Orleans Parish, Louisiana in 1962. He died in New Orleans of an apparent heart attack
while at the wheel of his car at the age of 38.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who had two trials with the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
of 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...
. He was the son of former major league outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and longtime minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Larry Gilbert
Larry Gilbert (MLB outfielder)
Lawrence William Gilbert was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball and a longtime manager in minor league baseball...
, and the brother of Charlie Gilbert
Charlie Gilbert
Charles Mader Gilbert was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball from 1940-1947.Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was the son of outfielder Larry Gilbert. He died at age 64 in New Orleans.-External links:...
, also an outfielder. Tookie Gilbert, born in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, threw right-handed and batted left-handed and stood 6 foot tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) during his playing career.
Gilbert was a formidable slugger during his minor league career in the Class AA Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, where he played for the Nashville Vols
Nashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
, and led the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in homers with 29 in 1951 while a member of the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, but as a major leaguer he batted
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 :...
only .203 in 183 games played and 482 at bats in appearances for the 1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
and 1953
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
Giants. He hit seven home runs and knocked home 48 runs batted in as a Giant.
After his retirement from baseball, Gilbert was elected civil sheriff of Orleans Parish, Louisiana in 1962. He died in New Orleans of an apparent heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while at the wheel of his car at the age of 38.