Wayne Ambler
Encyclopedia
Wayne Harper Ambler was an American
professional baseball
player whose career spanned six season, including three in Major League Baseball
with the Philadelphia Athletics (1937–1939). Over his career in the majors, Ambler player second base and shortstop
. He also played in the minor leagues
, Ambler played for the Class-A Williamsport Grays
(1939), the Double-A Jersey City Giants
(1940) and the Double-A Indianapolis Indians
(1941). Ambler made his major league debut on June 4, 1937, after never playing in the minors, a rare feat. During his major league career, Ambler compiled a batting average
of .224 with 175 hits
, 39 doubles
, two triples
, 73 runs batted in (RBIs) and four stolen bases in 271 games played
.
Ambler was discovered in 1933 by an amateur baseball umpire
who introduced him to Connie Mack
, the manager
of the Philadelphia Athletics at the time. Mack later introduced him to his friend and manager of the Duke Blue Devils
baseball team, Jack Coombs
, who persuaded Ambler to play baseball at Duke University
. While attending Duke, Ambler's tuition
was paid for by Mack. He graduated from that institution in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree
in business administration. In 1989, he was inducted in the Duke Sports Hall of Fame. Ambler entered military service
in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor
and later reached the rank of Lieutenant
fighting in World War II
. Ambler never returned to professional baseball after returning home from service.
Ambler was born on November 8, 1915 to Charles and Anne Ambler in Abington, Pennsylvania
. Ambler was the youngest of three sisters and a brother. Graduating from Abington High School
in 1932, Ambler then enrolled at George School
where he attended for a year and a half. From there, Ambler was discovered amateur baseball umpire
Jim Rumsey, a friend and unpaid scout for Connie Mack
, the manager
of the Philadelphia Athletics. Mack sent for Ambler to come to Shibe Park, the home baseball park
of the Athletics, to take batting practice with the team. On Labor Day
in 1933, Ambler was introduced to Jack Coombs
, who was the Duke Blue Devils
baseball manager at the time. When propositioned to join Coombs at Duke University
, Ambler recalled that he told him that "[he] didn't know where the hell Duke was". Ambler stated that he had wanted to attend college, but was financially incapable.
Ambler accepted Coombs's invitation to go to Duke University with him. From there, Coombs set Ambler up with a job at the dining hall for meals and as a box office
worker selling tickets and programs at football
games. Mack stayed in contact with Ambler and even gave him money for tuition
. After his first year, Ambler was asked by Mack if he wanted to return to Duke to continue his college education. Ambler said yes and Mack continued paying his tuition. During his senior
season, Ambler batted
.476. He was also the captain
of the team that year, who were the conference champions with a 64–12 record
. His batting average still stands as the second-highest in Blue Devil history. During the summers, Ambler earned US$25 a week playing baseball in the Coastal Plain League
. He graduated from Duke in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree
in business administration.
in four at-bats. In his first 16 plate appearances, Ambler got nine hits. During a game against the Chicago White Sox
on June 7, Ambler jammed his finger
forcing him to leave the game. Ambler later sustained another, more severe injury. On July 18, in a double-header
against the St. Louis Browns, Ambler collided head-to-head with Browns' catcher
Ben Huffman
after a play at second base. Both players were knocked unconscious
at the time of the injury. On the train
to Cleveland after the game, Ambler complained that his jaw
felt sore and doctors took x-ray
s the next morning to find that he had suffered a break on his jaw. Ambler recalled in a 1997 interview that he "didn't remember a thing" after sustaining the initial injury. He was sent back home to recover, but within six weeks he was back on the Athletics roster. Ambler batted
.216 with three runs
, 35 hits, five doubles
and 11 runs batted in (RBIs) in 56 games during his first season in the majors. On the defensive side, Ambler played all of his 56 games at second base, committing 12 errors
in 268 total chances
, giving him a .955 fielding percentage
.
While the team was in spring training
in 1938, Connie Mack
, the manager of the Athletics at the time, alerted Ambler that he would report to the minor leagues
for the start of the season. However, after he reported to the Williamsport Grays
of the Eastern League on Mack's orders, Ambler received a telegraph from Mack telling him to report back to the majors. The reason being Mack needed a back-up shortstop
going into the season after their other shortstop suffered an injury. Ambler later revealed that before Mack called on him to play shortstop, had not played th position since high school. In 1938, Ambler's contract was worth US$1,500. Due to his financial situation, Ambler was forced to ride the bus
and subway to Shibe Park from his family's house. On May 13, 1938, in a game against the New York Yankees
, Ambler went five-for-five, a career high single-game hits total. On the season, Ambler batted .234 with 42 runs, 92 hits, 21 doubles, two triple and 38 RBIs in 120 games played. Unlike the season before, Ambler played the majority of the season at shortstop (116 games), while still playing limited time at second base (four games). In 1939, Ambler re-signed with the Athletics and signed a contract worth US$2,500. During the season, he batted .211 with 15 runs, 48 hits, 13 doubles and 24 RBIs.
, who assigned him to the Jersey City Giants
of the International League
for the 1940 season. With Jersey City, he batted .218 with 46 hits, 14 double and one home run in 83 games played. Ambler was used as a second baseman with Jersey City, playing 48 games at that position committing seven errors in 233 total chances. In 1941, the Giants traded Abler for pitcher
Milt Shoffner
who was a member of the Cincinnati Reds
. Ambler attended spring training with the Reds that season and was assigned to the Double-A Indianapolis Indians
for the regular season. In his final season in professional baseball, Ambler batted .245 with 126 hits, 10 doubles, three triple and two home runs in 139 games played. The Indians used Ambler as a shortstop, playing all of his 139 games at that position, committing 31 errors in 702 total chances.
in 1941 and served in World War II
. He stated that he was prompted to do so after the attack on Pearl Harbor
. Ambler operated gun
s on liberty ship
s. Amber explained, "I was a gunnery officer on a merchant ship. What they called 'armed guard' service. They put a Navy gunnery officer and 26 Navy gunners on these merchant ships. All we had to do was man the guns and defend the ship. I was in both oceans, but mostly the Atlantic
." Ambler fought in Normandy
and took part in the Battle of the Bulge
in Antwerp. He was waiting stationed in the Philippines
while his ship waited orders when Japan
surrendered.
, Ambler returned to his home-town of Abington, Pennsylvania. Ambler was in talks with the Philadelphia Phillies
about making a returned to the majors before World War II
, but after the war, he retired from professional baseball
. At home, Ambler worked as a truck driver
and played semi-professional
baseball. During his semi-pro career, Abler made US$25 a game and sometimes played against Negro league
teams. Ambler also coached Little League Baseball, including a 1960 all-star team featuring Reggie Jackson
. In 1988, he retired as a truck driver. On January 3, 1998, Ambler died in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
at the age of 82.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player whose career spanned six season, including three in 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...
with the Philadelphia Athletics (1937–1939). Over his career in the majors, Ambler player second base and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He also played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, Ambler played for the Class-A Williamsport Grays
Williamsport Grays
*Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania*League: New York-Penn League 1924-1937; Eastern League 1938-1942, 1944–1946, 1950, 1954–1956, 1958–1962...
(1939), the Double-A Jersey City Giants
Jersey City Giants
The Jersey City Giants was the name of a high-level American minor league baseball franchise that played in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the top farm system affiliate of the New York Giants from 1937 through 1950. The Jersey City club played in the International League...
(1940) and the Double-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
(1941). Ambler made his major league debut on June 4, 1937, after never playing in the minors, a rare feat. During his major league career, Ambler compiled a batting average
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 :...
of .224 with 175 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 39 doubles
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....
, two triples
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....
, 73 runs batted in (RBIs) and four stolen bases in 271 games played
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,...
.
Ambler was discovered in 1933 by an amateur baseball 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...
who introduced him to Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, the 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...
of the Philadelphia Athletics at the time. Mack later introduced him to his friend and manager of the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
baseball team, Jack Coombs
Jack Coombs
John Wesley "Jack" Coombs , nicknamed Colby Jack after his alma mater, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Brooklyn Robins , and Detroit Tigers...
, who persuaded Ambler to play baseball at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. While attending Duke, Ambler's tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
was paid for by Mack. He graduated from that institution in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration. In 1989, he was inducted in the Duke Sports Hall of Fame. Ambler entered military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and later reached the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
fighting in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Ambler never returned to professional baseball after returning home from service.
Early life
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
. Ambler was the youngest of three sisters and a brother. Graduating from Abington High School
Abington High School
Abington High School is a public high school located in Abington, Massachusetts. It is located at 201 Gliniewicz Way and has an enrollment of 584 students in grades 9-12. The school's mascot is the Green Wave and the school colors are Green and White. Abington High School is known best for its...
in 1932, Ambler then enrolled at George School
George School
George School is a private Quaker boarding and day high school located on a rural campus near Newtown, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded at its present site in 1893, and has grown from a single building to over 20 academic, athletic, and residential buildings...
where he attended for a year and a half. From there, Ambler was discovered amateur baseball 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...
Jim Rumsey, a friend and unpaid scout for Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, the 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...
of the Philadelphia Athletics. Mack sent for Ambler to come to Shibe Park, the home baseball park
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
of the Athletics, to take batting practice with the team. On Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
in 1933, Ambler was introduced to Jack Coombs
Jack Coombs
John Wesley "Jack" Coombs , nicknamed Colby Jack after his alma mater, was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Brooklyn Robins , and Detroit Tigers...
, who was the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
baseball manager at the time. When propositioned to join Coombs at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Ambler recalled that he told him that "[he] didn't know where the hell Duke was". Ambler stated that he had wanted to attend college, but was financially incapable.
Ambler accepted Coombs's invitation to go to Duke University with him. From there, Coombs set Ambler up with a job at the dining hall for meals and as a box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
worker selling tickets and programs at football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
games. Mack stayed in contact with Ambler and even gave him money for tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
. After his first year, Ambler was asked by Mack if he wanted to return to Duke to continue his college education. Ambler said yes and Mack continued paying his tuition. During his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
season, Ambler 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 :...
.476. He was also the captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the team that year, who were the conference champions with a 64–12 record
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
. His batting average still stands as the second-highest in Blue Devil history. During the summers, Ambler earned US$25 a week playing baseball in the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League (Class D)
The Coastal Plain League was a minor league baseball affiliation which, except for the war years , operated in North Carolina from 1937 to 1952. It was classified as a "D" league. It grew out of a semi-pro league that operated from 1934 to 1936 under the same Coastal Plain League name.- Coastal...
. He graduated from Duke in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration.
Philadelphia Athletics
In 1937, Ambler signed with the Philadelphia Athletics, going directly to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on June 4, 1937, against the St. Louis Browns, getting one hitHit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in four at-bats. In his first 16 plate appearances, Ambler got nine hits. During a game against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on June 7, Ambler jammed his finger
Jammed finger
The term jammed finger refers to finger joint pain and swelling from an impact injury. This injury tends to be very painful, and immediate treatment will usually help heal the joint faster. Most jammed fingers heal relatively quickly, if no fracture occurs...
forcing him to leave the game. Ambler later sustained another, more severe injury. On July 18, in a double-header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the St. Louis Browns, Ambler collided head-to-head with Browns' catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Ben Huffman
Ben Huffman
Benjamin Franklin Huffman was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.-External links:...
after a play at second base. Both players were knocked unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
at the time of the injury. On the train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
to Cleveland after the game, Ambler complained that his jaw
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
felt sore and doctors took x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s the next morning to find that he had suffered a break on his jaw. Ambler recalled in a 1997 interview that he "didn't remember a thing" after sustaining the initial injury. He was sent back home to recover, but within six weeks he was back on the Athletics roster. Ambler 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 :...
.216 with three 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...
, 35 hits, five doubles
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....
and 11 runs batted in (RBIs) in 56 games during his first season in the majors. On the defensive side, Ambler played all of his 56 games at second base, committing 12 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 268 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
, giving him a .955 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
While the team was in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1938, Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
, the manager of the Athletics at the time, alerted Ambler that he would report to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for the start of the season. However, after he reported to the Williamsport Grays
Williamsport Grays
*Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania*League: New York-Penn League 1924-1937; Eastern League 1938-1942, 1944–1946, 1950, 1954–1956, 1958–1962...
of the Eastern League on Mack's orders, Ambler received a telegraph from Mack telling him to report back to the majors. The reason being Mack needed a back-up shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
going into the season after their other shortstop suffered an injury. Ambler later revealed that before Mack called on him to play shortstop, had not played th position since high school. In 1938, Ambler's contract was worth US$1,500. Due to his financial situation, Ambler was forced to ride the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and subway to Shibe Park from his family's house. On May 13, 1938, in a game against 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...
, Ambler went five-for-five, a career high single-game hits total. On the season, Ambler batted .234 with 42 runs, 92 hits, 21 doubles, two triple and 38 RBIs in 120 games played. Unlike the season before, Ambler played the majority of the season at shortstop (116 games), while still playing limited time at second base (four games). In 1939, Ambler re-signed with the Athletics and signed a contract worth US$2,500. During the season, he batted .211 with 15 runs, 48 hits, 13 doubles and 24 RBIs.
Later career
After the 1939 season, the Athletics sold Ambler to the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, who assigned him to the Jersey City Giants
Jersey City Giants
The Jersey City Giants was the name of a high-level American minor league baseball franchise that played in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the top farm system affiliate of the New York Giants from 1937 through 1950. The Jersey City club played in the International League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
for the 1940 season. With Jersey City, he batted .218 with 46 hits, 14 double and one home run in 83 games played. Ambler was used as a second baseman with Jersey City, playing 48 games at that position committing seven errors in 233 total chances. In 1941, the Giants traded Abler for 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...
Milt Shoffner
Milt Shoffner
Milburn James Shoffner was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played seven years in the majors, from until , then again from until .Shoffner debuted in the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1929 and pitched three seasons for them. In and 1931, his ERA was over 7.00, and by mid-season he was...
who was a member of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Ambler attended spring training with the Reds that season and was assigned to the Double-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
for the regular season. In his final season in professional baseball, Ambler batted .245 with 126 hits, 10 doubles, three triple and two home runs in 139 games played. The Indians used Ambler as a shortstop, playing all of his 139 games at that position, committing 31 errors in 702 total chances.
Military career
Ambler enlisted in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1941 and served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He stated that he was prompted to do so after the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. Ambler operated gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s on liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
s. Amber explained, "I was a gunnery officer on a merchant ship. What they called 'armed guard' service. They put a Navy gunnery officer and 26 Navy gunners on these merchant ships. All we had to do was man the guns and defend the ship. I was in both oceans, but mostly the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
." Ambler fought in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and took part in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in Antwerp. He was waiting stationed in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
while his ship waited orders when Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
surrendered.
Later life
After completing his four-year service in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Ambler returned to his home-town of Abington, Pennsylvania. Ambler was in talks with 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...
about making a returned to the majors before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but after the war, he retired from professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
. At home, Ambler worked as a truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
and played semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
baseball. During his semi-pro career, Abler made US$25 a game and sometimes played against Negro league
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
teams. Ambler also coached Little League Baseball, including a 1960 all-star team featuring Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
. In 1988, he retired as a truck driver. On January 3, 1998, Ambler died in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach is an unincorporated seaside community in St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Located eighteen miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville and north of St. Augustine, it is part of the Jacksonville Beaches area. It is an upmarket tourist resort area best known for its...
at the age of 82.