At the risk of losing some of my blog readership, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the birth of the greatest third baseman every.
Kelly Gruber
Kelly Gruber Kelly Wayne Gruber (born February 26, 1962 in Houston, Texas) was a Major League Baseball player. He played third base.
Early Career
Kelly 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 V 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.
Best Years
Kelly had his best season in 1990, hitting .290 with 31 HRs, 118 RBIs and 14 SBs. The numbers remain among the most impressive ever posted by a Blue Jay.
The relationship between Kelly and the team soured over the next few years, however. After the Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 -- thanks in large part to a Game 3, game-tying home in the World Series -- Kelly was traded to the California Angels for Luis Sojo and cash. Kelly appeared in interviews to be very bitter about the move, feeling that he deserved better treatment from the team he had been so loyal to.
Kelly's career was tragically cut short in 1993 due to a bone spur on his spinal cord.
Accomplishments
* All-star (1989, 1990)
* Gold Glove winner, third base (1990)
* 4th in American League MVP voting (1990)
* First Blue Jay to hit for the cycle (April 16, 1990)
Teams
* Toronto Blue Jays (1984-1992)
* California Angels (1993)
# posted by BennyHoh @ Saturday, February 26, 2005
