Bob Gebhard
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Gebhard is an American
front-office executive in Major League Baseball
and a former right-handed pitcher
for the Minnesota Twins
and Montreal Expos
. He was the first general manager
in the history of the Colorado Rockies
of the National League
, serving from 1992, the year before the Rockies made their MLB debut, until his resignation near the end of the season.
He was born in Lamberton, Minnesota
.
Gebhard attended the University of Iowa
. During his playing career, he stood 6'2" (1.88 m) tall, weighed 210 pounds (95 kg), and batted right-handed. Gebhard was selected by the Twins in the 44th round of the first-ever baseball amateur draft in 1965, but he didn't reach the Twins until the age of 28, on August 2, , when he hurled two scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox
. He appeared in 30 games over the 1971-72 seasons with Minnesota, then was signed as a free agent by the Expos in January 1974. He appeared in one game for Montreal on September 3, , giving up one earned run
and five hit
s in two innings pitched. All told, Gebhard compiled a record of one win, three defeats and an earned run average
of 5.93 over 31 games and 41 innings of Major League play.
Gebhard's front office career began with the Expos in 1976 as field director of minor league
operations. He was a coach
on the Expos' Major League staff in 1982
, and then served as the club's farm system director from 1983-86. He then returned to the Twins to become assistant general manager under Andy MacPhail
, working with Minnesota during its and world championship seasons, before becoming the first GM in Rockies' history during the 1991-92 offseason.
He supervised the building of the Rockies' farm system during , ran the expansion draft for them, and hired Don Baylor
as the club's first manager
. The early years of the Rockies were successful at the gate and on the field. They set a major league attendance record of 4.483 million fans in their maiden season at Mile High Stadium
, led the majors in attendance four times, and drew over 3.2 million fans every year during Gebhard's tenure. They also enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons from 1995–97, and a National League wild card
playoff appearance in . But successive losing campaigns in 1998–99, amplified by the Rockies' pitching staff's struggles at Coors Field
, resulted in rampant speculation in late 1999 that Gebhard would be replaced as general manager. In response, he turned in his resignation on August 20.
Gebhard then moved to the St. Louis Cardinals
as vice president and top assistant to general manager Walt Jocketty
from 2000 through 2004, then joined his current club, the Arizona Diamondbacks
, as interim general manager between Joe Garagiola Jr. and Josh Byrnes
from August to October . He is currently the D-Backs' vice president and assistant to the general manager.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
front-office executive 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...
and a former right-handed 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...
for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota 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...
and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He was the first general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
in the history of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, serving from 1992, the year before the Rockies made their MLB debut, until his resignation near the end of the season.
He was born in Lamberton, Minnesota
Lamberton, Minnesota
Lamberton is a city in Redwood County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 824 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.Lamberton is located along U.S...
.
Gebhard attended the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. During his playing career, he stood 6'2" (1.88 m) tall, weighed 210 pounds (95 kg), and batted right-handed. Gebhard was selected by the Twins in the 44th round of the first-ever baseball amateur draft in 1965, but he didn't reach the Twins until the age of 28, on August 2, , when he hurled two scoreless innings 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...
. He appeared in 30 games over the 1971-72 seasons with Minnesota, then was signed as a free agent by the Expos in January 1974. He appeared in one game for Montreal on September 3, , giving up one earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
and five hit
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....
s in two innings pitched. All told, Gebhard compiled a record of one win, three defeats and an 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...
of 5.93 over 31 games and 41 innings of Major League play.
Gebhard's front office career began with the Expos in 1976 as field director of minor league
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...
operations. He was a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
on the Expos' Major League staff in 1982
1982 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* January 14, 1982: Grant Jackson was traded by the Expos to the Kansas City Royals for Ken Phelps.* March 31, 1982: Larry Parrish and Dave Hostetler were traded by the Expos to the Texas Rangers for Al Oliver.-Regular season:...
, and then served as the club's farm system director from 1983-86. He then returned to the Twins to become assistant general manager under Andy MacPhail
Andy MacPhail
Andy MacPhail is the former president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the president/CEO of the National League Chicago Cubs from September 9, 1994 until October 1, 2006...
, working with Minnesota during its and world championship seasons, before becoming the first GM in Rockies' history during the 1991-92 offseason.
He supervised the building of the Rockies' farm system during , ran the expansion draft for them, and hired Don Baylor
Don Baylor
Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...
as the club's first 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...
. The early years of the Rockies were successful at the gate and on the field. They set a major league attendance record of 4.483 million fans in their maiden season at Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium
Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the...
, led the majors in attendance four times, and drew over 3.2 million fans every year during Gebhard's tenure. They also enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons from 1995–97, and a National League wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
playoff appearance in . But successive losing campaigns in 1998–99, amplified by the Rockies' pitching staff's struggles at Coors Field
Coors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
, resulted in rampant speculation in late 1999 that Gebhard would be replaced as general manager. In response, he turned in his resignation on August 20.
Gebhard then moved to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
as vice president and top assistant to general manager Walt Jocketty
Walt Jocketty
Walt Jocketty is the General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was previously the General Manager of the St...
from 2000 through 2004, then joined his current club, the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, as interim general manager between Joe Garagiola Jr. and Josh Byrnes
Josh Byrnes
Josh Byrnes is the general manager of the San Diego Padres. Previously, he served as General Manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball from November 2005 to July 2010.-Biography:...
from August to October . He is currently the D-Backs' vice president and assistant to the general manager.