Buddy Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Drew Edward "Buddy" Gilbert (born July 26, 1935, at Knoxville, Tennessee
) is a retired American
professional baseball
player. An outfielder
, he had a brief, seven-game trial with the Cincinnati Reds
of Major League Baseball
, collecting three hits
in 20 at bats. Gilbert batted left-handed
, threw right-handed, stood 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
Gilbert attended Knoxville's Central High School
and the University of Tennessee
. He signed with Cincinnati in 1954 and played eight seasons in the Reds' farm system, through 1961. In his best campaign, he batted
.282 with 24 home runs and 84 runs batted in for the 1959 Nashville Vols
of the Double-A Southern Association
. That performance earned his callup to the National League
that September. Gilbert appeared in six games in right field, and although he registered no outfield assists
, he won praise for his strong throwing arm by outgunning future Baseball Hall of Fame rightfielder Roberto Clemente
in a throwing competition.
At bat, his three hits included solo home runs against Jim Umbricht
and Dick Hall
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
; he also collected one single
and three bases on balls in 23 plate appearances. His chances of making the 1960 Reds were diminished when Gilbert became involved in a salary dispute over $200 with Reds' general manager
Gabe Paul
, and he spent the rest of his career in minor league baseball
.
However, Gilbert made an impact earlier in his career, when as a minor-league teammate of outfielder Curt Flood
in the Jim Crow South
, he often brought food to Flood on the team bus, because as an African-American, Flood was not permitted to eat in segregated restaurants. Gilbert later said, "Curt Flood mentioned in his autobiography that in all the years he played baseball there was one white boy from Knoxville, Tennessee, that always treated him like a human — Buddy Gilbert. That broke my heart. That’s the nicest compliment I think I have ever had in my lifetime.”
After retiring from baseball, Gilbert launched a successful banking and real estate career in Knoxville. He is a member of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
) is a retired American
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. An 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...
, he had a brief, seven-game trial with 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....
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...
, collecting three 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....
in 20 at bats. Gilbert batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, threw right-handed, stood 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg).
Gilbert attended Knoxville's Central High School
Central High School (Knoxville, Tennessee)
Central High School is a public high school located at 5321 Jacksboro Pike in the Fountain City neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee, operated by the Knox County school system...
and the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
. He signed with Cincinnati in 1954 and played eight seasons in the Reds' farm system, through 1961. In his best campaign, 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 :...
.282 with 24 home runs and 84 runs batted in for the 1959 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...
of the Double-A 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...
. That performance earned his callup to 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...
that September. Gilbert appeared in six games in right field, and although he registered no outfield assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, he won praise for his strong throwing arm by outgunning future Baseball Hall of Fame rightfielder Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
in a throwing competition.
At bat, his three hits included solo home runs against Jim Umbricht
Jim Umbricht
James Umbricht was an American Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended the University of Georgia. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Colt .45s . During his 5-year baseball career, Umbricht compiled 9 wins, 133 strikeouts,...
and Dick Hall
Dick Hall
Richard Wallace Hall was a Pitcher and part-time Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies .-Biography:He helped the Orioles win the 1966 and 1970 World Series and 1969 and 1971 American League...
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
; he also collected one single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
and three bases on balls in 23 plate appearances. His chances of making the 1960 Reds were diminished when Gilbert became involved in a salary dispute over $200 with Reds' 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....
Gabe Paul
Gabe Paul
Gabriel Howard Paul was an American executive in Major League Baseball who served as general manager of three teams and, perhaps most famously, as president of the New York Yankees under George Steinbrenner during the 1970s....
, and he spent the rest of his career in minor league baseball
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...
.
However, Gilbert made an impact earlier in his career, when as a minor-league teammate of outfielder Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
in the Jim Crow South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
, he often brought food to Flood on the team bus, because as an African-American, Flood was not permitted to eat in segregated restaurants. Gilbert later said, "Curt Flood mentioned in his autobiography that in all the years he played baseball there was one white boy from Knoxville, Tennessee, that always treated him like a human — Buddy Gilbert. That broke my heart. That’s the nicest compliment I think I have ever had in my lifetime.”
After retiring from baseball, Gilbert launched a successful banking and real estate career in Knoxville. He is a member of the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame.