Creighton Gubanich
Encyclopedia
Creighton Wade Gubanich (born March 27, 1972 in Belleville
, New Jersey
) is a retired baseball
player who played briefly in the major leagues
in 1999 for the Boston Red Sox
. Gubanich's primary position was catcher
, though he also made two appearances as a DH
and played seven innings at third
.
in the sixth round, 117th pick overall, of the amateur draft, and signed with the A's on August 6, 1990. He remained in Oakland's minor league system until he was traded on June 19, to the Milwaukee Brewers
for minor league pitcher Tony Phillips. Just a couple months later, on August 5, Gubanich was dealt to the Colorado Rockies
as the player to be named later in an April 23 trade for infielder Jeff Huson
.
Gubanich became a free agent at the end of the season and, on October 20, 1997, signed with the San Diego Padres
for the season. He appeared in 86 games with the Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League, San Diego's AAA affiliate, and hit .291 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI.
Gubanich filed for free agency at the end of the 1998 season and signed on with the Boston Red Sox
. He made his Major League Baseball
debut with the Red Sox on April 16, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
as a defensive replacement for Reggie Jefferson
, who had pinch-hit for Boston catcher Jason Varitek
. He made his first career start on April 22 against the Detroit Tigers
, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Gubanich picked up his first hit in historic fashion on May 3, hitting a grand slam
off Oakland A's pitcher Jimmy Haynes
. With the grand slam home run
, Gubanich became only the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam as their first career hit.
Despite the historic grand slam, Gubanich's time in the big leagues was short-lived as he appeared in just 15 more games with the Red Sox and was released in October 1999. He spent the next four seasons in the minor leagues and playing with independent league clubs, but never made it back to the big leagues.
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
) is a retired baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played briefly in the major leagues
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...
in 1999 for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Gubanich's primary position was 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...
, though he also made two appearances as a DH
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
and played seven innings at third
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
.
Career
Gubanich was selected by the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the sixth round, 117th pick overall, of the amateur draft, and signed with the A's on August 6, 1990. He remained in Oakland's minor league system until he was traded on June 19, to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for minor league pitcher Tony Phillips. Just a couple months later, on August 5, Gubanich was dealt to 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...
as the player to be named later in an April 23 trade for infielder Jeff Huson
Jeff Huson
Jeffrey Kent Huson was a Major League Baseball utility player. He is an alumnus of the University of Wyoming....
.
Gubanich became a free agent at the end of the season and, on October 20, 1997, signed with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for the season. He appeared in 86 games with the Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League, San Diego's AAA affiliate, and hit .291 with 19 home runs and 70 RBI.
Gubanich filed for free agency at the end of the 1998 season and signed on with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He made his 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...
debut with the Red Sox on April 16, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
as a defensive replacement for Reggie Jefferson
Reggie Jefferson
Reginald Jirod Jefferson is a former designated hitter who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox. He played from to . He was traded in the winter of by Cleveland to Seattle for speedy shortstop Omar Vizquel...
, who had pinch-hit for Boston catcher Jason Varitek
Jason Varitek
Jason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
. He made his first career start on April 22 against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Gubanich picked up his first hit in historic fashion on May 3, hitting a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Oakland A's pitcher Jimmy Haynes
Jimmy Haynes
Jimmy Wayne Haynes is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.Haynes was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1991 amateur draft. He made his debut in the season and was later sent to the Oakland Athletics.After playing for the Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers , Haynes became a...
. With the grand slam home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, Gubanich became only the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam as their first career hit.
Despite the historic grand slam, Gubanich's time in the big leagues was short-lived as he appeared in just 15 more games with the Red Sox and was released in October 1999. He spent the next four seasons in the minor leagues and playing with independent league clubs, but never made it back to the big leagues.
External links
- http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gubancr01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com
- http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/creighton-gubanich.shtml The Baseball Cube
- http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=gubancr01 Baseball Almanac