Gabe Gross
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Jordan "Gabe" Gross (born October 21, 1979, in Baltimore, Maryland) is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
His father, Lee Gross
, was center for the Auburn Tigers and in the NFL. His brother, Bo Gross, played football for Texas Christian University
.
in Dothan, Alabama
. Formerly a starting quarterback
for the Auburn football team
, Gross was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the first round (15th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
. Promoted from Triple-A
Syracuse on August 7, 2004, he saw limited duty against left-handed pitching
.
In September 2004, he belted his first major league home run
off the Oakland A's
Justin Duchscherer
. His outfield
range is very good, and he has a strong arm. In 38 games, he collected 73 putout
s with five assist
s and one double play
in 78 total chances
, for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
.
On December 7, 2005, Gross was traded by the Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers
, along with pitchers Dave Bush and Zach Jackson
, in exchange for first baseman Lyle Overbay
and pitching prospect Ty Taubenheim
.
Gross made his debut with the Brewers on April 4, 2006, and hit a pinch-hit
home run to give the Brewers a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
At the beginning of the 2006 season with the Brewers, he obtained the nickname "the Southern Gentleman" for his politeness and well-mannered attitude both on and off the field.
The plan was to have him share time with Tony Gwynn, Jr.
and Gabe Kapler
in center field in while Mike Cameron
served his 25 game suspension. With a focus on defense, Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.
Gross was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
on April 22, 2008, for pitching prospect Josh Butler.
Gross finished the 2008 season batting .243, with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs.
On December 12, 2009, Gross was non-tendered by the Rays. On February 1, 2010, Gross signed with Oakland Athletics
to a one year contract. Gross signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners
on February 5, 2011. He was released on March 26. On April 23, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
.
Gross retired on April 26, 2011.
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...
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 bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
His father, Lee Gross
Lee Gross
Lee Monroe Gross III is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Colts . Gross is the father of Major League Baseball outfielder Gabe Gross....
, was center for the Auburn Tigers and in the NFL. His brother, Bo Gross, played football for Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
.
Baseball career
Gross played football, basketball, and baseball at Northview High SchoolNorthview High School (Dothan, Alabama)
Northview High School is a public co-educational institution encompassing 9th-12th grades. The high school is located in the southeastern portion of the state of Alabama in Dothan, Alabama and has the 36th largest high school student population in Alabama...
in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
. Formerly a starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Auburn football team
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
, Gross was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the first round (15th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. Promoted from Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
Syracuse on August 7, 2004, he saw limited duty against left-handed pitching
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...
.
In September 2004, he belted his first major league 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...
off the Oakland A's
Oakland 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....
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Craig Duchscherer [DUKE-shur] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early career:...
. His outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
range is very good, and he has a strong arm. In 38 games, he collected 73 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s with five assist
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...
s and one double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
in 78 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...
, for a perfect 1.000 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...
.
On December 7, 2005, Gross was traded by the Blue Jays 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...
, along with pitchers Dave Bush and Zach Jackson
Zach Jackson
Zachary Thomas Jackson, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers organization.-Toronto Blue Jays:Jackson was drafted first in the first-year player draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in after completing his Junior year at Texas A&M University. He pitched very well, jumping to Triple-A...
, in exchange for first baseman Lyle Overbay
Lyle Overbay
Lyle Stefan Overbay is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
and pitching prospect Ty Taubenheim
Ty Taubenheim
Ty Andrew Taubenheim is a pitcher in Major League Baseball in the Texas Rangers organization. He is 6'6", ., and throws and bats right-handed...
.
Gross made his debut with the Brewers on April 4, 2006, and hit a pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
home run to give the Brewers a victory over 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...
.
At the beginning of the 2006 season with the Brewers, he obtained the nickname "the Southern Gentleman" for his politeness and well-mannered attitude both on and off the field.
The plan was to have him share time with Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball player, who is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.-Amateur career:...
and Gabe Kapler
Gabe Kapler
Gabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
in center field in while Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
served his 25 game suspension. With a focus on defense, Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.
Gross was traded to the Tampa Bay 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...
on April 22, 2008, for pitching prospect Josh Butler.
Gross finished the 2008 season batting .243, with 13 home runs and 38 RBIs.
On December 12, 2009, Gross was non-tendered by the Rays. On February 1, 2010, Gross signed with Oakland Athletics
Oakland 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....
to a one year contract. Gross signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
on February 5, 2011. He was released on March 26. On April 23, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
Gross retired on April 26, 2011.