Gary George Gray is a former 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...

 first baseman who played parts of six seasons from until . During that time, he played for the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers (baseball)

The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...

, Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

, and 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...

.

Gray was selected by the Rangers in the 18th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball Draft

1974 Major League Baseball draft

-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :With the number one pick of the June regular phase, San Diego tabbed infielder Bill Almon from Brown University, one of six shortstops selected in round one...

, then spent the next three years in their farm system. He made a brief, one-game appearance in the majors in 1977, going 0-for-2. He had brief trials in the next two seasons as well before being traded to the Indians in January of . That year, he had another brief trial with Cleveland, but hit just .148 and was dropped from their major league roster.

The following offseason, he was picked by the Mariners in the Rule 5 Draft

Rule 5 draft

The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...

. He had his best season in , splitting time at first base with starter Bruce Bochte

Bruce Bochte

Not to be confused with Bruce Bochy, a former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the San Francisco Giants.Bruce Anton Bochte is a former utility baseball player with a 12 year career from -, -. He played for the California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Oakland...

 and hitting 13 home runs in just 208 at bat

At bat

In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...

s. The next season, however, he was pushed aside by prospect Jim Maler

Jim Maler

James Michael Maler is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners from to .He was 6'4" tall and he weighed 230 pounds.-The draft and minor league career:...

, coming off the bench again to hit .257 in 80 games. After the season, his contract was sold to the California Angels

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...

, but never again played in the majors.

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