| Jim Gantner | |
|---|---|
 Gantner in 1983 | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born: (1953-01-05)January 5, 1953 (age 72) Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1976, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1992, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .274 |
| Home runs | 47 |
| Runs batted in | 568 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
James Elmer Gantner (born January 5, 1953) is a formerMajor League Baseball player who spent his entire career with theMilwaukee Brewers (1976–92).
Gantner was born on January 5, 1953, inFond du Lac, Wisconsin, and grew up inEden, Wisconsin. He was one of nine children born to Elmer and Erma Gantner. He attended Campbellsport High School in nearbyCampbellsport, where he played both baseball and basketball.[1][2][3]
He played his college baseball at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Oshkosh (UWO), a small college baseball power in theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) at the time.[3] While playing two years at UWO, he wasAll-America honorable mention both seasons, and his teams finished third and fifth in the1973 and1974 NAIA World Series.[4] Gantner is in the top four in UWO history in career hits and runs.[5]
Gantner was enshrined into theWisconsin-Oshkosh Titans' Hall of Fame in 1984, as well as being inducted into the NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was inducted into Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.[4][5][6] In 2012, Gantner was named to theWisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Baseball All-Time Team.[4]
TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Gantner in the 12th round of the1974 Major League Baseball draft (268th overall).[7] Gantner was in the Brewers' minor league system from 1974-1977. Between 1975 and 1976, playingDouble-A baseball, hisbatting average went from .257 to .293. In 1976, he was called up to the majors for the first time and appeared in 26 games for the Brewers. His first at bat was against rookie-of-the-year phenomMark "the Bird" Fidrych.[3][8]
He played the majority of the 1977 season atTriple-ASpokane in thePacific Coast League, where he hit .281, with 15home runs, 98runs score and 81runs batted in (RBI).[9] He was an all-star three different times in the minor leagues.[5] In 1978, Gantner joined the Brewers for the entire season, and after two years of playing part-time, he started 100 or more games for eight of the next nine years, chiefly playing second base.[8]
Ganter was best known for his consistent play, which culminated after 17 seasons in a respectable .274 career batting average and .985fielding percentage at second base (.956 in over 300 games at third base).[8][10] He comprised a stellar infield throughout much of the 1980s beside Hall of FamersRobin Yount at shortstop,Paul Molitor at third base, andCecil Cooper at first base.[11][12] In 1980, Gantner played more games at third base and Molitor played more games at second based, and in 1982, Molitor played center field andDon Money played third base.[13][14][2][15] The Cooper-Gantner-Yount-Molitor infield ended with Yount moving to the outfield in 1985.[16]
Gantner, or "Gumby" as he was affectionately known because of the way he turned double plays,[17] was the Brewers’ second baseman when they won the1982American League pennant.[11][3] He hit a career high .295 that year.[2] Gantner scored the go-ahead and ultimate winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of the fifth and decisive game of the ALCS, scoring behindCharlie Moore on Cooper's RBI single.[18][3] The Brewers lost in seven games to theSt. Louis Cardinals in theWorld Series,[19] the franchise's lone World Series appearance to date (as of 2025), and did not return to the playoffs for 26 years.[20] Gantner hit .333 in the World Series, with fourdoubles, onetriple, and four RBI.[19]
In 1983, Ganter had a .282 batting average and career highs in home runs (11), triples (8), runs (85), RBI (74),OPS (.730), and a .982 field percentage at second base. In 1984, he again hit .282, with a career high 173 hits.[2] Gantner was chosen team MVP in 1984.[6]
Gantner pitched an inning of relief against theKansas City Royals on August 29, 1979, allowing two hits.[21] Despite the game being a blowout, he was almost ejected for arguing balls and strikes with theumpire.[citation needed]
In his rookie season, Gantnerpinch-ran forHank Aaron in Aaron's final Major League game on October 3,1976.[22]
Gantner rarely hit home runs (only 47 in a 17 year career). On September 3,1991, he hit his first home run since 1987, ending a streak of 1,762 at-bats without one. Gantner's last career home run came on August 14,1992, in the 13th inning, againstBoston Red Sox relieverJeff Reardon. Gantner hit the first pitch into the right field bleachers inMilwaukee County Stadium,[citation needed] giving the Brewers an 8-7 victory.[23][24]
He retired in 1994, after having issues with a torn rotator cuff over his final years.[3] He twice led the American League indouble plays andputouts by a second baseman, and once led the league inassists.[5] As of 2025, he has the 16th highest batting average in Brewers' history; the third most games played; the fifth most hits, runs scored, and triples; and the sixth most doubles, among other Brewers' statistics.[25] His 9.9defensive WAR is the best in team history.[10]
Gantner is a member of the Brewers Wall of Honor.[26] He was elected to theWisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.[6]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2018) |
Gantner coached several years after he retired as a player, including two years with the Brewers in 1996-1997 under managerPhil Garner.[3][27][28] Gantner entered his first season as field manager of theWisconsin Woodchucks in theNorthwoods League in 2007, and managed them in 2008 as well.[29][30]
He was a silent partner of Hale Park Automotive Services inHales Corners, Wisconsin.[citation needed] He also is employed by the Brewers' organization.[citation needed] Jim also is partial owner of a bar in Eden, Wisconsin, called "Scuds Buds."[31] The bar "Gumby's Pub" in Milwaukee was named for Gantner.[32]
Hitting
| G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | SB |
| 1,801 | 6,189 | 1,696 | 262 | 38 | 47 | 726 | 568 | 383 | 501 | .274 | .319 | .351 | 137 |
He had a career .985fielding percentage at second base and a .956 fielding percentage at third base, his two primary positions.[2]