| Kelly Gruber | |
|---|---|
 Gruber in 1992 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: (1962-02-26)February 26, 1962 (age 63) Houston,Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 20, 1984, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 29, 1993, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .259 |
| Home runs | 117 |
| Runs batted in | 443 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Kelly Wayne Gruber (born February 26, 1962) is an American formerMajor League Baseball (MLB)third baseman. He played for theToronto Blue Jays andCalifornia Angels from 1984 to 1993. He was a two-timeMLB All-Star and won aGold Glove Award andSilver Slugger Award in 1990.
Gruber was born on February 26, 1962.[1] Gruber played baseball atWestlake High School inAustin, Texas, where his number was later retired.[citation needed]
He was drafted by theCleveland Indians in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1980 amateur draft. On December 5, 1983, theToronto Blue Jays picked him up in theRule 5 draft. Gruber saw his first MLB action shortly thereafter, playing in his first game on April 20, 1984. Over the next three seasons, he split time between MLB and the minor leagues, earning an everyday spot in the Toronto line-up by 1987. The Toronto media quickly nicknamed him "Xanthos" (meaning blonde) after his long flowing blonde hair. During his stay in Toronto he was voted the city's most eligible bachelor.
On April 16, 1989, Gruber was the first Blue Jay in history tohit for the cycle[1] when he got four hits in six at–bats with six RBI and four runs scored.[2] His cycle occurred in the following order: home run, double, triple, and single.[3] He was told to stop at first for his single even though a double was easily attainable.Gruber had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31home runs, 118RBIs and 14stolen bases, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and ending up fourth in MVP balloting that year.
Gruber was a member of the1992 World Series-winning Blue Jay team. In the fourth inning ofGame 3, Gruber appeared to make a diving tag onBraves runnerDeion Sanders' foot to record the third out of atriple play, which would have been only the second such play in World Series history. The second-base umpire, however, ruled Sanders safe. Gruber tore his rotator cuff on the play; however, he hit a key game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and the Jays won the game in walk-off fashion, later taking the series in six games.[4]
Gruber was traded to theCalifornia Angels forLuis Sojo in December 1992.[5] Soon after his arrival, Gruber announced that he had bulging discs in his neck.[6] Just over two months after the trade, Gruber had shoulder surgery to repair a rotator cuff tear. Gruber was expected to be sidelined for at least eight weeks. Angels managerBuck Rodgers was angered over the news of Gruber's surgery; he felt that the Blue Jays must have known about the extent of Gruber's injury before they traded him. Rodgers said thatRene Gonzales would be the team's third baseman that year.[5]
Gruber returned to action in June, but after playing in only 18 games, Gruber went back on thedisabled list with continued neck and shoulder problems the next month.[6] In September, the team placed Gruber on waivers. He was owed $4 million for the 1993 season, but the Blue Jays agreed to pay $1.7 million of that total.[7]
In 1992, Gruber published his autobiography,Kelly, At Home on Third. On June 16, 2018, he made numerous controversial and offensive remarks at a PitchTalks event in Toronto, some directed at moderator Ashley Docking, prompting his uninviting from the upcoming Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame festivities.[8]
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle April 16, 1989 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |