Jim Gantner

Infobox MLB retired
name=Jim Gantner


|width=180px
position=Second baseman
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1953|1|5
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
debutdate=September 3
debutyear=by|1976
debutteam=Milwaukee Brewers
finaldate=October 3
finalyear=by|1992
finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.274
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1,696
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=568
teams=
* Milwaukee Brewers (by|1976-by|1992)

James Elmer Gantner (born January 5, 1953 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) was a Major League Baseball player who played his entire career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-92).

Background

Gantner grew up in Eden, Wisconsin,cite web |url=http://www2.jsonline.com/sports/century/oct99/century120599.asp |title="Sports in Wisconsin - The 20th Century - 1980–1989 |accessdate=2007-05-04 |date=December 3 1999 |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] and went to high school at [http://www.csd.k12.wi.us/HS/index.htm Campbellsport High School] in nearby Campbellsport, Wisconsin. He played his college baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he was enshrined into the [http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/Baseball/ Titans'] [http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/HallOfFame/Yearly.html#1984 Hall of Fame] in 1984.

Baseball career

Gantner was a 12th-round draft pick in the 1974 amateur draft. Gantner spent two years in the minor leagues before being called up to the majors. He was best known for his consistent play, which culminated in a respectable .274 career batting average after 17 seasons. Gantner, or "Gumby" as he was affectionately known because of the way he turned double plays, was the second baseman for the Brewers, who won the American League pennant in by|1982 but fell in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. He comprised a stellar infield throughout much of the '80s beside Hall of Famers Robin Yount (SS/OF), Paul Molitor (3B), and former Brewer great Cecil Cooper (1B).

Gantner rarely hit home runs. On September 3, by|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, by|1992, in the 13th inning, against Boston Red Sox reliever Jeff Reardon. Gantner hit the first pitch into the right field bleachers in Milwaukee County Stadium, giving the Brewers an 8-7 victory. Brewers announcer Bob Uecker had the call with, "Here's the pitch to Gantner. He hits one to right and deep. Get up. Get up. Get outta here - gone! A dinger for Klinger! And this game is over. Woah, Jimmy Gantner!"

Gantner pitched an inning of relief against the Kansas City Royals on August 29 1979, allowing two hits. Despite the game being a blowout, he was almost ejected for arguing balls and strikes with the umpire.

Coach

Gantner coached several years after he retired as a player. He currently runs River Coffee House in Hartland, Wisconsin, and Hale Park Automotive Services in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He also is employed by the Brewers' organization. Jim also is partial owner to a bar in Eden, Wisconsin called "Scuds Buds."

Gantner entered his first season as field manager of the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the Northwoods League in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.waow.com/Sports/index.php?ID=4716 |title=Woodchucks Introduce Gantner as New Manager |accessdate=2007-06-22 |date=2006-10-24 |work=WAOW]

tatistics

Career Statistics:
"Hitting"

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gantnji01.shtml Jim Gantner at Baseball-Reference.com]
* [http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mil/stats_historical/mil_individual_stats_player.jsp?playerID=114569 Jim Gantner at Milwaukee.Brewers.mlb.com]