Ken Gables

Infobox MLB retired
name=Ken Gables
position=Pitcher


bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1919|1|31|mf=y
city-state|Walnut Grove|Missouri
deathdate=death date and age|1960|1|2|1919|1|31
city-state|Walnut Grove|Missouri
debutdate=April 18
debutyear=by|1945
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
finaldate=April 20
finalyear=by|1947
finalteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
stat1label=Win-Loss Record
stat1value=13-11
stat2label=Strikeouts
stat2value=88
stat3label=ERA
stat3value=4.69
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1945-47)

Kenneth Harlin Gables (January 31, 1919 - January 2, 1960) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1945 to 1947. The right-hander stood 5'11" and weighed convert|210|lb|abbr=on.

As a rookie in 1945, the last year of World War II baseball, 26-year-old Gables was the youngest pitcher on the Pirate staff. He made his major league debut in relief on April 18, 1945 against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. He earned his first win on May 24, also in relief, in an 11-inning home game against the Boston Braves. Gables pitched in 29 games during his first season, 16 as a starter, and had an 11-7 record with a 4.15 earned run average.

Career totals for 62 games include a 13-11 record, 23 games started, 6 complete games, 20 games finished, and 2 saves. He allowed 125 earned runs in 239.2 innings pitched for an ERA of 4.69.

Gables died in his hometown of Walnut Grove, Missouri at the age of 40.

Trivia

*Gables gave up just 9 home runs in 239.2 innings, an outstanding average of just one per 26.2 innings pitched.
*His nickname was "Coral."
*Five other players made their major league debut the same day as Gables...Vic Lombardi, Otho Nitcholas, Bill Salkeld, Jim Wilson, and Jose Zardon.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gableke01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pgablk101.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/G/Gables_Ken.stm Baseball Library]