Del Gainer
Encyclopedia
Dellos Clinton Gainer nicknamed "Sheriff," was a Major League Baseball
first baseman
who played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues. In his 10 seasons, Gainer won two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox
and was teammates at different times with Ty Cobb
, Babe Ruth
, Tris Speaker
, and Rogers Hornsby
.
Born in Montrose, West Virginia
, Del Gainer played for the Detroit Tigers
from 1909 to 1914. In his first full season (1911), Gainer hit .302 in 70 games. The 1911 Tigers opened the season with a phenomenal 21-2 record, as Gainer was credited with making an impact. However, a mid-season wrist injury took Gainer out of the lineup. Though the Tigers were 63-32 on August 1, Gainer had to watch from the bench as the Tigers suffered their first losing month of the season, going 11-16 in the month of August and ending up 13½ games behind the Athletics at season's end. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/08011911.htm http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/10101911.htm
In 1912, Gainer struggled at bat, hitting .240 in 52 games. In 1913, Gainer got the job as the Tigers starting first baseman
, hitting .267 in 105 games. After only 1 game in 1914, the Tigers placed Gainer on waivers—which gave Gainer his shot at back-to-back World Series championships with the Red Sox.
In May 1914, Gainer was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
from the Tigers. He played five seasons in Boston from 1914 to 1917 and 1919.
In 1915, Red Sox manager Bill Carrigan
chose to platoon Gainer with Dick Hoblitzel
at first base. It was a great success, as the two had a combined OPS+ of 131, helping the Red Sox won 101 games and the pennant. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/great-platoons-1914-1948/
Gainer played in 82 games and hit .295 with 8 triples and 29 RBIs for the 1915 World Series championship team from Boston. He had the 2nd highest batting average of players who had at least 100 at bats for the Red Sox—trailing Tris Speaker
. He went on to hit .333 and scored a run for Boston in the 1915 World Series
.
Gainer also played for the 1916 World Series champions and got a key pinch-hit single in Game 2 of the 1916 World Series
. His hit came in the 14th inning of Game 2, ended the longest World Series game in history, and won the game for pitcher Babe Ruth
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Del_Gainer_1886 In the 1915 and 1916 World Series, Gainer hit a combine .500 getting 2 hits in 4 at bats.
In 1917, Gainer hit .308 and had the second highest batting average on the Red Sox, trailing only Babe Ruth
. Gainer and Ruth were also the only Red Sox players with a slugging percentage above .400.
After two seasons away from the Major Leagues, Gainer played 43 games for the 1922 St. Louis Cardinals
. Gainer ended his Major League career in style, hitting a 3-run home run in his last at bat on September 30, 1922. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Del_Gainer_1886&page=chronology
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
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues. In his 10 seasons, Gainer won two World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and was teammates at different times with Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
, Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
, and Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
.
Born in Montrose, West Virginia
Montrose, West Virginia
Montrose is a town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 156 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Montrose is located at , along Leading Creek....
, Del Gainer played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1909 to 1914. In his first full season (1911), Gainer hit .302 in 70 games. The 1911 Tigers opened the season with a phenomenal 21-2 record, as Gainer was credited with making an impact. However, a mid-season wrist injury took Gainer out of the lineup. Though the Tigers were 63-32 on August 1, Gainer had to watch from the bench as the Tigers suffered their first losing month of the season, going 11-16 in the month of August and ending up 13½ games behind the Athletics at season's end. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/08011911.htm http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1911/10101911.htm
In 1912, Gainer struggled at bat, hitting .240 in 52 games. In 1913, Gainer got the job as the Tigers starting first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, hitting .267 in 105 games. After only 1 game in 1914, the Tigers placed Gainer on waivers—which gave Gainer his shot at back-to-back World Series championships with the Red Sox.
In May 1914, Gainer was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from the Tigers. He played five seasons in Boston from 1914 to 1917 and 1919.
Bill Carrigan
William Francis Carrigan , nicknamed "Rough", was a Major League baseball catcher. He was born in Lewiston, Maine.Carrigan started his career as a platoon catcher and played all ten seasons with the Boston Red Sox...
chose to platoon Gainer with Dick Hoblitzel
Dick Hoblitzel
Richard Carleton "Dick" Hoblitzel , was a professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from 1908-1918. He played for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. Hoblitzel was the National League at bats leader in 1910 & 1911 and Cincinnati MVP in 1911...
at first base. It was a great success, as the two had a combined OPS+ of 131, helping the Red Sox won 101 games and the pennant. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/great-platoons-1914-1948/
Gainer played in 82 games and hit .295 with 8 triples and 29 RBIs for the 1915 World Series championship team from Boston. He had the 2nd highest batting average of players who had at least 100 at bats for the Red Sox—trailing Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker
Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...
. He went on to hit .333 and scored a run for Boston in the 1915 World Series
1915 World Series
In the 1915 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one.In their only World Series before , the Phillies won Game 1 before being swept the rest of the way. It was 65 years before the Phillies won their next Series game...
.
Gainer also played for the 1916 World Series champions and got a key pinch-hit single in Game 2 of the 1916 World Series
1916 World Series
In the 1916 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins four games to one.Casey Stengel shone on offense for the Robins in the 1916 Series but the Red Sox pitching core ultimately proved too much for the denizens of Flatbush...
. His hit came in the 14th inning of Game 2, ended the longest World Series game in history, and won the game for pitcher Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Del_Gainer_1886 In the 1915 and 1916 World Series, Gainer hit a combine .500 getting 2 hits in 4 at bats.
In 1917, Gainer hit .308 and had the second highest batting average on the Red Sox, trailing only Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
. Gainer and Ruth were also the only Red Sox players with a slugging percentage above .400.
After two seasons away from the Major Leagues, Gainer played 43 games for the 1922 St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Gainer ended his Major League career in style, hitting a 3-run home run in his last at bat on September 30, 1922. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Del_Gainer_1886&page=chronology