Gabe Kapler
Encyclopedia
Gabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler (born July 31, 1975, in Hollywood, California) is an American
Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers
, Texas Rangers
, Colorado Rockies
, Boston Red Sox
, Milwaukee Brewers
, and the Tampa Bay Rays
. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs 205 lbs.
tattoo
ed on his left calf, with the inscription "Strong Willed, Strong Minded" in Hebrew, and the post-Holocaust motto "Never Again
" with a flame and the dates of the Holocaust on his right calf.
Kapler has been given the nickname Hebrew Hammer due to his frequent longball hits, along with his muscularity and the fact that he is Jewish. It later became the nickname of Ryan Braun
, who is also Jewish, and was Kapler's teammate on the Brewers.
On September 27, 1999, the Tigers commemorated the closing of Tiger Stadium by wearing the numbers of greats from the organization's history. Kapler's jersey was blank, an homage to Ty Cobb
, who competed before players received numbers. This was ironic, as Cobb was a notorious anti-Semite.
On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Kapler took the field in the 9th inning along with Kevin Youkilis
and Adam Stern
, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in American League
history and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jews took the field for the New York Giants
in a game in 1941.
In 2008, with his career 69th home run he passed Art Shamsky
and Lou Boudreau
for 9th on the all-time list for home runs by Jewish major leaguers. Kapler was the unanimous winner of the 2008 Jewish Comeback Player of the Year award.
Through 2010, he was 10th all-time in career home runs among Jewish major league baseball players.
baseball team, and graduated in 1993.
He attended Cal State-Fullerton in 1994 on scholarship, before transferring to 2-year Moorpark College
in 1995. He was named 1st team All-Western Conference after hitting .337 with 7 homers and 52 RBIs. Kapler was inducted into the Moorpark College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Kapler is an avid weightlifter. He was on the cover of several fitness magazines and became renowned for being the focus of an entire K-Swiss
shoe campaign before he had even reached the pros.
in 1995.
In 1996 he led the South Atlantic League
in hits
(157), doubles
(45; 2nd in the minor leagues), and extra-base hits
(71), was 2nd in homers (26), RBIs (99), and slugging (.534), and 5th in batting (.300). He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star.
In 1997 at Single-A Lakeland, he led the Florida State League
in doubles (40) and total bases (262), tied for first in extra base hits (65), was 2nd in games, 3rd in hits (153), tied for 3rd in home runs (19) and RBIs (87), was 4th in slugging percentage (.505), and tied for 4th in runs
(87).
In 1998 at AA Jacksonville Suns, he won the Southern League
MVP
award, as he batted .322 with a league-high 28 home runs, 47 doubles (3rd-most in the minor leagues), and 146 RBIs (most in the minors in 1998 and most ever in the Southern League). His league record for RBIs broke the 1986 record of 132 set by Terry Steinbach
. He also set league records with 81 extra-base hits and 319 total bases, and broke the old doubles record of 44 with 47. He also led the league in hits (176; 8th-most in the minors), runs (113; 6th-most in the minors), and finished 6th in batting. He played in both the Double-A and Southern League All-Star Games and was recognized as MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game. He was also named to the SL's post-season All-Star team. He was honored as Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today
, Baseball Weekly, and The Sporting News
and USA Today, and was named Tigers Minor League Player of the Year and Detroit's No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
.
In 1999, he hit his first career home run on April 30 against Albie Lopez
of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
. He wound up hitting a career-high 18 home runs in just over 400 at-bats, third among AL rookies. His 10 home runs in his first 64 games was the fastest by a Tiger rookie since 1954, and was not surpassed until 2008.
, Francisco Cordero
, Bill Haselman
, and Justin Thompson
to the Texas Rangers
for Juan Gonzalez, Danny Patterson
, and Gregg Zaun
.
Kapler hit two home runs the next Opening Day for the Rangers, and had a team record, major-league-high 28-game hitting streak later that season.
In 2000 he batted .302 with 14 home runs, hitting .344 in the second half of the season.
In 2001 he stole
23 bases and had 8 assists
from center field for Texas. He batted .267, but .329 in games that were late and close. He made just one error
in 344 total chances for a .997 fielding percentage
, second-best in the AL.
and cash to the Colorado Rockies
for Dennys Reyes
and Todd Hollandsworth
.
In 2002, he batted .279, but .321 in games that were late and close, and .357 with runners in scoring position.
In June 2003, he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
from the Rockies.
In 2004, when Shawn Green
of the Dodgers
announced that he would not play on Yom Kippur
, the Boston media asked Kapler if he would do the same thing. Kapler called a Boston-area rabbi
for advice. With the Curse of the Bambino
still hanging over Red Sox fans' heads, the rabbi reportedly said: "Do it! We need all the help we can get!" Kapler decided to play.
Kapler played a career-high 136 games in 2004, hitting 6 home runs and driving in 33 runs in 290 at-bats. He batted .272, but .303 in games that were late and close. He also led the team with 6 outfield assists.
In Game 4 of the World Series
, Kapler had been a pinch runner
, but manager Terry Francona
left him in the game to play right field in the ninth. Kapler joined an exclusive club, as one of the nine players who were on the field when the Red Sox won their first title in 86 years.
victory over the Cardinals
, Kapler departed for Japan's Yomiuri Giants
. He received a $2 million deal plus a $700,000 signing bonus, compared to the $750,000 salary he had received from the Sox. Driven by the memory of an elementary-school report that he had written about Japan, he felt it was time for a change. “I tend to make emotional decisions,” he said. “I did it more for the life experience than anything else. And ever since I wrote that report, I’ve been fascinated by everything that an 8-year-old associates with a country far, far away.” He struggled in 38 games in Japan, and was placed on the inactive list by Yomiuri in the 2005 mid-season.
waivers.
In September 2005, Kapler ruptured his left Achilles tendon
while running the bases on what turned out to be a home run by teammate Tony Graffanino
. This ended Kapler's season.
In 2006, Kapler finally came back from his injury in June, and had his best OBP in 5 years (.340), hit .316 with 2 out and runners in scoring position, and played error-less outfield for the second year in a row.
Kapler announced his retirement from professional baseball on December 12, 2006.
, for one season in 2007. The team went 58–81, and finished in 7th place in the South Atlantic League
Southern Division.
Kapler, 32 years old at the time, had a career .270 batting average, along with 64 home runs, with 302 runs batted in. Kapler had last played on October 1, 2006, for the Red Sox.
On December 20, 2007, Kapler signed with the Milwaukee Brewers
to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract that paid $800,000 when Kapler made the roster.
The initial plan, before Mike Cameron
was acquired, was to have Kapler replace the non-tendered Kevin Mench
as a right-handed option to share time with Tony Gwynn, Jr.
, Gabe Gross
, and Joe Dillon
, in left field. With a focus on defense, Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.
"He's been very impressive so far," said Brewers manager Ned Yost
in March. "I would have never known he took a year off. He does not show any signs of it to me.
While Cameron served a 25-game suspension to start the season for twice testing positive for a banned stimulant
in the fall of 2007,
Kapler made the club, and began to see action in center field. On April 5, 2008, he hit the first pinch-hit
home run of his career for Milwaukee in the 7th inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants
. Kapler started the season as the Brewers' hottest hitter, going 11-for-26 with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs.
By late June, with Gross traded to Tampa Bay
and Tony Gwynn, Jr. back down with Triple-A Nashville
, Kapler was the top option at every outfield spot when a backup was needed.
Kapler gave fans a taste of his hard-nosed style against the Dodgers
on August 16. He ran full-speed after Russell Martin
's long fly in the seventh inning, snagging the ball to deprive Martin of a home run as he toppled head-first into the left-field seats. The outstanding catch helped the Brewers hold onto a one-run lead, and earned Kapler the Play of the Year Award, voted by over 12 million fans in major league baseball's This Year in Baseball Awards
. Similarly, three days later Kapler made a diving catch in left field to rob Ty Wigginton
of a hit, and on September 6 Kapler ran down a blooper to center and made an outstanding diving catch.
Kapler injured his right shoulder on a throw to the plate in mid-September, tearing his latissimus dorsi muscle, and missed the last two weeks of the season as well as the NLDS
.
For the year, Kapler batted .301, with a .498 slugging percentage, hit 8 home runs, and was 3 for 4 in stolen bases, playing most of his games in center field, and batting .386 with a .632 slugging percentage in tie games. Kapler started 43 games. He was the club's best pinch-hitter, batting .323 with 2 homers (the first pinch-hit shots of his career) and 8 RBIs. He had 2 extra-inning walk-off hits, including a home run against Washington in August. Kapler also broke up Chris Young’s perfect game with a homer in the 8th inning against San Diego
late in the season.
Kapler was mentioned as a candidate for, but did not win, the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
. Kapler hit .270 over four seasons with the Red Sox.
On October 30, 2008, Kapler filed for free agency.
for $1,000,018; the extra $18 represents both Kapler's lucky number, and the symbol for "life" in Judaism.
He started the season platooning in center field with Matt Joyce
, in place of Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder, and was not ready for Opening Day
. On April 13, 2009, Kapler struck out against New York Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher
. Kapler then began to platoon in right field with Gabe Gross
, playing against southpaws—a job Kapler did particularly well in 2008, as he hit .354 with 4 homers in 82 at bats against left-handers. In this role he almost broke Mark Buehrle
's Perfect Game on July 23, 2009. Leading off the ninth inning against the White Sox
, he was robbed of a home run by a leaping DeWayne Wise
, a ninth inning defensive replacement.
Through July 10, despite a slow start Kapler had the best slugging percentage of his career (.505), and was batting .320 with a 4 home runs in 75 at bats and a .680 slugging percentage against left-handers. As of July 10, 64% of his hits in 2009 had been for extra bases, which would be first in the major leagues for a player with at least 100 plate appearances (Kapler had 129).
Kapler was re-signed by the Rays on October 27, 2009, to another one-year contract, this time for $1.05 million. Over 2009-09, Kapler hit .304 against left-handers with a .577 slugging percentage, 11th-best in the Major Leagues. "Over the past two years, Kap has been one of the best in baseball against left-handed pitching," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
. "Because he's also a plus defensive outfielder, he's become a tremendous asset here. His value even extends beyond the field; his knowledge and presence make him a positive influence on our younger players."
In a December interview manager Joe Maddon
said: "I'm still a big Gabe Kapler fan. You look at his OPS
over the last couple of years versus left-handed pitching, it's among the best in all of baseball".
Heading into spring training in 2010, it appeared that Kapler was likely to platoon in right field with Matt Joyce
. However, he appeared in only 59 games that season, hitting a career worst .210 with only 2 home runs and became a free agent after the season.
. He also received an invitation to spring training. Kapler was released on March 31, 2011.
and helping women escape abusive relationships.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
He has played portions of 13 seasons with 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...
, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, 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"...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs 205 lbs.
Jewish heritage
Kapler is Jewish, and to honor his heritage Kapler has a Star of DavidStar of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
ed on his left calf, with the inscription "Strong Willed, Strong Minded" in Hebrew, and the post-Holocaust motto "Never Again
Jewish Defense League
The Jewish Defense League is a Jewish organization whose stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary"...
" with a flame and the dates of the Holocaust on his right calf.
Kapler has been given the nickname Hebrew Hammer due to his frequent longball hits, along with his muscularity and the fact that he is Jewish. It later became the nickname of Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, who is also Jewish, and was Kapler's teammate on the Brewers.
On September 27, 1999, the Tigers commemorated the closing of Tiger Stadium by wearing the numbers of greats from the organization's history. Kapler's jersey was blank, an homage to 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...
, who competed before players received numbers. This was ironic, as Cobb was a notorious anti-Semite.
On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Kapler took the field in the 9th inning along with Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
and Adam Stern
Adam Stern
Adam James Stern is a Canadian Major League Baseball outfielder who is presently a free agent.He bats left-handed, and throws right-handed. He was dubbed the "Canadian Babe Ruth" by Cleveland Indians outfielder Trot Nixon. Stern is the second Jewish player from Canada in major league history....
, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
history and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jews took the field for the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in a game in 1941.
In 2008, with his career 69th home run he passed Art Shamsky
Art Shamsky
Arthur Louis Shamsky is a former Major League Baseball player. He played right field, left field, and first base from to for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. In he was the manager of the Modi'in Miracle of the Israel Baseball League.-Early life:Shamsky...
and Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
for 9th on the all-time list for home runs by Jewish major leaguers. Kapler was the unanimous winner of the 2008 Jewish Comeback Player of the Year award.
Through 2010, he was 10th all-time in career home runs among Jewish major league baseball players.
Early life
Kapler played for the Taft High SchoolTaft High School (Los Angeles)
William Howard Taft High School is a public school located on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, USA, within the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:Taft opened in 1960....
baseball team, and graduated in 1993.
He attended Cal State-Fullerton in 1994 on scholarship, before transferring to 2-year Moorpark College
Moorpark College
Moorpark College is a California state college located on a property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. It was established in 1967 and as of 2006, had an enrollment of 16,580 students and 175 full-time faculty members....
in 1995. He was named 1st team All-Western Conference after hitting .337 with 7 homers and 52 RBIs. Kapler was inducted into the Moorpark College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Kapler is an avid weightlifter. He was on the cover of several fitness magazines and became renowned for being the focus of an entire K-Swiss
K-Swiss
K-Swiss, Inc. is an American footwear company based in Westlake Village, California. The company designs, develops, and markets a range of athletic shoes under the K-Swiss brand.- History :...
shoe campaign before he had even reached the pros.
Minor leagues
Kapler was a 57th-round draft pick (1,487th overall) by the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in 1995.
In 1996 he led the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(157), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(45; 2nd in the minor leagues), and extra-base hits
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
(71), was 2nd in homers (26), RBIs (99), and slugging (.534), and 5th in batting (.300). He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star.
In 1997 at Single-A Lakeland, he led the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
in doubles (40) and total bases (262), tied for first in extra base hits (65), was 2nd in games, 3rd in hits (153), tied for 3rd in home runs (19) and RBIs (87), was 4th in slugging percentage (.505), and tied for 4th in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(87).
In 1998 at AA Jacksonville Suns, he won the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award, as he batted .322 with a league-high 28 home runs, 47 doubles (3rd-most in the minor leagues), and 146 RBIs (most in the minors in 1998 and most ever in the Southern League). His league record for RBIs broke the 1986 record of 132 set by Terry Steinbach
Terry Steinbach
Terry Lee Steinbach is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for 14 years from to . He was drafted in 1980 out of New Ulm High School by the Cleveland Indians. He was the starting catcher for Oakland Athletics teams that won three straight American League pennants from 1988 to...
. He also set league records with 81 extra-base hits and 319 total bases, and broke the old doubles record of 44 with 47. He also led the league in hits (176; 8th-most in the minors), runs (113; 6th-most in the minors), and finished 6th in batting. He played in both the Double-A and Southern League All-Star Games and was recognized as MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game. He was also named to the SL's post-season All-Star team. He was honored as Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, Baseball Weekly, and The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
and USA Today, and was named Tigers Minor League Player of the Year and Detroit's No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
Detroit Tigers (1998–99)
He made his Major League debut in 1998 at the age of 22. He became the first Tiger since the inception of the draft in 1969 to be selected as late as the 57th round and reach the majors. He had one hit in four at-bats in his debut.In 1999, he hit his first career home run on April 30 against Albie Lopez
Albie Lopez
Albert Anthony "Albie" Lopez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Mesa Community College. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. Lopez was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second round of the expansion...
of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. He wound up hitting a career-high 18 home runs in just over 400 at-bats, third among AL rookies. His 10 home runs in his first 64 games was the fastest by a Tiger rookie since 1954, and was not surpassed until 2008.
Texas Rangers (2000–02)
In November 1999, he was traded by the Tigers with Al Webb (minors), Frank CatalanottoFrank Catalanotto
Frank John Catalanotto is a former Italian American baseball outfielder. Nicknamed "Little Cat", the Long Island native bats left-handed and throws right-handed...
, Francisco Cordero
Francisco Cordero
Francisco Javier Cordero is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds...
, Bill Haselman
Bill Haselman
William Joseph Haselman is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He served as the first base coach for the Boston Red Sox in . Before taking over the role of first base coach, Haselman served as bullpen coach...
, and Justin Thompson
Justin Thompson
Justin Ray Thompson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1996 to 1999 and the Texas Rangers in 2005.-Career:...
to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Juan Gonzalez, Danny Patterson
Danny Patterson
Daniel Shane Patterson is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers ....
, and Gregg Zaun
Gregg Zaun
Gregory Owen "Gregg" Zaun is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He is the nephew of former MLB catcher Rick Dempsey. Zaun was a high school teammate of Mark Loretta...
.
Kapler hit two home runs the next Opening Day for the Rangers, and had a team record, major-league-high 28-game hitting streak later that season.
In 2000 he batted .302 with 14 home runs, hitting .344 in the second half of the season.
In 2001 he stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
23 bases and had 8 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
from center field for Texas. He batted .267, but .329 in games that were late and close. He made just one error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 344 total chances for a .997 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, second-best in the AL.
Colorado Rockies (2002–03)
In July 2002, he was traded by the Rangers with Jason RomanoJason Romano
Jason Anthony Romano is a former professional baseball player. He played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball for five different teams from 2002 until 2005.- Rangers :...
and cash to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes
Dennys Reyes is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He has played for ten teams since his major league career began in . Reyes throws left-handed and is considered a lefty specialist. He stands 6'3" and weighs 250 pounds. His nickname is "The Big Sweat."...
and Todd Hollandsworth
Todd Hollandsworth
Todd Mathew Hollandsworth is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played with the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , and Cincinnati Reds...
.
In 2002, he batted .279, but .321 in games that were late and close, and .357 with runners in scoring position.
Boston Red Sox (2003–04)
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 Rockies.
In 2004, when Shawn Green
Shawn Green
Shawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
of the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
announced that he would not play on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, the Boston media asked Kapler if he would do the same thing. Kapler called a Boston-area rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
for advice. With the Curse of the Bambino
Curse of the Bambino
The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004...
still hanging over Red Sox fans' heads, the rabbi reportedly said: "Do it! We need all the help we can get!" Kapler decided to play.
Kapler played a career-high 136 games in 2004, hitting 6 home runs and driving in 33 runs in 290 at-bats. He batted .272, but .303 in games that were late and close. He also led the team with 6 outfield assists.
In Game 4 of the World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
, Kapler had been a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
, but manager Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
left him in the game to play right field in the ninth. Kapler joined an exclusive club, as one of the nine players who were on the field when the Red Sox won their first title in 86 years.
Yomiuri Giants (2005)
Less than one month after the Red Sox dramatic 2004 World Series2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
victory over the 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...
, Kapler departed for Japan's Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
. He received a $2 million deal plus a $700,000 signing bonus, compared to the $750,000 salary he had received from the Sox. Driven by the memory of an elementary-school report that he had written about Japan, he felt it was time for a change. “I tend to make emotional decisions,” he said. “I did it more for the life experience than anything else. And ever since I wrote that report, I’ve been fascinated by everything that an 8-year-old associates with a country far, far away.” He struggled in 38 games in Japan, and was placed on the inactive list by Yomiuri in the 2005 mid-season.
Boston Red Sox (2005–06)
Kapler was re-signed by the Red Sox in July 2005, just a few hours after clearing Japanese Central LeagueCentral League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
waivers.
In September 2005, Kapler ruptured his left Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
while running the bases on what turned out to be a home run by teammate Tony Graffanino
Tony Graffanino
Anthony Joseph Graffanino is a former American Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Though he never officially retired, Graffanino has not played since .-Career:...
. This ended Kapler's season.
In 2006, Kapler finally came back from his injury in June, and had his best OBP in 5 years (.340), hit .316 with 2 out and runners in scoring position, and played error-less outfield for the second year in a row.
Kapler announced his retirement from professional baseball on December 12, 2006.
Managing career (2007)
He served the Boston Red Sox as manager of their Single-A affiliate, the Greenville DriveGreenville Drive
The Greenville Drive is a minor league baseball team that plays in Greenville, South Carolina. They are a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the South Atlantic League. Prior to the 2005 SAL season, the team played in Columbia, South Carolina, was affiliated with the New York...
, for one season in 2007. The team went 58–81, and finished in 7th place in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
Southern Division.
Milwaukee Brewers (2008)
On September 20, 2007, after only one season as a manager, Kapler announced that he would like to return to play Major League Baseball in 2008.Kapler, 32 years old at the time, had a career .270 batting average, along with 64 home runs, with 302 runs batted in. Kapler had last played on October 1, 2006, for the Red Sox.
On December 20, 2007, Kapler signed with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract that paid $800,000 when Kapler made the roster.
The initial plan, before Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
was acquired, was to have Kapler replace the non-tendered Kevin Mench
Kevin Mench
Kevin Ford Mench is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.-High school and college career:...
as a right-handed option to share time with Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Tony Gwynn, Jr.
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Jr. is a Major League Baseball player, who is currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the son of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.-Amateur career:...
, Gabe Gross
Gabe Gross
Gabriel Jordan "Gabe" Gross is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.His father, Lee Gross, was center for the Auburn Tigers and in the NFL...
, and Joe Dillon
Joe Dillon
Joseph William Dillon is a Major League Baseball player who is currently in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He is a utility fielder...
, in left field. With a focus on defense, Yost indicated in March that Gwynn and Kapler might have a leg up on Gross.
"He's been very impressive so far," said Brewers manager Ned Yost
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick "Ned" Yost III is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the Kansas City Royals. He is the former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.-Playing career:...
in March. "I would have never known he took a year off. He does not show any signs of it to me.
While Cameron served a 25-game suspension to start the season for twice testing positive for a banned stimulant
Stimulant
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others...
in the fall of 2007,
Kapler made the club, and began to see action in center field. On April 5, 2008, he hit the first pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
home run of his career for Milwaukee in the 7th inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Kapler started the season as the Brewers' hottest hitter, going 11-for-26 with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs.
By late June, with Gross traded to Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and Tony Gwynn, Jr. back down with Triple-A Nashville
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
, Kapler was the top option at every outfield spot when a backup was needed.
Kapler gave fans a taste of his hard-nosed style against the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on August 16. He ran full-speed after Russell Martin
Russell Martin
Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees.Martin became the everyday catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately upon his Major League debut, and continued in that role for nearly 5 years...
's long fly in the seventh inning, snagging the ball to deprive Martin of a home run as he toppled head-first into the left-field seats. The outstanding catch helped the Brewers hold onto a one-run lead, and earned Kapler the Play of the Year Award, voted by over 12 million fans in major league baseball's This Year in Baseball Awards
This Year in Baseball Awards
This Year in Baseball Awards, initiated by Major League Baseball in , are honors given annually to the most extraordinary baseball performances, players, and managers. Baseball fans select the nominees for and winners of the awards, via the online voting system on MLB.com, the official website of...
. Similarly, three days later Kapler made a diving catch in left field to rob Ty Wigginton
Ty Wigginton
Ty Allen Wigginton is an American professional baseball infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He is known as a utility player, having platooned as an infielder and an outfielder during his career. He bats and throws right-handed...
of a hit, and on September 6 Kapler ran down a blooper to center and made an outstanding diving catch.
Kapler injured his right shoulder on a throw to the plate in mid-September, tearing his latissimus dorsi muscle, and missed the last two weeks of the season as well as the NLDS
2008 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers:-Game 1, October 1:Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Dodgers swiped Game 1 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mark DeRosa gave the Cubs an early lead in the second inning with an opposite-field home run. James Loney's fifth inning grand slam proved to...
.
For the year, Kapler batted .301, with a .498 slugging percentage, hit 8 home runs, and was 3 for 4 in stolen bases, playing most of his games in center field, and batting .386 with a .632 slugging percentage in tie games. Kapler started 43 games. He was the club's best pinch-hitter, batting .323 with 2 homers (the first pinch-hit shots of his career) and 8 RBIs. He had 2 extra-inning walk-off hits, including a home run against Washington in August. Kapler also broke up Chris Young’s perfect game with a homer in the 8th inning against San Diego
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
late in the season.
Kapler was mentioned as a candidate for, but did not win, the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award
The Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award is presented by Major League Baseball to the player who is judged to have "re-emerged on the baseball field during a given season." The award was developed in 2005, as part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and Viagra...
. Kapler hit .270 over four seasons with the Red Sox.
On October 30, 2008, Kapler filed for free agency.
Tampa Bay Rays (2009–2010)
On January 12, 2009, Kapler signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
for $1,000,018; the extra $18 represents both Kapler's lucky number, and the symbol for "life" in Judaism.
He started the season platooning in center field with Matt Joyce
Matt Joyce (baseball)
Matthew R. Joyce is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays.-Early life:Joyce began his career at North Brandon Little League in Brandon, Florida....
, in place of Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder, and was not ready for Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
. On April 13, 2009, Kapler struck out against New York Yankee outfielder Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
. Kapler then began to platoon in right field with Gabe Gross
Gabe Gross
Gabriel Jordan "Gabe" Gross is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.His father, Lee Gross, was center for the Auburn Tigers and in the NFL...
, playing against southpaws—a job Kapler did particularly well in 2008, as he hit .354 with 4 homers in 82 at bats against left-handers. In this role he almost broke Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He has pitched his entire baseball career for the Chicago White Sox, starting the opening game every season from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011....
's Perfect Game on July 23, 2009. Leading off the ninth inning against the White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, he was robbed of a home run by a leaping DeWayne Wise
Dewayne Wise
Larry DeWayne Wise is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He graduated from Chapin High School in 1997 and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 5th round of the 1997 amateur draft...
, a ninth inning defensive replacement.
Through July 10, despite a slow start Kapler had the best slugging percentage of his career (.505), and was batting .320 with a 4 home runs in 75 at bats and a .680 slugging percentage against left-handers. As of July 10, 64% of his hits in 2009 had been for extra bases, which would be first in the major leagues for a player with at least 100 plate appearances (Kapler had 129).
Kapler was re-signed by the Rays on October 27, 2009, to another one-year contract, this time for $1.05 million. Over 2009-09, Kapler hit .304 against left-handers with a .577 slugging percentage, 11th-best in the Major Leagues. "Over the past two years, Kap has been one of the best in baseball against left-handed pitching," said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman
Andrew Friedman
Andrew Friedman is the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Rays franchise in Major League Baseball. In that position, he acts as the team's General Manager.-Early life:...
. "Because he's also a plus defensive outfielder, he's become a tremendous asset here. His value even extends beyond the field; his knowledge and presence make him a positive influence on our younger players."
In a December interview manager Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
said: "I'm still a big Gabe Kapler fan. You look at his OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
over the last couple of years versus left-handed pitching, it's among the best in all of baseball".
Heading into spring training in 2010, it appeared that Kapler was likely to platoon in right field with Matt Joyce
Matt Joyce (baseball)
Matthew R. Joyce is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays.-Early life:Joyce began his career at North Brandon Little League in Brandon, Florida....
. However, he appeared in only 59 games that season, hitting a career worst .210 with only 2 home runs and became a free agent after the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On January 18, 2011, Kapler signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He also received an invitation to spring training. Kapler was released on March 31, 2011.
Public service
Kapler and his wife, Lisa, co-founded the Gabe Kapler Foundation, which is dedicated to educating the public about domestic violenceDomestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
and helping women escape abusive relationships.
Personal
- Kapler and his wife Lisa have two sons, Chase Ty and Dane Rio.
- Kapler is well known in baseball for his extraordinary musculature. Bob RyanBob RyanBob Ryan is an American sportswriter for The Boston Globe. He has been described as "the quintessential American sportswriter" and a basketball guru and is well known for his coverage of the sport including his famous stories covering the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. After graduating from Boston...
once wrote a column in which he nicknamed Kapler "The Body," and mused on the fact that, traditionally, bodybuilder-type physiques have not been considered desirable for baseball players (as speed and reflexes are more important than muscle).
- In a clubhouse poll, it was once revealed that of the 25 players on the Red Sox, 24 were RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s and Kapler was the one DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
- Kapler has 11 tattoos, mostly on his legs, and his wife's name on his left shoulder.
See also
- List of select Jewish Major League Baseball players
External links
- Gabe Kapler Foundation
- Baseball Library
- Jewish Virtual Library bio
- Jews in Sports bio
- "Your Everyday Bodybuilding Jewish Outfielder; Gabe Kapler," 6/03
- "Kapler retires, named Class-A skipper," 12/12/06
- "The Boys of Summer and Seder: Baseball, Passover share openers," 3/12/07
- "Kapler wants a return" Boston.com Sports, 9/20/07
- "Brewers acquire free agent Gabe Kapler; Veteran outfielder signs one-year contract," MLB.com, 12/20/07
- "Warming up for the Jewish Boys of Summer," 3/5/08
- "Touching Base; Best Nine Innings; Gabe Kapler," 5/8/09