Shawn Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Albert Shawn Gilbert Jr. (born March 12, 1965 in Camden, New Jersey
) is a former Major League Baseball
player. He attended Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, Arizona
. After high school, he attended Fresno State and Arizona State University
.
Gilbert was drafted four times by for three different teams-the Dodgers
, Reds
and Twins
. It wasn't until their second try that the Twins were able to finally sign him in 1987.
The 5'9", 185 pound Gilbert was not too imposing (some sources say he was as small as 170 pounds), but he held his own in the minors by using his small stature to swipe 40 or more bases in 3 out of 4 seasons between 1988 and 1991. He also hit .372 in 43 at-bats with Visalia in 1988.
Gilbert, who batted and threw right-handed, made his major league debut June 2, 1997. Over the next few years, he bounced between the majors and minors. He ended up swiping only 2 bases in 51 total major league games and hitting .149.
An interesting fact about Gilbert's major league career is in 51 games, he only had 47 at-bats and he scored more runs than had actual hits. Rarely for someone to appear in 50 or more career games does anyone have more runs than hits and more games than at-bats. Two other examples of this are Charles Gipson
and Glen Barker
.
His last major league game was July 2, 2000, with the Dodgers.
He ended up retiring from professional baseball in 2003 at the age of 38 after playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
in , then in the Dodgers and Pirates
farm systems in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Willie Banks
, David West
and Jarvis Brown
had been teammates of Gilbert for four seasons, longer than any other teammates.
Gilbert currently lives in Fresno, California
and is an assistant baseball coach at Fresno Pacific University
.
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
) is a former 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...
player. He attended Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, Arizona
Avondale, Arizona
Avondale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, adjacent to Phoenix, Arizona. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 76,238.Avondale is the home of Phoenix International Raceway, an auto racing facility...
. After high school, he attended Fresno State and Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
.
Gilbert was drafted four times by for three different teams-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...
, Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
and Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. It wasn't until their second try that the Twins were able to finally sign him in 1987.
The 5'9", 185 pound Gilbert was not too imposing (some sources say he was as small as 170 pounds), but he held his own in the minors by using his small stature to swipe 40 or more bases in 3 out of 4 seasons between 1988 and 1991. He also hit .372 in 43 at-bats with Visalia in 1988.
Gilbert, who batted and threw right-handed, made his major league debut June 2, 1997. Over the next few years, he bounced between the majors and minors. He ended up swiping only 2 bases in 51 total major league games and hitting .149.
An interesting fact about Gilbert's major league career is in 51 games, he only had 47 at-bats and he scored more runs than had actual hits. Rarely for someone to appear in 50 or more career games does anyone have more runs than hits and more games than at-bats. Two other examples of this are Charles Gipson
Charles Gipson
Charles Wells Gipson Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , and Houston Astros ....
and Glen Barker
Glen Barker
Glen F. Barker is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros. He was a leadoff hitter with great defensive skills and was used mainly as a pinch runner. He has the rare distinction of having more major league career runs scored than hits...
.
His last major league game was July 2, 2000, with the Dodgers.
He ended up retiring from professional baseball in 2003 at the age of 38 after playing for the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
in , then in the Dodgers and Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
farm systems in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Willie Banks
Willie Banks (baseball)
Willie Anthony Banks was a pitcher for Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins , Chicago Cubs , Los Angeles Dodgers , Florida Marlins , New York Yankees , Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox .Banks was a member of the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins, the 1995...
, David West
David West (baseball)
David Lee West , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988-1998...
and Jarvis Brown
Jarvis Brown
Jarvis Ardel Brown was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, and Baltimore Orioles. He won the World Series with the Twins.-Career:...
had been teammates of Gilbert for four seasons, longer than any other teammates.
Gilbert currently lives in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
and is an assistant baseball coach at Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Pacific University also known as FPU is an accredited Christian university located in Fresno, California, United States. It was founded in 1944 by the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The university awarded its first bachelor of arts degree in 1965...
.