Best Years
On April 16, 1989, Kelly Gruber was the first Blue Jay in history to hit for the cycle when he went 4 for 6 with 6 RBI and 4 runs scored. His cycle occurred in the following order: home run, double, triple, and single. He was told to stop at first for his single even though a double was easily attainable. Gruber had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31 HRs, 118 RBIs and 14 SBs, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and ending up fourth in MVP balloting that year.
Gruber was a member of the 1992 World Series-winning Blue Jay team, and was involved in one of the most controversial plays in World Series history. In the fourth inning of Game 3, Gruber appeared to make a diving tag Braves runner Deion Sanders on the foot to record the third out of a triple play, which would have been only the second such play in World Series history. However, the second-base umpire ruled Sanders safe, despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary. Gruber tore his rotator cuff on the play; however, he hit a key game-tying home run in the eighth inning, and the Jays would go on to win the game in walk-off fashion, later taking the series in six games.
Gruber was traded to the California Angels for Luis Sojo in 1993. He appeared in interviews to be very bitter about the move, feeling that he deserved better treatment from the team to whom he had been so loyal.
Gruber's career was cut short in 1993 due to a bone spur on his spine. He played 63 games for the Angels. Due to growing threats of paralysis, Gruber had surgery performed on the bone spur that ended his career in 1993. The surgery was successful.
In 1997, Gruber attempted a comeback with the Baltimore Orioles. While his performance was good enough to impress coaches and staff with the Orioles, Gruber decided to retire for good due to health-related concerns.
Today, Kelly Gruber often makes public appearances as a motivational speaker for charitable organizations as well as holding baseball seminars throughout North America.
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Famous quotes containing the word years:
“So cruel prison how could betide, alas,
As proud Windsor, Where I in lust and joy
With a king’s son my childish years did pass
In greater feast than Priam’s sons of Troy?
Where each sweet place returns a taste full sour;”
—Henry Howard, Earl Of Surrey (1517?–1547)
“For some years now, there has been proof that the devastating effects of the traumatization of children take their inevitable toll on society—a fact that we are still forbidden to recognize. This knowledge concerns every single one of us, and—if disseminated widely enough—should lead to fundamental changes in society; above all, to a halt in the blind escalation of violence.”
—Alice Miller (20th century)