Kelly Gruber
Born: 2/26/1962 in Houston, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1984-04-20 | Final Game: 1993-06-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Kelly Wayne Gruber
Biography
Kelly Gruber was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, playing from 1984 until 1993. Born in 1962, Gruber made a significant impact during his career, particularly as a third baseman. He participated in 939 games and recorded 818 hits, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively with a batting average of .259. Gruber displayed power at the plate, hitting 117 home runs and driving in 443 runs, while also demonstrating speed with 80 stolen bases. His all-around game earned him two All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the top players of his era.
Gruber was an essential part of the Toronto Blue Jays during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period characterized by the team's rise to prominence in the American League. His defensive skills, coupled with his offensive productivity, helped the Blue Jays secure their first World Series title in 1992. Gruber's contributions to the team during this transformative era in baseball history cemented his legacy as a key figure in the franchise's success. After his retirement on June 29, 1993, Gruber remained a respected figure in the baseball community, remembered for his versatility and competitive spirit on the field.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 939 | 3159 | 431 | 818 | 148 | 24 | 117 | 443 | 80 | 197 | 504 | 0.259 | 0.307 | 0.432 | 0.739 | 2045.0 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | TOR | AL | 15 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.062 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | TOR | AL | 5 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | 87 | 143 | 20 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 0.196 | -650.3 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | 138 | 341 | 50 | 80 | 14 | 3 | 12 | 36 | 12 | 17 | 70 | 0.235 | -687.8 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 158 | 569 | 75 | 158 | 33 | 5 | 16 | 81 | 23 | 38 | 92 | 0.278 | 1029.6 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | 135 | 545 | 83 | 158 | 24 | 4 | 18 | 73 | 10 | 30 | 60 | 0.290 | 1042.2 |
| 1990 | TOR | AL | 150 | 592 | 92 | 162 | 36 | 6 | 31 | 118 | 14 | 48 | 94 | 0.274 | 1890.1 |
| 1991 | TOR | AL | 113 | 429 | 58 | 108 | 18 | 2 | 20 | 65 | 12 | 31 | 70 | 0.252 | 369.9 |
| 1992 | TOR | AL | 120 | 446 | 42 | 102 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 43 | 7 | 26 | 72 | 0.229 | -986.6 |
| 1993 | LAA | AL | 18 | 65 | 10 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 0.277 | 37.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 79 | 8 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 0.190 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | WS | TOR | 6 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0.105 |
| 1992 | ALCS | TOR | 6 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.091 |
| 1991 | ALCS | TOR | 5 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.286 |
| 1989 | ALCS | TOR | 5 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.294 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 29 | 8 | 22 | 36 | 3 | 10 |
| 3B | 846 | 756 | 619 | 1651 | 107 | 110 |
| OF | 38 | 22 | 55 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| SS | 29 | 8 | 23 | 34 | 2 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | TOR | 3B | 12 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | TOR | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | TOR | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | TOR | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | TOR | 3B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | TOR | 2B | 14 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 5 |
| 1986 | TOR | 3B | 42 | 27 | 19 | 59 | 5 | 3 |
| 1986 | TOR | SS | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | TOR | OF | 9 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | TOR | 2B | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 | TOR | 3B | 119 | 74 | 52 | 168 | 12 | 11 |
| 1987 | TOR | SS | 21 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 1 | 7 |
| 1987 | TOR | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TOR | 2B | 7 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 4 |
| 1988 | TOR | 3B | 156 | 147 | 114 | 349 | 14 | 31 |
| 1988 | TOR | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | TOR | OF | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | TOR | 3B | 119 | 118 | 86 | 291 | 22 | 15 |
| 1989 | TOR | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | TOR | OF | 16 | 15 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | TOR | 3B | 145 | 143 | 123 | 280 | 19 | 21 |
| 1990 | TOR | OF | 6 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | TOR | 3B | 111 | 109 | 97 | 231 | 13 | 16 |
| 1992 | TOR | 3B | 120 | 118 | 104 | 215 | 17 | 10 |
| 1993 | CAL | 3B | 17 | 17 | 18 | 42 | 4 | 3 |
| 1993 | CAL | OF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 30 |
| Third Base | 846 |
| Shortstop | 29 |
| Left Field | 8 |
| Center Field | 6 |
| Right Field | 25 |
| Designated Hitter | 21 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gold Glove | 3B |
| 1990 | Player of the Month | September |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-09-15 |
| 1990 | Player of the Week | Week of 1990-04-28 |
| 1990 | Silver Slugger | 3B |
| 1990 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | CAL | AL | $4,333,334 |
| 1992 | TOR | AL | $3,633,333 |
| 1991 | TOR | AL | $3,033,333 |
| 1990 | TOR | AL | $1,150,000 |
| 1989 | TOR | AL | $462,500 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | $130,000 |
| 1987 | TOR | AL | $96,000 |
| 1986 | TOR | AL | $88,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $12,926,500 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 175.0 | 392 | 0 |