A rarity....One team, 12+ year as a reserve player...A fixture and resident of Tigertown....pinch hitter deluxe...impoverished
childhood ran afoul of the law...incarcerated at an Ohio reformatory, same one
where the Shaw shank Redemption was filmed 30 years later....his talent was noticed
by a guard and subsequently Gates was scouted and given a chance by the Tigers....a
move similar to the Tigers acquisition of Ron Leflore a decade and half
later....Climbing up the Tiger’s chain debuted with the big club 1963...gained
near regular status the next year... settled into the pinch hitter role in
years thereafter....suffered thru a brutal 1967 only to come back with a
vengeance in 1968....hit a torrid .370 in
92 at bats with 1.12 OPS...outstanding sample of work given that pitcher
domination of the year....continued at his understudy role....another exceptional year 1971
with .336 BA....would not reach that figure again but continued on up to the
1975....did get more work with the advent of the DH rule....results were so-so
hitting .236....once considered confrontational employee with his perception of his limited role, but subsequently grew into his lot and became a terrific clubhouse presence and a Tiger icon....passed
away 2013.
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