"Without his credit card, you may not recognize this much-traveled veteran. Without his oversized, much-publicized Afro, you wouldn't even give him a second look as he entered the Stadium prior to a game. But as soon as he steps to the plate, you'll be on your feet screaming for the Big O to smack the long ball or drive in that game-winning run which he does with incomparable ease. Like it or not, anonymity and life on the road has always been a way of life for Oscar Gamble.
Oscar has been with the Bombers once before, 1976, contributing 17 homers and 57 RBIs as they drove towards their first pennant in 12 years. Prior to that he was with the Cubs, Phillies and Indians. Since then he has performed with the White Sox, Padres and Rangers, but last season the Yankees reacquired him from Texas and his reappearance in pinstripes suits everyone just fine.
Returning to the Yankees last season, Oscar hit a sparkling .389 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in only 36 games. His contributions over a full season cannot be fully estimated. While you may not find him as the most recognizable of all the Yankees, he's present and accounted for as another winning run crosses the plate and another Yankee win is secured."
-The New York Yankees 1980 Yearbook
"After starting the season with the Rangers, Gamble returned to the Yankees, whom he had played for in 1976. He broke a bone in his left foot and was out the month of May. He returned to the lineup on June 5 and played in 64 games for Texas, batting .335 with eight homers and 32 RBIs. He joined the Yankees on August 3 and went 0-for-6, then took off, hitting in six straight (15-for-24, .625), raising his average from .323 to .361.
Oscar finished the season on a tear, hitting in his last eight straight (16-for-31, .516) with five home runs and 14 RBIs. He had 11 hits in his last 19 at-bats (.579). After his 0-for-6 start, Oscar batted .411 (44-for-107). Overall as a Yankee he hit .389 (44-for-113) with 11 homers and 32 RBIs in just 36 games.
He had four-hit games against the Orioles on August 10, the Red Sox on September 13 and the Blue Jays on September 28. He had a two-homer against the Jays on September 22 and had two four-RBI games.
Oscar had seven game-winning RBIs for the Yanks, ten overall. He hit a grand slam off Ferguson Jenkins on August 27 and a pinch-hit home run off Sid Monge to beat the Indians on September 27. With the Yanks, Oscar batted .577 with men in scoring position (15-for-26), and batted .479 with men on base (23-for-48).
Gamble has played for seven different major league clubs and has been with four clubs in the last three years. Since coming up with the Cubs in 1969, Oscar has seen service with the Phillies, Indians, Yankees, White Sox, Padres and Rangers. He started his pro career in the Cub organization at Caldwell in the Pioneer League in 1968 and reached the majors at age 20, being called up by the Cubs in 1969 from San Antonio.
Oscar went from the Cubs to the Phillies in 1970, along with Dick Selma, for Johnny Callison. He had the distinction of getting the last ever hit in the old Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1970. Oscar stayed in the Phillies organization until being sent to the Indians in November 1972, along with Roger Freed, in exchange for Del Unser and Terry Wedgewood. He played three years in Cleveland, hitting 20 home runs in 1973.
The Indians then traded Oscar to the Yankees for Pat Dobson on November 22, 1975. He appeared in 110 games for the Yanks in 1976, with 17 homers and 57 RBIs. Just before the start of the 1977 season (April 5), the Yanks shipped Oscar to the White Sox, along with Bob Polinsky and Dewey Hoyt, in a deal that brought them Bucky Dent.
Gamble then had his best year in the majors with the surprising White Sox in '77. He batted .294 with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs, all personal highs. Oscar became a free agent after the 1977 season and was selected and signed by the San Diego Padres, who he played for in '78. He dropped off to seven homers but batted .275. Oscar was then traded to the Rangers in October 1978, along with Dave Roberts, for Mike Hargrove, Kurt Bevacqua and Bill Fahey. He's averaged 18.2 homers over the past seven years.
Gamble attended George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. He only played basketball because the school did not have a baseball team. He was one of eight children.
His wife Juanita is a singer and has sung the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium, once prior to an ALCS game in 1976. Oscar owns a disco (Oscar Gamble's Players Club) in Montgomery."
-New York Yankees 1980 Media Guide
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