"Oscar Gamble has always had that ever-smiling look on his face. A look that could be labeled 'strange' for a man who had played in seven different towns in his major league career and four different cities in the past five seasons. But the Big O smiles because he knows he can provide a service that's hard to beat. He's a major league hitter who puts the ball right over the wall ... no questions asked!
In the second year of his second term with the Yankees, Oscar smashed one home run every fourteen times at bat. He's done long ball damage over 150 times in his career and each time he steps to the plate, Yankee fans buzz with excitement. They buzz over the knowledge that at any time soon Oscar may smash that little white ball over the fence to put the Yankees ahead.
The Big O can do it whether playing in the outfield, appearing as a designated hitter or coming off the bench cold to the cheers of the crowd as a pinch hitter. He'll be happy if Gene Michael dials O for Oscar and lets him do what he does best: take that home run trot around the bases another time."
-The New York Yankees Official 1981 Yearbook
"Gamble jumped off to a fast start in 1980 with 16 RBIs in his first 19 at-bats, batting .474 with three homers. He then fouled a ball of his left foot on May 13, fracturing a left toe and was on the disabled list until June 23. From August 9 through September 6, he hit seven home runs in 36 at bats.
Oscar had one of the best home run ratios on the club, one every 13.9 at-bats. He led the team in batting with men in scoring position, hitting .371 (23-for-62). His best hitting streak in '80 was 10 straight games at the beginning of September. Used mainly as a left fielder and a right fielder and as a designated hitter against right-handing pitching, Oscar hit eight of his 14 homers at Yankee Stadium.
Oscar returned to the Yankees in 1979 for a second stint and was sensational for the Yankees in the last two months of the season. He had a broken bone in his left foot and missed the month of May while with Texas before the trade. Oscar has played for seven different major league teams, four in the last four seasons, and since coming up with the Cubs in 1969 has seen service with the Phillies, Indians, Yankees, White Sox, Padres and Rangers.
Gamble started his pro career in the Cubs organization in 1968, being selected in the 16th round of the June Free Agent Draft that year. He was named to the Texas League East All-Star team as an outfielder for San Antonio and led the league with 32 doubles. Traded with Dick Selma to the Phillies for Johnny Callison in November 1969, Oscar had the distinction of getting the last hit in the old Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1970. He stayed with the Phillies organization until being sent to the Indians with Roger Freed in exchange for Del Unser and Terry Wedgewood in November 1972.
On April 5, 1977, Oscar was traded by the Yankees with Lamar Hoyt, Bob Polinsky and cash to the White Sox for Bucky Dent, and had his best year in the majors with the surprising '77 White Sox. He became a free agent after that season and was selected and signed by the Padres. Following the '78 season, Oscar was traded with Dave Roberts to the Rangers for Kurt Bevacqua, Bill Fahey, Mike Hargrove and cash.
One of eight children, Gamble attended George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama, where he only played basketball as the school did not have a baseball team. 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 and enjoys hunting, fishing and dancing."
-1981 New York Yankees Media Guide
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