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Chat Reel: Oscar Gamble
Latest: Monday August 07, 2000 08:57 AM
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Oscar Gamble CNNSI.com |
CNNSI.com chatted with former MLB player Oscar Gamble on July 31, 2000. Gamble's career spanned 1965 to 1985. In that time he played for the Cubs, Phillies, Indians, Yankees, White Sox, Padres and Rangers. During his time in pinstripes, the Yankee front office forced Gamble to cut off his Afro, the largest in baseball. It added more than four inches to his height and sometimes popped his batting helmet off. He talked about that and his other memories in uniform. A transcript of the chat follows:
CNNSI Host: Thanks for joining our chat with former MLB player Oscar Gamble. Welcome, Oscar!
Oscar Gamble: Good to be here.
From Dexter Richardson in Durham, N.C.: First of all, Oscar you were one of my favorite players. I thought you were a great player. What are you doing these days?
Oscar Gamble: I work for the McLain and Wright Group as a market consultant. And I do investments and different things like that. Also, I work with kids... I teach kids how to play baseball. I have two sons that I teach baseball to.
From Rich Meyerson in Babylon, N.Y.: Oscar, It was GREAT to see you at Old Timers' Day last year at Yankee Stadium. Do you plan on being there next year? I am still your No. 1 fan! Seventeen is my lucky number because you wore it with the Yankees! Best of luck to you!
Oscar Gamble: Yes, we have another one coming up on September 2. I'm looking forward to it. It was great of the Yankees to invite me. They are a great organization. I play in all those games. I'm really enjoying it.
From Bruce Markusen in Cooperstown, N.Y.: Throughout the many stops in your career, which teammate became your closest friend in baseball? Do you still keep in touch with him today?
Oscar Gamble: Oh yes, I have a lot of friends. Chris Chambliss and I were roommates. We stay in touch. So his name is on my list. And Buddy Bell was a great friend. And Rich (Goose) Gossage and I stay in touch and Mickey Rivers, Dave Winfield. I could go on forever. Names keep popping into my head.
From Chris Stewart in Toronto: What is a baseball event that you wish happened to you, but didn't over your career?
Oscar Gamble: I got a chance to play in the World Series ... I wanted to hit a grand slam in the last few minutes. I wish that would have happened. Bill Mazeroski hit a home run against the Yankees in '60 and that was a great event.
From Luke Winn in Fort Atkinson, Wisc.: Oscar: Images of your afro seem to keep popping up in odd places. Bob Costas showed an audience of the Conan O'Brien show that he keeps your card in his wallet. The rock band Phish used the same card as a backstage pass for a recent tour, altering the words to say "Phish takes a Gamble on Oscar." Were you aware of this, and what are your thoughts on the lingering hype over the 'fro?
Oscar Gamble: Oh, I've really enjoyed the attention... I get a lot of cards for me to sign. Most of them are that '75 bubble gum card that has that afro. I think they keep popping up. I think after 2000, they go back to the '70s a lot... what was happening a lot in the '90s was that they were talking about the '60s. There were a lot of guys wearing the afro at that time.
From Spike in Los Angeles, Calif.: Fashion and trends are just a part of baseball as they are in real life. Which current major leaguer can you see going retro and bringing the Afro back?
Oscar Gamble: Yes, I think so. But I don't know ... the thing to do now is to shave it all off. The trend may be coming back. I watch a lot of baseball and I think "Who would bring it back?" I think it's gonna take awhile to bring it back.
From Nancy: Why wouldn't you allow SI photographers to take a picture of your head for your recent article?
Oscar Gamble: Oh, they never did ask. We were taking pictures, I had my son, we took a lot of pictures with me and my son. I had been at the dentist earlier that day. I would have let 'em get my picture; I would have taken off my hat!
From Frank Mrykalo in Harrisburg, Pa.: Oscar, with your unusual batting stance, did you ever have back problems in your career? By the way, you had a great swing for the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
Oscar Gamble: Thanks. Yeah, I never did have any back problems. I couldn't see the ball, so I started leaning over. It helped me to see the ball. They throw a lot of fastballs. You use your legs when you hit. To hit homeruns, you have to see the ball. You get used to bending to take the weight off your back.
From Chuck in Chicago: What do you remember about your great year with the White Sox in '77?
Oscar Gamble: I remember we started the season out swinging the bats really well -- hitting the ball real good. We got off to a good start. It gave us confidence that we could win. The fans gave us standing ovations. That helped a lot. They've got great fans in Chicago.
From Dino in Panama City, Fla.: Oscar, I was at Yankee Stadium in 1976 when Chambliss hit the winning home run in bottom of the ninth. Can you tell me what it was like to be part of the team who made it back after a 12-year drought?
Oscar Gamble: Oh that was a great bunch of guys. We had a young team. Graig Nettles was up and I was the next hitter. We had three lefthanders coming up, and a right-handed pitcher. And one of us was going to hit a home run. I felt like we were going to win the game. I didn't think they could stop us from winning. Chambliss came up and hit a homerun. I saw it going over the fence, fans cheered... it was really exciting.
From Jeff: Oscar, who gave you the nickname the Big "O"?
Oscar Gamble: Let's go way back. It happened when I was playing in Texas, I believe. I don't know who started it. It was two guys, but I don't remember who it was.
From Michael Hammer in New York, N.Y.: Oscar, did you have to get a hat specially made to fit over the afro?
Oscar Gamble: No, I just got a larger size than what I was wearing. I'd start at the back and pull it over. I had a lot of pitchers want to throw a ball at my head to see if it would stick in my hair!
From Eric Salo in Columbus, Ind.: How did you feel about the Yankees front office forcing you to cut your hair? Did you feel like they had a good reason or did you try to fight it?
Oscar Gamble: No, I didn't try to fight it. I knew they had a good reason. Billy Martin came to me and said that I needed to get my hair cut before I would get my uniform. George Steinbrenner said I had to get it cut. I was gonna get it cut anyway, though. I got traded to the Yankees and they told me they wanted to take my picture and stuff. But it was at spring training and I had to get my uniform, so it didn't bother me.
From Mike Gambino in Cordova, Tenn.: What was your opinion of playing for Billy Martin? What is your take on him as a person and manager? How was Reggie Jackson as a teammate? As a person?
Oscar Gamble: It was great. I really enjoyed playing for Billy. I thought he did the best job of any manager I had. He was a great motivator ... all the great management stuff. All the players respected him. He would try anything. You never knew when he was gonna hit and run. I enjoyed playing with Reggie. He was great fun.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have today with Oscar Gamble. Thanks for joining us!
Oscar Gamble: Thank you, guys! I really enjoyed it.
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