Major League Baseball Player. Billy Gilbert was a hard-nosed infielder who played 8 seasons in the Majors. After a season at Milwaukee and a season at Baltimore, both of the American League, Gilbert jumped his contract to sign with his former manager with Baltimore, John McGraw, to play with the New York Giants. Gilbert manned second base in an infield that also featured Art Devlin at 3rd base, 'Bad Bill' Dahlen at shortstop, and Dan McGann at 1st base. That quartet was considered by many to be one of the best in all of baseball in the early part of the 20th century. During his stay with the Giants, Gilbert averaged about 40 errors a year, yet, was considered to be an excellent 2nd baseman. Most of his errors resulted from having to play with the small fielders gloves of the time. He was a member of two pennant winners and one Worlds Championship squad. He batted .312 with 2 RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 Fall Classic. After the 1906 season he was replaced at second base by Larry Doyle. After a season in the minors, he resurfaced with the St. Louis Cardinals for 1908. He finished out his major league career as a player in 1909 after battin .172 in 12 games for the Red Birds. His association with baseball did not end after he left the major leagues though. He later managed Denver of the Western League and Waterbury of the Eastern League, coached for the Boston Braves and also scouted for several big league clubs including the Giants. His last stop in baseball was as a scout for the minor league Newark Bears. He died from a Cerebral Apoplexy (Stroke) on Monday, August 8, 1927, only one day after attending an afternoon double header at Newark. He was just 52 years old. For his major league career, Gilbert batter .247 with 4 Home Runs and 237 RBI.
Major League Baseball Player. Billy Gilbert was a hard-nosed infielder who played 8 seasons in the Majors. After a season at Milwaukee and a season at Baltimore, both of the American League, Gilbert jumped his contract to sign with his former manager with Baltimore, John McGraw, to play with the New York Giants. Gilbert manned second base in an infield that also featured Art Devlin at 3rd base, 'Bad Bill' Dahlen at shortstop, and Dan McGann at 1st base. That quartet was considered by many to be one of the best in all of baseball in the early part of the 20th century. During his stay with the Giants, Gilbert averaged about 40 errors a year, yet, was considered to be an excellent 2nd baseman. Most of his errors resulted from having to play with the small fielders gloves of the time. He was a member of two pennant winners and one Worlds Championship squad. He batted .312 with 2 RBI against the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 Fall Classic. After the 1906 season he was replaced at second base by Larry Doyle. After a season in the minors, he resurfaced with the St. Louis Cardinals for 1908. He finished out his major league career as a player in 1909 after battin .172 in 12 games for the Red Birds. His association with baseball did not end after he left the major leagues though. He later managed Denver of the Western League and Waterbury of the Eastern League, coached for the Boston Braves and also scouted for several big league clubs including the Giants. His last stop in baseball was as a scout for the minor league Newark Bears. He died from a Cerebral Apoplexy (Stroke) on Monday, August 8, 1927, only one day after attending an afternoon double header at Newark. He was just 52 years old. For his major league career, Gilbert batter .247 with 4 Home Runs and 237 RBI.
Bio by: Frank Russo
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