Randy Gumpert

Randall Pennington Gumpert (January 23, 1918 – November 25, 2008) was an American professional baseball pitcher, manager, scout and coach. A right-hander, he appeared in 261 games over ten seasons in Major League Baseball as a member of the Philadelphia Athletics, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators (1936–1938; 1946−1952). The native of Monocacy Station, Pennsylvania, was listed as tall and .

Pitching career His pro career began at the age of 18 after he graduated from Birdsboro High School, when he was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics' legendary manager, Connie Mack, in 1936. But Gumpert had been throwing batting practice for the Athletics at Shibe Park as far back as 1934, while he was still in school. He spent his entire rookie 1936 season with Philadelphia, getting into 22 games with three starting pitcher assignments, and threw two complete games, including a two-hit, 5–2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox on August 27. It was Gumpert's first MLB victory, and the two runs he surrendered were both unearned. Gumpert spent most of 1937 and 1938 in the minor leagues, getting into only 14 games for the Athletics. In July 1939, still in the minors, he was acquired by the New York Yankees' organization. In 1946, he was able to make the Yankees' major league roster. In his first season with the Bombers, earning an 11–3 won–lost record with a earned run average of 2.31 in 33 games, including 12 starts, and 132 innings pitched. Over his ten-season career, which spanned 17 years, Gumpert won 51 games, lost 59, and compiled a 4.17 earned run average. Of his 261 games pitched, 113 were starts and 148 came out of the bullpen, and he was credited with 47 complete games, six shutouts and seven saves. He allowed 1,099 hits and 346 bases on balls, with 352 strikeouts, in 1,052 innings pitched. Gumpert then played three more seasons, 1953–1955, at the highest levels of minor league baseball before hanging up his glove.

Manager, coach and scout Gumpert remained in baseball for another 39 years, managing in the Yankees' farm system (1956–1958 and 1960) and working as a minor league pitching instructor. He served as a temporary member of the Bombers' 1957 coaching staff, when, in April, Bill Dickey stepped down due to ill health; Gumpert eventually ceded his coaching post to Charlie Keller.