Wayne Ambler

Wayne Harper Ambler (November 8, 1915 – January 3, 1998) was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned six seasons, including three in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1937–1939). Over his career in the majors, Ambler player second base and shortstop. He also played in the minor leagues. Ambler played for the Class-A Williamsport Grays, the Double-A Jersey City Giants (1940) and the Double-A Indianapolis Indians (1941). Ambler made his major league debut on June 4, 1937, after never playing in the minors, a rare feat. During his major league career, Ambler compiled a batting average of .224 with 175 hits, 39 doubles, two triples, 73 runs batted in (RBIs) and four stolen bases in 271 games played.

Ambler was discovered in 1933 by an amateur baseball umpire who introduced him to Connie Mack, the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics at the time. Mack later introduced him to his friend and manager of the Duke Blue Devils baseball team, Jack Coombs, who persuaded Ambler to play baseball at Duke University. While attending Duke, Ambler's tuition was paid for by Mack. He graduated from that institution in 1937 with a Bachelor's Degree in business administration. In 1989, he was inducted in the Duke Sports Hall of Fame. Ambler entered military service in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor and later reached the rank of Lieutenant fighting in World War II. Ambler did not return to professional baseball after returning home from service.

Early life Connie Mack (pictured) paid Ambler's tuition while he attended Duke University. Ambler was born on November 8, 1915, to Charles and Anne Ambler in Abington, Pennsylvania. Ambler was the youngest of three sisters and a brother. His batting average still stands as the second-highest in Blue Devil history.

Baseball career

Philadelphia Athletics In 1937, Ambler signed with the Philadelphia Athletics, going directly to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on June 4, 1937, against the St. Louis Browns, getting one hit in four at-bats. In his first 16 plate appearances, Ambler got nine hits. On the season, Ambler batted .234 with 42 runs, 92 hits, 21 doubles, two triples and 38 RBIs in 120 games played. Unlike the season before, Ambler played the majority of the season at shortstop (116 games), while still playing limited time at second base (four games). In 1939, Ambler re-signed with the Athletics and signed a contract worth US$2,500. During the season, he batted .211 with 15 runs, 48 hits, 13 doubles and 24 RBIs.

Later career After the 1939 season, the Athletics sold Ambler to the New York Giants, who assigned him to the Jersey City Giants of the International League for the 1940 season. With Jersey City, he batted .218 with 46 hits, 14 doubles and one home run in 83 games played. Ambler was used as a second baseman with Jersey City, playing 48 games at that position and committing seven errors in 233 total chances. In 1941, the Giants traded Ambler for pitcher Milt Shoffner who was a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Ambler attended spring training with the Reds that season and was assigned to the Double-A Indianapolis Indians for the regular season. In his final season in professional baseball, Ambler batted .245 with 126 hits, 10 doubles, three triples and two home runs in 139 games played. The Indians used Ambler as a shortstop, playing all of his 139 games at that position, committing 31 errors in 702 total chances.

Military career Ambler enlisted in the United States Navy in 1941 and served in World War II. He stated that he was prompted to do so after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ambler operated guns on liberty ships. Amber explained, "I was a gunnery officer on a merchant ship. What they called 'armed guard' service. They put a Navy gunnery officer and 26 Navy gunners on these merchant ships. All we had to do was man the guns and defend the ship. I was in both oceans, but mostly the Atlantic." Ambler fought in Normandy and took part in the Battle of the Bulge in Antwerp. He was waiting stationed in the Philippines while his ship waited orders when Japan surrendered.

Later life After completing his four-year service in the United States Navy, Ambler returned to his home-town of Abington, Pennsylvania. Ambler was in talks with the Philadelphia Phillies about making a return to the majors before World War II, but after the war, he retired from professional baseball. At home, Ambler worked as a truck driver and played semi-professional baseball. During his semi-pro career, Ambler made US$25 a game and sometimes played against Negro league teams. Ambler also coached Little League Baseball, including a 1960 all-star team featuring Reggie Jackson. In 1988, he retired as a truck driver. On January 3, 1998, Ambler died in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, at the age of 82.

Personal Ambler married Sara Bird on November 26, 1939, and with her, fathered two children; Sally Ann, born 1943 and Wayne Hunter, born 1947.