Gary Neibauer

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Gary Neibauer
Pitcher
Born: (1944-10-29) October 29, 1944 (age 79)
Billings, Montana, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 12, 1969, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1973, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record4–8
Earned run average4.78
Strikeouts81
Teams

Gary Wayne Neibauer (born October 29, 1944) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies from 19691973. Appearing primarily as a relief pitcher, Neibauer went 4–8 during his Major League career with a 4.78 earned run average (ERA).[1]

Born and raised in Billings, Montana,[1][2] Neibauer eventually relocated to Nebraska, along with his family.[2] He received scholarship offers to play college football at Stanford, Wyoming, Nebraska and other Big Eight schools.[3]

At the University of Nebraska, he earned a varsity letter in four sports.[2] Niebauer eventually gave up football to focus on the Cornhuskers' baseball and basketball teams.[3]

Neibauer was drafted in both the regular and secondary phases of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Indians and Braves, respectively, and he signed with Atlanta after failing to sign a contract with Cleveland.[1] In 1966 and 1967, he pitched for the Austin Braves of the Texas League, before gaining a promotion to the International League's Richmond Braves in the latter year.[4] The Braves promoted Neibauer again in 1969, this time to the Major Leagues; he made his first career appearance on April 12 in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. In his first Major League season, Neibauer pitched in 29 games and had a 1–2 win–loss record and 3.90 ERA in 57+23 innings pitched.[1] In addition, he pitched one inning in Game 2 during the 1969 National League Championship Series, allowing no hits or runs.[5]

After 21 more appearances over the next three seasons, the Braves traded him to the Phillies as part of a four-player deal; he pitched nine times for Philadelphia before his release in June 1973. Atlanta signed him, and in his last Major League season he posted a 2–1 record and 7.17 ERA in 17 games.[1] Neibauer spent the 1974 season with Richmond, winning seven of ten decisions and recording a 4.26 ERA.[4] Following his playing career, Neibauer became a mortgage broker, after a stint as a Texas Rangers scout.[6] He later joined a committee of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, helping to increase the number of former players who receive pensions.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gary Neibauer Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  2. ^ a b c d Gladstone, Douglas J. (2012-02-13). "Still in the game: Billings native Gary Neibauer helps MLB veterans win pensions". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  3. ^ a b Keidan, Bruce (1973-03-07). "Gary Neibauer Impresses Phils: Foot-in-Arm Surgery Successful". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2-C. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  4. ^ a b "Gary Neibauer". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  5. ^ "1969 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Game 2, Mets at Braves, October 5". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  6. ^ Gladstone, Douglas J. (2010). A Bitter Cup of Coffee: How MLB and The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees a Curve. Word Association Publishers. p. 65. ISBN 9781595715128.

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