Classic MLB Player From the Past: Gary Gaetti, You're Nasty

Scott Tully is back with his weekly look at the nasty players in the world of sports. This week, he takes a look at one of the all-time classic degenerate MLB players, Gary Gaetti.

by Scott Tully (Columnist)

1

267 reads

Sports

July 08, 2008

MLB, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, Tony LaRussa, Los Angeles Sports

Gary Gaetti isn't nasty because of his game, but more for wearing a batting helmet without any ear flaps.

"The Rat" or "G-Man" played 20 seasons for the Twins, Angels, Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and ended his career in 2000 for the Red Sox. He was a two-time all-star in 1988-89 with the Twins. He was a career 255 hitter with 360 home runs and 1341 rbi's.

Gaetti was used as an emergency relief pitcher sometimes by both the Cardinals and the Cubs. He retired with an ERA of 7.71 and one strikeout in three appearances. Gaetti was also part of two triple plays in one game, while playing for the Minnesota Twins.

Trivia you should drop on your date, Gaetti went to North West Missouri State and was drafted in the first round in the 1979 draft. Legend has it that Gaetti hit the longest distance home run in NWMSU baseball history, an estimated 505 foot blast. Gary was inducted into the NWMSU Athletic Hall of Fame, the "M-Club", in October 2003.

Gaetti is currently the hitting coach for the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate for the Tampa Bay Rays.

His son, Joe Gaetti, is currently a outfileder in AAA with the Sacramento River Cats, part of the Oakland A's organization.

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comments (1) write a comment »

  1. reply to comment by Andrew
    2 months ago

    Good stuff. Gaetti is one of my favorite Twins.

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About the Author Scott Tully (columnist)

  • 45 articles written
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