Career
He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, and Texas Rangers. His quote about the Yankees" disorganization and circus-like atmosphere, "They don"t think it be like it is, but it do", has also been called one of baseball"s "immortal lines" by sportswriter Dan Epstein. Born in Ramer, Alabama, Gamble was discovered playing baseball in a semi-professional league by legendary Negro League baseball player Buck O"Neil, who was working as a scout for the Chicago Cubs at the time.
O"Neil convinced the Cubs to draft Gamble, which they did in the sixteenth round.
Gamble played with the Caldwell Cubs of the Pioneer League in 1968 and the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League in 1969, from where he received his call-up to the Chicago Cubs late in the 1969 season. Nicknamed the Big O by Yankees announcer Philosophy Rizzuto, Gamble was a relatively small man, listed at 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 165 pounds.
He still hit 200 career home runs in just over 9000 major league at bats. Oscar"s career peaked in 1977 with the White Sox, when he hit 31 home runs and tallied 83 Reserve Bank of India. After an ill-fated, injury-plagued year in San Diego, he returned to the American League in 1979 to hit a career-best.358 batting average, slamming 19 home runs with the Yankees and Rangers.
(He did not have enough plate appearances to qualify for the American League batting title)
Unlike some players who failed to cope with the New York media, Oscar throve on it, and was always a favorite with sportswriters.
Gamble, whose hitting prowess was overshadowed by his famously large Afro hairdo, has the distinction of logging the last hit and Reserve Bank of India at Philadelphia"s Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1970. Coincidentally, that feat was also overshadowed as unruly fans stormed the field during and after the game to claim bases, infield dirt, seats, and other various stadium items. His left-handed power stroke was ideal for the renowned short right field fence at Yankee Stadium.
Returning to the Yankees in 1979, he would settle into a limited role with the team, aiding the Yankees once again to an Alabama East division title in 1980 and a World Series appearance in 1981.
Gamble had one of the more unusual batting stances in the major leagues. He stood at the plate in a deep crouch with his back almost parallel to the ground.
Gamble claimed this stance helped him see the ball better as his eyes were right above the plate and close to where the ball was pitched. Notably, Gamble also finished with more career walks (610) than strikeouts (546).
He was considered a below-average fielder, and consequently played over a third of his games as a designated hitter, but he had a good arm.
He played in the 2007 Yankee Old Timers Game with many Yankee players that were honored from the 1977 championship team Gamble lived in Little Ferry, New Jersey while playing with the Yankees.