Billy Gumbert

Billy Gumbert
Pitcher
Born: August 8, 1865 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Died: April 13, 1946(1946-04-13) (aged 80) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 19, 1890, for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys
Last MLB appearance
August 12, 1893, for the Louisville Colonels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	7–8
Earned run average	4.06
Strikeouts	21
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates (1890, 1892) Louisville Colonels (1893)

Billy Gumbert (August 8, 1865 – April 13, 1946), was a Major League Baseball pitcher in the 19th century.

Biography

Gumbert was born William Skeen Gumbert in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 8, 1865. His brother, Ad Gumbert, and great nephew, Harry Gumbert, were also Major League Baseball pitchers.[1]

He is recognized as the first pitcher in Major League baseball history (third MLB player overall) - and the first player in the then-newly christened National League - to hit a home run in their first at-bat, which he accomplished on June 19, 1890.[2] It would be the only home run of his career.[3]

He also played football as a lineman for the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.[1]

Death and interment

Billy Gumbert died in his home town of Pittsburgh and was buried in Homewood Cemetery.[3]

See also

• List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat

Sources

1. Keck, Harry (March 1, 1942). "Recalling the Three Gumberts". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. sec. 3, p. 2. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
2. Nemec, David, ed. (2011). Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871–1900, Volume 2: The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities Who Shaped the Game. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 316–317. ISBN 9780803235328.
3. "Billy Gumbert Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2019.

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)