William Oliver Gilbert (b. June 21, 1876 – d. August 8, 1927 at age 51) was a professional baseball second baseman who played from the 1890s through 1912. Gilbert played in Major League Baseball from 1901 to 1909, for the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. Gilbert was a weak hitter but a good defensive second baseman. He did hit .313 in the 1905 World Series, which the Giants won.
Gilbert made his professional baseball debut in minor league baseball with Lewiston of the Maine State League and the Pawtucket Phenoms and Fall River Indians of the Class-B New England League in 1897. He pitched for the Lyons franchise and the Johnston/Palmyra Mormans in the New York State League in 1898. The Milwaukee Brewers of the American League drafted Gilbert in 1900. They assigned him to the Syracuse Stars of the Class-A Eastern League for the season.
Gilbert made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 1901. After the season, Baltimore Orioles player-manager John McGraw bought his contract from the Brewers prior to the 1902 season. McGraw jumped to the New York Giants of the National League during the 1902 season. He signed Gilbert to the Giants for the 1903 season and installed him as the team's starting second baseman. Gilbert contributed with his bat as the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series, leading the team in batting average during the series.
He played with the Giants through the 1906 season. Down the stretch in 1906, McGraw replaced Gilbert with Sammy Strang, who produced better offense. Overall, Gilbert’s most productive years were his four seasons with the Giants.
After the season, the Giants tried to assign Gilbert to the Newark Indians of the Class-A Eastern League. Not wanting to play in Newark, Gilbert refused to report.
Gilbert returned to MLB in 1908 with the St. Louis Cardinals. After the Cardinals fired John McCloskey as their manager after the 1908 season, Gilbert was considered for the job. They instead acquired Roger Bresnahan and made him their player-manager. He made his final MLB appearance on June 27, 1909, and served as a Cardinals' scout during the remainder of the season. He was released by Cardinals manager Roger Bresnahan, a former teammate with the Giants, in March 1910.
He was player/manager of the Central League’s Erie Sailors in 1911 and 1912. Gilbert also managed in the A-level Eastern and Western Leagues for the Waterbury Brasscos, the Denver Bears, and the Pittsfield Hillies from 1921 to 1924.
MLB statistics:
Batting average - .247
Hits - 695
RBI - 237
Teams:
Milwaukee Brewers (1901)
Baltimore Orioles (1902)
New York Giants (1903–1906)
St. Louis Cardinals (1908–1909)
Career highlights and awards:
World Series champion (1905)
Link to all of his issued baseball cards - www.openchecklist.net/cards/search?q=Billy+Gilbert
