Frank Harold Gabler (November 6, 1911 â November 1, 1967) was an American right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the New York Giants (1935âÂÂ37), Boston Bees (1937âÂÂ38) and Chicago White Sox (1938). He was nicknamed The Great Gabbo.
Gabler made his major league debut on April 19, 1935, with the Giants. In his rookie season, he went 2âÂÂ1 with a 5.70 ERA in 26 appearances (one start). The following season, Gabler went 9âÂÂ8 with a 3.12 ERA in 43 games (14 starts) for the Giants. He began 1937 with the New York team, however he was traded to the Bees with cash for Wally Berger on June 15. In 25 games in 1938, Gabler went 4âÂÂ7 with a 5.61 ERA. Gabler began the 1938 season with the Bees, appeared in one game for them and was then purchased by the White Sox on May 2. He appeared in 19 games (seven starts) and went 1âÂÂ7 with a 9.43 ERA. On September 29, 1938, he appeared in his final big league game. Overall, he went 16âÂÂ23 with a 5.26 ERA in 113 games in his four-year big league career.
Gabler appeared in one World Series â in . He made two relief appearances against the New York Yankees and posted a 7.20 ERA.
Gabler played in the minor leagues as well (1932âÂÂ1934, 1939âÂÂ1942, 1946 and 1949âÂÂ1952). He went 59âÂÂ68 in 313 games over a 12-year minor league career. He managed the Idaho Falls Russets for part of the 1949 season, the Yuma Panthers for part of the 1950 season and the El Centro Imps for part of the 1952 season. He also served as a scout and minor league pitching instructor (and umpired in the Class C California League) after his playing career.
He died from a heart attack at age 55 in Long Beach, California, on November 1, 1967, five days shy of his birthday.