View source for Gary Gentry

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Gary Gentry
|image=Gary Gentry Mets.jpg
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1946|10|6}}
|birth_place=[[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 10
|debutyear=1969
|debutteam=New York Mets
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 6
|finalyear=1975
|finalteam=Atlanta Braves
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=46–49
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.56
|stat3label=[[Strikeouts]]
|stat3value=615
|teams=
*[[New York Mets]] ({{By|1969}}–{{By|1972}})
*[[Atlanta Braves]] ({{By|1973}}–{{By|1975}})
|highlights=
*[[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1969}})
}}
'''Gary Edward Gentry''' (born October 6, 1946) is an American former right-handed [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]].

==Early years==
Gentry was a [[second baseman]] at [[Camelback High School]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], and only began pitching while at [[Phoenix Junior College]]. He was drafted by the [[Houston Astros]] in the eleventh round of the [[1965 Major League Baseball draft|inaugural major league draft]] in {{by|1965}}, and was a first-round pick of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the January Secondary Draft in {{by|1966}}, but signed with neither team, choosing instead to remain in college. In 1966, he led the Bears to a national junior college championship. Shortly afterwards, he was drafted by the [[San Francisco Giants]], but again chose not to sign.

After two years at Phoenix College, Gentry transferred to [[Arizona State University]]. He went 17–1 with a college-record 229 [[strikeout]]s. In the [[1967 NCAA University Division baseball tournament]], Gentry tossed a fourteen-inning gem against [[Stanford University]] to help his team catch the College World Series title. He was named the pitcher of the All-Tournament Team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houseofsparky.com/2016/7/9/12135860/asus-50-best-professional-athletes-no-45-baseballs-gary-gentry|author=Connor Pelton|date=July 9, 2016|title=ASU's 50 Best Professional Athletes No. 45: Baseball's Gary Gentry|publisher=[[Vox Media, Inc.]]}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, he was drafted by the [[New York Mets]] in the "Secondary Phase" of the 1967 MLB June Draft. This time, he was ready to sign.

==New York Mets==
Gentry spent just two seasons in the Mets' [[farm system]] when he caught the eye of Mets [[manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Gil Hodges]] in [[Spring training]] {{by|1969}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19690212&id=xmlPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3yQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4020,2698545|title=Sports Parade|newspaper=[[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)]]|date=February 12, 1969|page=15}}</ref> and earned a spot on the opening day roster behind [[Tom Seaver]] & [[Jerry Koosman]] in the [[starting rotation]]. He came within an [[out (baseball)|out]] of a [[complete game]] in his major league debut, defeating the [[Montreal Expos]] in front of 8,608 at [[Shea Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196904100.shtml|title=New York Mets 4, Montreal Expos 2|website=[[Baseball-reference.com]]|date=April 10, 1969}}</ref>

Overall, Gentry made 35 starts, and went 13–12 with a 3.43 [[earned run average]] and 154 [[strikeout]]s his rookie season. Unquestionably, his biggest game came on September 24. The Mets, who once trailed the [[Chicago Cubs]] by 9{{fraction|1|2}} games on August 13, were now in first place by six games, and now regularly drew crowds over 50,000 to Shea. Gentry pitched a four-[[hit (baseball)|hit]], 6–0 [[shutout]] against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196909240.shtml|title=New York Mets 6, St. Louis Cardinals 0|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=September 24, 1969}}</ref> to clinch the [[National League East]] title for the Mets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19690926&id=ygxKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cR4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=980,1460544|title=A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Cellar|newspaper=[[The Michigan Daily]]|date=September 25, 1969|page=6}}</ref>

On his 23rd birthday, Gentry was sent to the mound for game three of the [[1969 National League Championship Series]] against the [[Atlanta Braves]]. Gentry lasted only into the third inning, however, the Mets were able to mount a comeback that would allow them to sweep the NLCS,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196910060.shtml|title=1969 National League Championship Series, Game 3|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=October 6, 1969}}</ref> and head into the [[World Series]] against the Baltimore Orioles.

With the [[1969 World Series]] tied at one game apiece, Gentry faced [[Jim Palmer]] in game three. [[Tommie Agee]] led off the bottom of the first inning with a [[home run]] to give the Mets the early 1–0 lead (Agee also made two spectacular catches in [[Center fielder|center field]] to prevent the Orioles from scoring up to five [[run (baseball)|runs]] in this game). Gentry, meanwhile, held the mighty Orioles scoreless, pitching into the seventh inning before handing the ball to [[Nolan Ryan]] for the [[save (baseball)|save]]. He also helped his own cause in the second inning with a [[double (baseball)|double]] that plated two runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196910140.shtml|title=1969 World Series, Game 3|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=October 14, 1969}}</ref>

Gentry got off to a hot start in {{by|1970}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1970/05/25/612284/good-pitch-but-no-nohit|author=Roy Blount Jr.|date=May 25, 1970 |title=Good pitch but no no-hit|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Following a one-hit shutout of the Chicago Cubs on May 13,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197005130.shtml|title=New York Mets 4, Chicago Cubs 0|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=May 13, 1970}}</ref> his record stood at 4–1 with a 1.71 ERA. He would cool off from there, and ended the season at 9–9 with a 3.68 ERA.

Following a {{by|1971}} season in which Gentry went 12–11 with a 3.23 ERA, the [[California Angels]] inquired about Gentry, dangling [[third baseman]] [[Jim Fregosi]] as bait. Unwilling to part with Gentry, the Mets sent Nolan Ryan to the Angels in one of the most infamous trades in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1973/05/14/618033/an-angel-who-makes-turnstiles-sing|author=William Leggett|date=May 14, 1973|title=An Angel Who Makes Turnstiles Sing|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

He would remain with the Mets for one more season, going 7–10 with a 4.01 ERA. Gentry was traded along with [[Danny Frisella]] from the Mets to the [[Atlanta Braves]] for [[Félix Millán]] and [[George Stone (pitcher)|George Stone]] on November 1, {{by|1972}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=348&dat=19721102&id=xEcxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4UMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1208,5103771|title=Braves Get Gentry, Frisella From Mets|newspaper=[[Rome News-Tribune]]|date=November 2, 1972|page=8A}}</ref>

==Atlanta Braves==
Gentry exited his June 5 start in the first inning due to right elbow soreness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197306050.shtml|title=Montreal Expos 7, Atlanta Braves 6|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=June 5, 1973}}</ref> He made his next start, but was pulled after the second inning,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197306101.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals 4, Atlanta Braves 3|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=June 10, 1973}}</ref> and placed on the [[disabled list]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9ZguAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3122,4097442|title=Braves' Gentry on Disabled List|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=June 15, 1973|page=29}}</ref> He returned a month later, but after just two more appearances, his season was ended for good.

After surgery to have bone chips removed from his elbow, Gentry returned to the mound on April 30, {{by|1974}}, pitching an inning of relief.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197404300.shtml|title=St. Louis Cardinals 7, Atlanta Braves 2|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=April 30, 1974}}</ref> He made two more appearances before his season was once again cut short, this time for tendon surgery. He made seven appearances with the Braves in {{by|1975}}, playing his last game on May 6. The Braves placed him on waivers two days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1RVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NksNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5025,992694|title=Gentry Waived|newspaper=[[Lewiston Morning Tribune]]|date=June 20, 1975|page=2B}}</ref> Gentry was then re-signed by the Mets, but after just one appearance at [[Jackson Mets|Double-A Jackson]] was he was released on June 19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zcReAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1zEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3809,5516925|title=Mets Release Gary Gentry|newspaper=Waycross Journal-Herald|date=May 9, 1975|page=P-7}}</ref>

==Career stats==
<div>
{| class="wikitable"
|[[Win (baseball)|W]]
|L
|[[Winning percentage|PCT]]
|[[Earned run average|ERA]]
|[[Games played|G]]
|[[Games started|GS]]
|[[Complete game|CG]]
|[[Shutouts in baseball|SHO]]
|[[Save (baseball)|SV]]
|[[Innings pitched|IP]]
|BF
|[[Hit (baseball)|H]]
|[[Earned run|ER]]
|[[Run (baseball)|R]]
|[[Home run|HR]]
|[[Batting average against|BAA]]
|[[Strikeout|K]]
|[[Base on balls|BB]]
|BB/9
|[[Wild pitch|WP]]
|[[Hit by pitch|HBP]]
|[[Fielding percentage|Fld%]]
|[[Batting average (baseball)|Avg.]]
|[[Bunt (baseball)|SH]]
|-
|46
|49
|.484
|3.56
|157
|138
|25
|8
|2
|902.2
|3800
|770
|357
|400
|90
|.231
|615
|369
|3.7
|29
|28
|.995
|.095
|25
|}
</div>
Gentry was an exceptional fielding pitcher. The only [[error (baseball)|error]] he committed in his career (in 182 [[total chances]]) came on August 23, 1970, covering first on a ground ball by [[Pete Rose]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN197008231.shtml|title=New York Mets 5, Cincinnati Reds 4|website=Baseball-reference.com|date=August 23, 1970}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Baseballstats |mlb=114698 |espn=21975 |br=g/gentrga01 |fangraphs=1004614 |brm=gentry002gar }}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|72a877e1}}

{{The Sporting News College Baseball POY}}
{{1969 New York Mets}}
{{Atlanta Braves Opening Day starting pitchers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gentry, Gary}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college baseball players]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils baseball players]]
[[Category:Phoenix Bears baseball players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Phoenix, Arizona]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
[[Category:Williamsport Mets players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Suns players]]
[[Category:Jackson Mets players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Florida Instructional League Mets players]]
[[Category:National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]