Rodney Earl Gaspar (born April 3, 1946 in Long Beach, California, United States) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A

switch hitter In baseball, a switch hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed, usually right-handed against left-handed pitchers and left-handed against right-handed pitchers. Characteristics Right-handed batters generally hit better aga ...

, Gaspar played for the New York Mets (1969–70) and San Diego Padres (1971, 1974). A former player at

Long Beach State California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public research university in Long Beach, California. The 322-acre campus is the second largest of the 23-school California State University system (CSU) and one of the largest universities i ...

and Long Beach City College, Gaspar played 178 games in his career, 118 of them in his rookie year, . He began the year as the Mets’ starting right fielder, then became a utility outfielder (he also played

left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album ''Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relative direction opposite of right * L ...

and

center field A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the Baseball positions, baseball and softball fielding position between Left fielder, left field and Right fielder, right field. In the numberi ...

on occasion) after Ron Swoboda became the regular right fielder. That year, he hit .228, recorded in 14 of his 17 career runs batted in, and hit his only Major League home run, off Mike McCormick of the San Francisco Giants on May 30. He also excelled defensively, leading all Mets outfielders in assists with 12, and leading the National League in

double play In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs. In Major Leag ...

s with six. That year, Gaspar was a member of the Miracle Mets team that unexpectedly won the World Series in five games over the Baltimore Orioles. Before the Series, Orioles' outfielder, Frank Robinson said, "Bring on the Mets and Ron Gaspar!" He was then told by his teammate, Merv Rettenmund, "It's Rod, stupid." He then retorted by saying, "OK. Bring on Rod Stupid!" In Game Four of that Series, Gaspar scored the winning run on a controversial play at Shea Stadium. With the score tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the tenth, Gaspar pinch-ran for Jerry Grote, who had led off the inning with a double. An intentional walk to

Al Weis Albert John Weis (born April 2, 1938) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder from 1962 to 1971 for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. A light-hitting batter with only seven ...

followed, after which

J. C. Martin J. C. Martin may refer to: * J. C. Martin (baseball) :For the former long-term mayor of Laredo, Texas, see '' J. C. Martin (Texas politician)''. Joseph Clifton Martin (born December 13, 1936) is an American former professional baseball player. He ...

, pinch-hitting for Tom Seaver, bunted to the pitcher. Both runners advanced, and as Martin ran to first, Pete Richert's throw hit him on the hand and ricocheted away, the error allowing Gaspar to score the winning run. (Replays would later show that Martin had been running inside the baseline, which could have resulted in him being called out for interference; however, the umpires said they didn't make the call because they felt Martin didn't ''intentionally'' interfere with the play.)

References

External links

Rod Gaspar
at Ultimate Mets Database {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaspar, Rod 1946 births New York Mets players San Diego Padres players Major League Baseball outfielders Hawaii Islanders players Indianapolis Indians players Baseball players from Long Beach, California Living people Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball players Saddleback Gauchos baseball players Williamsport Mets players Memphis Blues players Tidewater Tides players Long Beach City Vikings baseball players Florida Instructional League Mets players