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Brad Gulden

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Brad Gulden
Gulden with the Nashville Sounds in 1980
Catcher
Born: (1956-06-10) June 10, 1956 (age 68)
New Ulm, Minnesota
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 22, 1978, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 1986, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.200
Home runs5
Runs batted in43
Teams

Bradley Lee Gulden (born June 10, 1956) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1978 to 1986 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.[1]

Baseball career and the original Humm-Baby

Gulden was born in New Ulm, Minnesota and graduated from Chaska High School near Minneapolis–Saint Paul.[1] He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft.[2] In 1978 he played for the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League, appearing in 125 games and produced a .294 batting average along with 8 home runs and 72 runs batted in.[3] His performance earned him a late-season promotion to the major leagues where, he made his debut on September 22, 1978 at the age of 22.[1]

Gulden with Catfish Hunter and Billy Martin during a 1979 game right after Thurman Munson's funeral, with black memorial armband visible.

On February 15, 1979, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Gulden to the New York Yankees for Gary Thomasson. His offensive production declined in 1979, hitting for a .248 batting average along with 6 home runs and 34 runs batted in while playing for the Columbus Clippers of the International League.[3] On August 3, 1979, during the Yankees' first game after the death of Thurman Munson in an airplane crash the previous day, Gulden replaced starting catcher Jerry Narron in the ninth inning. Gulden started on August 6 in the team's first game after Munson's funeral, only to be replaced himself in the ninth by Narron.

Gulden holds a place in Major League Baseball trivia by being one of four players in history to be traded for himself, along with Harry Chiti, Dickie Noles, and John McDonald. In 1980, the New York Yankees sent him to the Seattle Mariners with $150,000 for a player to be named and Larry Milbourne. In May 1981, the Mariners sent Gulden back to the Yankees as the player to be named.[4] This kind of swap happened to Gulden again, as he was traded by the Yankees in April 1982 for catcher Bobby Ramos — only to be sold back to the Yankees after the season.[5] Meanwhile Ramos was sold back to the Expos.[6]

At the beginning of the 1986 season Gulden was with the San Francisco Giants and fighting for a roster spot behind Bob Brenly and Bob Melvin. His hustle and work ethic inspired manager Roger Craig to nickname him a “Humm Baby”, because “he didn't have a lot of talent, but he gave you 180 percent; that's the way Brad (was). Humm-baby.” Gulden made the team as the third-string catcher, and Humm-Baby spread from only Gulden until it applied to the entire Giants team, and it eventually became synonymous with Roger Craig.[4] He appeared in his final major league game with the Expos on September 28, 1986 at the age of 30.[1] Gulden played in fewer than 10 games in three of his seven major league seasons and finished with a batting average of .200.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bradley Gulden MLB statistics at baseball-reference.com". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  2. ^ "1975 Baseball draft, Round #17". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Bradley Gulden minor league statistics at baseball-reference.com". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kroner, Steve (April 9, 2006). "20TH ANNIVERSARY: Brad Gulden / The original The original Humm-baby / Craig's fond label for scrub caught on". Retrieved February 7, 2013.
  5. ^ "Brad Gulden Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  6. ^ "Bobby Ramos Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
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