Gary Kolb

Gary Alan Kolb

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• School University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• High School Rock Falls High School
• Debut September 7, 1960
• Final Game September 1, 1969
• Born March 13, 1940 in Rock Falls, IL USA
• Died July 3, 2019 in Charleston, WV USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Gary Kolb played seven years in the majors, all in the National League. He is famous as the pinch-runner who ran for Stan Musial after Musial got his last major league hit.

Gary made his major league debut in 1960, and stayed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962-63. He had over 100 plate appearances in 1963, posting a line of .271/.403/.479. He was part of a trade for Bob Uecker on April 9, 1964, and appeared with the Milwaukee Braves in 1964 and part of 1965. In mid-season of 1965, he was traded for Jesse Gonder and the 1965 Mets used him more often than the Braves had. Between the two teams, he had 122 plate appearances in 1965. He came back in 1968-69 for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and had his most plate appearances in 1968, getting 132 with a batting average of .218.

Gary also had eleven seasons in the minors. Perhaps his best year was with the 1963 Tulsa Oilers, when he posted a line of .318/.417/.481 with 16 stolen bases out of 20 attempts in 61 games.

Kolb was a multi-sport athlete at Rock Falls High School. Gary played both baseball and football at the University of Illinois. He was there at the same time as Ethan Blackaby and Ed Spiezio.

After his pro ball days, he coached youth baseball and worked in construction.

He is the cousin of pitcher Danny Kolb.

One source: [1]