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Gus Gil
Sad to say, Gus Gil passed away on December 8. Gus was an original member of the Seattle Pilots (thus my interest), but he was also responsible for getting Cesar Tovar signed. The Reds wanted Gil badly and Gil said he wouldn't sign unless they also signed his friend (Tovar). Gil later admitted that he was bluffing, but Tovar ended up having the better major league career anyway.
Gil debuted in the majors with the Indians in 1967 (their second baseman and shortstop positions in 1966 combining for 23 errors). Gil had a nice day at the plate in his first game--a hit, a walk, and 2 runs scored--but it was all downhill from there. To the Cleveland fans, he came to symbolize everything that was wrong with the team and they couldn't wait to see him shuffled off to Seattle. He played his final season in Mexico in 1976 and then was a minor league manager for a number of teams, and eventually a Brewers scout. Gus was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
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