Tom Gamboa played professionally, coached, scouted, managed in the minors and in Puerto Rico, and coached in the big leagues with the Cubs and Royals. He even had a small part in the Academy Award nominated Moneyball. With his insight and humor, Tom takes readers inside the dugouts and clubhouses for all the behind the scenes workings of a baseball team. There was the cross country traveling he had to do on a daily basis as a national crosschecker. Winning a number of pennants as a minor league manager as well as building a perennial winner in Puerto Rico in the winter league. Tom was the scout who discovered Jesse Orosco, and then later helped develop Doug Glanville and Jose Hernandez in Puerto Rico and the Cubs organization, giving them the mental strength to go along with their physical tools. And before Jim ""The Rookie"" Morris made it to the majors at age 35, Tom coached him as a 20-year-old on a title team in the Brewers organization. And when Sammy Sosa told Tom he wanted to fist bump him after each home run he hit, Tom didn't think it would happen over 60 times each of the next two seasons. Tom gets to look back at his career in full now that he had retired after three seasons of managing the Brooklyn Cyclones in the Mets organization.
Industry Reviews
"Tom Gamboa has been one of the most influential baseball teachers in my life. I was lucky to have him as my manager in the Tigers' minor league system. He dedicated his life to our sport, and some of my best memories as a young player were listening to his amazing stories. He is a man who makes a lasting impression on every person he meets. I'm so grateful he has taken the time to share his incredible journey with all of us."-Billy Bean, Major League Baseball, VP, Social Responsibility & Inclusion; "In a game that is absolutely a business, Tom Gamboa was a manager, coach, father and friend. Tom took athletes from all walks of life and made us not only a team, but champions."-Jim "The Rookie" Morris; "I never had the privilege to actually play for Tom Gamboa, but I've been witness to the legacy he has left both on and off the baseball field for decades. He scouted me at age 17, played golf as a friend at 23, swapped stories from the coaches box through my 30's and will soon become my father-in-law at 52. His passion, integrity, sense of humor and love of family has made him an amazing teacher and leader on the field and in the clubhouse, as well as man I admire outside of baseball altogether."-Todd Zeile, Major League Baseball 1986-2004; "I first met Tom Gamboa in 1987. He was the manager of the Glens Falls Tigers, and I was playing for the Pittsfield Cubs of the old Eastern League in Double-A. I met him there. He was very respectful to me as an opposing player. Then a few years later he became a coach with the Chicago Cubs, developed a great friendship with him. He's a great baseball man, knows the game, and is an even nicer guy. He always had time to try to help you out with anything you needed and was always available. He was a very good third base coach and seemed to always make the right decisions - whether to send you or hold you. The relationship moved on after that, and he had to go on to other teams, but I always look back at Tom Gamboa as one of the favorite coaches I ever had."-Mark Grace, Diamondbacks pre- and post- game analyst, Fox Sports Arizona, Major League Baseball 1988-2003.
