Al Gettel – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Al Gettel pitched seven seasons in Major League Baseball, bouncing around six different teams before he finally hung up his cleats in 1955. The right-hander from Virginia picked up the nickname “Two Gun” during his playing days, not just for his work on the mound but for his side gig as an actor in Westerns.

His journey through the majors took him from the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians, then the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, New York Giants, and eventually the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gettel had his best major league season in 1947 with Cleveland, going 11-10 with a 3.20 ERA as their number-four starter. He never really found consistency at the highest level, finishing with a 38-45 record and 4.28 ERA, but he found his groove in the Pacific Coast League with the Oakland Oaks.

Between 1949 and 1955, he racked up 101 wins for Oakland and became a fan favorite, leading the team in wins in both 1952 and 1953.

Outside baseball, Gettel carved out a quirky niche as one of the game’s early crossover entertainers. His acting work in Hollywood Westerns gave him that memorable nickname and made him a bit of a character in 1950s baseball.

From his days on a Virginia farm to his last season in 1955, Gettel’s story feels like the classic tale of a journeyman player who found his identity both on and off the field.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Allen Jones Gettel was born September 17, 1917, in Norfolk, Virginia, and spent his childhood on his grandfather’s farm in Princess Anne County.

The New York Yankees signed him at age 18 in 1936. That kicked off a nine-year minor league grind that really tested his patience.

Family Background and Childhood

Allen Jones Gettel came into the world as the son of Edward A. and Sarah F. (Jones) Gettel in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up on his grandfather Nathaniel Jones’ farm in Kempsville.

Life in rural Princess Anne County, just outside Virginia Beach, gave him a childhood that was pretty different from most future pro athletes. Working the farm probably built up the work ethic he’d need for baseball.

Gettel went to Kempsville High School, and that’s where his baseball talent started to show. The small-town Virginia upbringing and farm life shaped his character and, eventually, his nickname.

He never really lost those Virginia roots. After he finished playing, he went right back to the area where he grew up.

High School and Amateur Baseball

At Kempsville High, Gettel sharpened his pitching enough to catch the eyes of pro scouts. He performed well enough on his high school team that Major League clubs took notice.

The Yankees saw something in him and signed him at 18 in 1936. That was a big deal for a kid from rural Virginia, especially since the Yankees were already a powerhouse.

Back then, getting signed out of high school wasn’t as common as it would be later. The fact that the Yankees wanted him says a lot about his early ability on the mound.

Those high school years marked his jump from amateur ball to the pros, setting him up for a long stint in the minors.

Minor League Journey

The Yankees placed Gettel with their Class B Piedmont League affiliate in Norfolk, so he stayed close to home for his first pro season. That 1936 rookie year was rough—he went 0-1, the only losing season he’d have in the minors.

From 1936 to 1944, Gettel pitched for seven different Yankees minor league teams. He put together a strong 93-64 record over those years, never dipping below .500 except for that first season.

His minor league stats were pretty impressive:

• Overall record: 101-70 from 1936-1944
• He performed well at several levels
• He showed the control that would define his game

Even with all that success, breaking into the Yankees’ big-league roster was nearly impossible. Their pitching staff already had stars like Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, and Johnny Murphy.

The Yankees’ dominance in the late 1930s and early 1940s made it extra tough for minor leaguers. If Gettel had been with another club, he probably would’ve had more chances, but New York’s depth kept him waiting for nine seasons.

He stuck it out, showing a lot of patience and grit during that long apprenticeship. All those years in the minors got him ready for his big-league debut in 1945.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Al Gettel appeared in 184 major league games over seven seasons from 1945 to 1955. He finished with a 38-45 record and a 4.28 ERA, often changing teams—six franchises in total, starting with the Yankees and ending with the Cardinals.

Debut with the New York Yankees

Gettel made his MLB debut on April 20, 1945, at age 27 with the Yankees. After nine years in the minors and a 93-64 record, he finally got his shot.

World War II had depleted the Yankees’ pitching, so manager Joe McCarthy used Gettel both as a starter and in relief.

1945 Season Performance:

• Record: 9-8
• ERA: 3.90
• Innings: 154⅔
• Walks: 53 (showed great control)

He kept up the solid work in 1946, finishing with a 2.90 ERA and a 6-7 record in 26 games. That year, the Yankees were in flux, with new owners and McCarthy stepping down in May.

Cleveland Indians Years

In December 1946, the Yankees traded Gettel to Cleveland as part of a five-player swap. Sherm Lollar and Ray Mack came to New York, while Gettel, Hal Peck, and Gene Bearden went to the Indians.

Gettel’s 1947 season was probably his best in the majors. He became Cleveland’s number-four starter and helped the team finish 80-74.

1947 Season Highlights:

• Record: 11-10
• ERA: 3.20
• Five straight wins in August
• Earned a shot at the 1948 rotation

But 1948 started badly for him. He posted a 17.61 ERA in five games, and the Indians shipped him to the White Sox on June 2 along with Pat Seerey for Bob Kennedy.

Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators Stints

Gettel kept struggling with the White Sox in 1948. He went 2-7 with a 6.13 ERA through August 1, mostly as a starter.

Things turned around later, though. He finished strong, winning six of his last ten decisions and ending up 8-11 with a 4.01 ERA.

Notable 1948 Moment:
On July 22, Gettel played second base for four innings after Cass Michaels got tossed. He handled all three chances cleanly and notched three assists.

In 1949, his struggles continued. Chicago sold him to Washington on July 12, but things didn’t improve. The Senators then sent him to Oakland in the Pacific Coast League on August 15, with a combined 2-7 record and 6.08 ERA.

Final MLB Years with Giants and Cardinals

The New York Giants picked up Gettel from Oakland in October 1950 after he’d found success in the PCL. But his return to the majors didn’t go so well.

In 1951, he pitched in 30 games for the Giants, almost always as a reliever. He went 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA before they sent him back to Oakland in August.

During that Giants stint, Gettel witnessed the team’s infamous sign-stealing operation. In

Career Statistics and Records

Gettel picked up 38 wins and 45 losses between 1945 and 1955. He struck out 310 batters in his major league career.

His 4.28 ERA shows just how tough it was to pitch for so many teams, especially with all the roster shuffling. The right-hander hit his stride in 1947 with the Cleveland Indians.

He finished that year 11-10 with a 3.20 ERA, earning his spot as the team’s fourth starter. That season was the only time he reached double digits in wins in the majors.

During his rookie season with the Yankees in 1945, Gettel managed a 9-8 record and a 3.90 ERA. He showed excellent control from the start, walking just 53 batters over 154⅔ innings in his debut.

Gettel found even more success in the Pacific Coast League. He won 101 games for the Oakland Oaks from 1949 to 1955.

His best year in the PCL came in 1950, when he put up a 23-7 record and a 3.62 ERA for the league champion Oaks.

Pitching Style and Repertoire

Gettel leaned on control and finesse, not power. He liked to mess with timing using off-speed and breaking pitches, relying on his command to keep hitters guessing.

Standing 6-foot-3, he made a habit of throwing strikes. He rarely walked batters and liked to challenge hitters around the strike zone.

He kept several breaking balls in his back pocket, ready to throw for strikes in any count. That kind of versatility helped him work as both a starter and reliever.

His pitching style seemed to work better in the minors. The jump to the majors exposed some limits in his stuff, which probably explains why he did better in the Pacific Coast League.

Comparisons With Peers

Compared to other pitchers from his era, Gettel’s 4.28 ERA put him a little below average. Most top starters in the 1940s and 1950s kept their ERAs closer to 3.50 or better.

His career winning percentage of .458 shows he often pitched for teams that struggled. Gettel bounced around six different franchises and rarely landed with a contender in his prime.

Gettel’s 310 career strikeouts weren’t eye-popping. Power pitchers back then usually racked up more, but Gettel focused on pitching to contact and letting his defense help out.

He lasted seven seasons in the majors, which is respectable, though not as long as some of his peers. Still, his 22-year pro career—especially with his PCL success—shows he had real durability and could adapt.

Life After Retirement

Al Gettel moved on from playing ball to try his hand at acting, but he never really left baseball behind. He worked as a coach and made a few returns to the field.

He carved out a place as a character actor in Westerns, both in movies and on TV. Folks started calling him “Two Gun” because of his cowboy image.

He also went back home to Virginia, working in farming and construction.

Pacific Coast League and Minor Leagues

Gettel’s professional baseball journey didn’t end when he retired from the majors in 1955. He kept playing in the Pacific Coast League with the San Diego Padres in 1956.

After his time with San Diego, Gettel started coaching for the Oakland Oaks. That let him stay close to the game while he explored other things.

The baseball veteran even made a brief comeback in 1959 at 41. He pitched five games for the Asheville Tourists of the Sally League, which turned out to be his last appearance in pro ball after two years away from organized baseball.

Acting Career and The Tin Star

Gettel started acting while he was still playing in the Pacific Coast League. His teammates began calling him “Two Gun” in 1953 after he got a screen test with Paramount Pictures.

He really leaned into the cowboy thing, even riding his palomino horse out to the mound sometimes before the first inning. That was a pretty bold move and definitely got people talking.

His biggest acting role came as a villainous cowboy on the TV show Steve Donovan, Western Marshal in 1955. In 1957, he showed up in “The Tin Star”, a Western film with Henry Fonda and Anthony Perkins.

Personal Life and Later Years

After baseball and acting, Gettel headed back to his family’s farm in Kempsville, Virginia. He’d grown up on his grandfather’s farm in the same rural area near Virginia Beach.

Gettel didn’t just stick to farming. He ran a machine shop and worked as a construction equipment operator in Virginia Beach.

He got married and had three kids with his wife. The family stayed rooted in Virginia through all those years.

Gettel passed away on April 8, 2005, in Norfolk, Virginia, at 87. He was buried at Emmanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery in Kempsville, which eventually became part of Virginia Beach.

Al Gettel’s Lasting Impact on Baseball

Al Gettel left a mark on baseball that goes beyond his seven years in the majors. He played a big part in exposing the 1951 Giants’ sign-stealing scandal and managed to juggle a career as both a ballplayer and a Western actor.

He didn’t shy away from talking about controversial events, which helped shine a light on some important stories in baseball history.

Recognition and Influence

People really started to take notice in 2001 when Gettel gave crucial testimony to Wall Street Journal reporter Joshua Prager. He explained how the New York Giants ran their sign-stealing operation during the 1951 pennant run.

His blunt statement—”every hitter knew what was coming”—became one of the most quoted lines in baseball’s sign-stealing debates.

The 83-year-old former pitcher helped confirm rumors that had floated around for years. His account, along with those from Sal Yvars and Monte Irvin, finally put the scandal on the record.

Gettel’s nickname, “Two Gun,” stuck around in baseball culture. He earned it during his acting days, making him one of the rare players to pull off both pro baseball and Hollywood.

Contributions to Baseball History

Gettel’s biggest contribution to baseball history came from his honesty about the 1951 Giants scandal. He gave historians and journalists real evidence of sign-stealing that had only been whispered about for decades.

His 22-year pro career also highlighted what talented players faced when trying to break into major league rosters during baseball’s golden era. Even with a 93-64 minor league record by 1944, Gettel couldn’t crack the Yankees’ loaded roster in their dynasty years.

He wasn’t just a pitcher, either. He played second base for four innings in 1948 and finished with a .228 career batting average. Those skills made him a valuable piece for six different major league teams.

Remembering Al Gettel

Baseball research groups and historical records still talk about Gettel’s legacy. You’ll find his story in several Society for American Baseball Research publications, like “The Team That Time Won’t Forget: The 1951 New York Giants” and “From Spring Training to Screen Test: Baseball Players Turned Actors.”

Modern baseball databases keep his stats and biographical details alive. They’ve made sure to highlight his Pacific Coast League run, especially those 101 wins for the Oakland Oaks between 1949 and 1955, which you can still see in minor league records.

Gettel passed away in 2005 at 87, closing out a chapter for players who watched baseball shift from the 1940s into the 1950s. He’s buried in Norfolk, Virginia, which, fittingly, is where his pro career kicked off back in 1936.