Gabe Kapler

No matter where Gabe Kapler played during his 12 years in the major leagues, people who knew him made similar comments. Theo Epstein, general manager of the Boston Red Sox, said Kapler was “a real contributor on and off the field: an ideal teammate, a fan favorite, and the type of player who made the front office proud.”1 First baseman Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers said, “Kapler plays the game the right way – very hard at all times. And his passion for baseball really comes through.”2 And Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin said, “He has great work ethic. People love the way he plays the game.”3 While some sportswriters said he never fully lived up to expectations, Kapler still finished his playing career with a respectable .268 batting average, including 82 home runs and 386 runs batted in.

Gabriel Stefan Kapler was born on July 31, 1975, in Hollywood, California. His mother, Judy, was the director of a preschool, and his father, Michael, was a composer and pianist.4 Growing up in Reseda, California, Kapler fell in love with baseball at an early age. He played T-ball at Reseda Park, and later played Little League ball in nearby Encino. At Taft High School in Woodland Hills, he played shortstop on the baseball team.

But when it came to his studies, things were not going well. Although Kapler enjoyed reading, academic subjects were a struggle. He was finally diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, and gradually learned to focus more, but schoolwork never came easy.5 In his senior year at Taft, he began working out, as a way to cope with how awkward he felt. Bodybuilding helped him to gain more self-confidence, and he also got praise for doing it.6 

After graduating from Taft in 1993, Kapler got a scholarship to attend Cal State-Fullerton, a top-tier baseball program. But instead of capitalizing on the opportunity, he spent much of his time partying. His immaturity cost him: after several months, he was asked to leave.7 He came home and enrolled in Moorpark College, about 25 miles from Reseda. He recommitted himself to baseball, while continuing his bodybuilding regimen and eating a healthier diet. The result were noticeable: the young man who weighed 150 pounds in high school and was not a power hitter became a “sculpted 210-pounder” and a “crush-the-ball talent.”8

Kapler demonstrated that talent for the Moorpark Raiders. In one of his best games as a freshman, he hit two three-run homers and had seven RBIs. He finished the year batting .352 with 4 home runs, 14 doubles, and 31 RBIs. In the June 1995 amateur draft, he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 57th round, and was sent to Jamestown (New York) of the short-season Class-A New York-Pennsylvania League, where he transitioned to playing the outfield. His low draft position concerned him; he hoped he would not be stereotyped as someone with little potential. Scout Dennis Lieberthal, who had recommended that the Tigers sign Kapler, assured him he would get ample opportunity to prove any detractors wrong.9    

After batting .288 at rookie-level Jamestown, Kapler was moved up to low Class-A Fayetteville (North Carolina) of the Sally League, where he became one of the team’s best hitters. He finished his season batting .300 with a league-leading 45 doubles plus 26 home runs and 99 RBIs. He hoped to move up to Double A in 1997, but the Tigers assigned him to Lakeland of the high Class-A Florida State League. At midseason he was batting .288 with 18 doubles and 40 RBIs; he finished with a .295 batting average, 19 homers, and 87 RBIs. In Detroit, the front office was so pleased with Kapler’s progress that he was among a small group of Single-A and Double-A prospects invited to spend a six-game homestand with the major-league club in September.10 

In 1998 Kapler was assigned to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, and he picked up where he had left off. He was named the Southern League’s player of the month for May: he hit .336 and drove in 36 runs in 27 games.11 At the All-Star break, Kapler was batting .312 and leading the Southern League with 84 RBIs; he was named the MVP of the Southern League All-Star game. And just as Dennis Lieberthal had predicted, Tigers executives were taking notice. Said David Miller, director of minor-league operations, predicting a bright future for Kapler, “He’s a sure-fire major leaguer.”12 

In late August, Kapler set a record for RBIs in a Southern League season when he got his 134th. He finished with a .322 batting average, 28 home runs, 47 doubles, and a record-setting 146 RBIs, earning the league’s MVP award and being named 1998 Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today Baseball Weekly.13 He also led Jacksonville to the playoffs.

After the Suns were eliminated, Kapler was called up by the Tigers in time for a series with the Minnesota Twins. He made his major-league debut on September 20, 1998, and got his first major-league hit (a single), as well as his first stolen base. He went 1-for-4 as the Tigers lost 3-0, but it was exciting to be there, even on the last weekend of the season. He expressed his hope that he’d be in the majors in 1999. Larry Parrish, the Tigers’ interim manager, could relate: After all, he had skipped Triple A and gone directly to the majors. He said the team would see how Kapler did during spring training and make a decision then.14  

In January 1999 Kapler married his high-school sweetheart, Lisa Jansen;15 the couple subsequently had two sons, Chase (born in October 1999) and Dane (born in November 2001). When Kapler reported to spring training, he attracted media attention right away. Few ballplayers were also bodybuilders, and by now Kapler was already on the cover of a fitness magazine.16 But it wasn’t just his physique that sportswriters noticed; it was the intensity with which he played the game. (One sportswriter described Kapler as “mentally tough, and physically buff.”)17 Kapler was determined to show that he was ready for the majors. After 55 spring training at-bats, he was hitting .418 with 4 homers and 15 RBIs. Even Tigers great Al Kaline praised Kapler’s determination, saying, “He’s going to will himself into being a big star.”18

When the Tigers announced their 1999 Opening Day roster, Kapler’s name was included. Although he was happy, he was realistic: he knew the Tigers had too many outfielders, and he might still end up in the minors. “Whether I stay two weeks or 15 years,” he told reporters, “I’ll do what I always do – go out and give it my best every day that I’m here.”19 But there weren’t many opportunities. In the first three games, he got only six at-bats and one hit. By mid-April, the Tigers sent him to Triple-A Toledo, where he could play every day. Kapler soon began to hit the way he had the year before. After his average rose to .275, with 10 RBIs in 10 games, rumors began spreading that the Tigers planned to trade slumping outfielder Brian Hunter and bring Kapler back.20 On April 28 the Tigers sent Hunter to Seattle for two prospects. Kapler was back in the big leagues again.

In his first game after being called up, Kapler hit his first major-league homer, with a man on board, in the eighth inning, as the Tigers beat Tampa Bay, 7-5. Later, Kapler was all smiles. “The first one is always going to be precious. I’ve got the ball in my pocket, and I’ll probably send it to my dad tomorrow.”21 Kapler also proved he could hit for power: In mid-June, he hit two home runs (his first multi-homer game) and drove in four runs as the Tigers beat Seattle, 8-7; by the end of June, he was leading all American League rookies with 12 homers. That was the good news. The bad news was that his batting average was .224.22 Kapler’s inconsistency was a problem all season: he would get some hits, then go through a prolonged slump. He finished the year with 18 homers and 49 RBIs, but hit only  .245. Some critics wondered if he should have been in Triple A after all.

Evidently, the Tigers organization decided Kapler wasn’t a good fit; in early November, he was included in a nine-player trade that brought two-time American League MVP Juan González to Detroit and sent Kapler to the Texas Rangers. He admitted to being shocked and disappointed by the trade. He hadn’t expected that the Tigers would give up on him so soon, but acknowledged, “I was naïve to think I’d be in a Tiger uniform forever.”23

Kapler showed up at spring training in February 2000 with something to prove. For someone who always played hard, he seemed even more determined to get results. On Opening Day, in a home game against the White Sox, he homered in his first two at-bats and then drove in a run with a single, much to the delight of the fans.24 But then the entire team went into a slump, including Kapler, whose average dropped to .193 by the end of April. He continued to work with team batting coach Rudy Jaramillo and gradually his hitting improved.

The 2000 season was a disappointing one for the Rangers: after finishing first in the AL West in 1999, they finished last, at 71-91. Kapler, however, was one of the bright spots. He hit .302, with 134 hits and 32 doubles, all personal bests. He had 14 homers and 66 RBIs, and at one point in July and August, he had a 28-game hitting streak; when it ended on August 16, he had set a Rangers record.25 But his season was interrupted by several stints on the disabled list. In May and June he missed 33 games with a strained hip flexor muscle. He also missed the last week of the season with a painful left shoulder injury. But despite playing in only 116 games, Kapler impressed the Rangers’ management. He went home to Southern California to let his shoulder heal, feeling encouraged about his future.

In February 2001 Kapler signed a three-year, $5.6 million contract with the Rangers. But he continued to be injury-prone, missing the first several weeks of the season after tearing a muscle in his left leg during a spring-training game. Once he got back in the lineup, he hit his first career grand slam in a game against Cleveland in late April. After getting some timely hits in May, he found himself in a brutal slump in June. In late July, he was still slumping, and hadn’t hit a home run since June 21. Most sportswriters, and Kapler himself, concluded he was having a subpar year; he finished it with a .267 average. Meanwhile, the Rangers had a management shakeup, which included hiring a new GM, John Hart; he was widely expected to make changes, since the team had a losing record once again.

By mid-2002, Kapler’s playing time had been greatly reduced. He was hitting .260 with no homers and only 17 RBIs when he was sent to the Colorado Rockies at the July 31 trading deadline. Sportswriters described Kapler’s career thus far as “disappointing,”26 but Rangers manager Jerry Narron wished him well. “Gabe was having a difficult year. … I hope [the trade] revives his career. He’s a pleasure to manage.”27 When Kapler got to the Rockies, the change of scenery was beneficial: in his first four weeks, he was batting over .350.28 He finished the year with a combined .279 batting average, boosted by the .311 he hit during 40 games with Colorado. However, his power numbers were low: only two home runs. 

By now a pattern had emerged. Each spring, baseball experts would predict that this year, Kapler would become a dominant player. Then, when it didn’t happen, he would end up being traded. The 2003 season was no exception. Kapler hit only .224, with no home runs, in 67 at-bats, and the Rockies optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. When he continued to struggle, the Rockies gave him his unconditional release on June 19. Five days later Kapler signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox; he understood that once he played himself back into shape, there was an excellent chance he’d be called up.29  

Kapler’s journey back to the big leagues began with Single-A Lowell, Massachusetts, where he got two hits. The next day, he was in Double-A Portland, Maine, where he played the first game of a doubleheader, going 1-for-3 (a double); and demonstrating his versatility in the field, he played first, center, and left.30 Right after that game, Kapler was on his way to Boston, where he debuted against the Florida Marlins. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, and three RBIs. The only downside was that the Red Sox lost the game, 10-9, but Kapler made many new friends. And proving his first game was no fluke, he went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs the next day – and this time, the Red Sox won, 11-7.

Kapler continued being a streaky hitter: after going an impressive 13-for-29 in his first 10 games, he went into an 0-for-18 slump in late July.31 But manager Grady Little believed Kapler would turn things around. He did: By the end of August, his average stood at .296. In 68 games with Boston, Kapler finished with a batting average of .291; he hit only four homers, but he had 46 hits, including 11 doubles. He became an important role player, in a season when the Red Sox won the AL wild card, but then lost to the Yankees in the ALCS.

Kapler became a free agent in December, but he wanted to stay with Boston and even agreed to a pay cut, signing a one-year, $750,000 contract for 2004 (he had made $3.4 million the year before).32 Why did he do it? “I had more fun [playing in Boston] last year than at any other time in my career,” he explained. “The Red Sox fans have really been phenomenal. They’ve really embraced me.”33 They also embraced his unique “look”: He not only had a bodybuilder’s physique, but he also had multiple tattoos. Kapler, one of baseball’s few Jewish ballplayers (along with teammate Kevin Youkilis), was not religious, but he was proud of his heritage: he had a Star of David tattooed on one leg and the phrase “Never Again” (referring to the Holocaust) on the other.34 But while Jewish fans liked how he played, not everyone was comfortable with his body art, since the Jewish religion has historically opposed getting tattoos.35           

By 2004, the Red Sox had a new manager, Terry Francona, and, having reached the ALCS the previous year, the players hoped that this year, the team would finally win it all. Kapler had a good spring training: At one point, he was 11-for-32, with 19 total bases; he also made some impressive fielding plays.36 This was no surprise to Francona, who had been a bench coach with the Rangers when Kapler was there, and was already familiar with his intensity and versatility. The plan was for him to be a role player, filling in whenever an outfielder was injured or needed a day off.

Through early July, the Red Sox struggled, especially on the road, where they were 18-23.37 They fell eight games behind the first-place Yankees before beginning to turn things around. By late August the Red Sox were within 4½ games of New York and continuing to win. And Kapler, who was hitting only .234 in early May, had boosted his average to .275, with 5 homers and 25 RBIs. Playing regularly helped: Because injuries sidelined right fielder Trot Nixon for much of the season, Kapler was in the lineup more. By season’s end, he had appeared in 136 games, a record for him. And when he wasn’t playing, he became known for his charitable work. He and his wife, who had been a victim of dating violence in a previous relationship, started a foundation that raised money for domestic abuse prevention programs.

Thanks to a strong second half, the Red Sox finished second to the Yankees and won the wild card. They swept the Anaheim Angels in the Division Series, setting up a rematch against the Yankees in the ALCS. Kapler did not play much in either series. He started Game One against the Angels and got a hit, but he did not start in Game Two, coming in as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, and he was not in Game Three at all. Against the Yankees, he also saw limited playing time: He didn’t play in the first four games, was a pinch-runner and defensive replacement in Game Five, a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement in Game Six, and didn’t play in Game Seven. On the other hand, he participated in one of the most amazing comeback stories in playoff history, as the Red Sox, on the verge of elimination, won four games in a row, defeating the Yankees four games to three to go on to the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the World Series, Kapler was once again a role player. He either pinch-hit or was a defensive replacement in the first three games. In Game Four he was a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement; that meant he was on the field when the Red Sox recorded the final out, sweeping the Cardinals and winning the World Series for the first time in 86 years. As the players ran toward the mound to celebrate, Kapler (who wore number 19) was briefly standing next to Johnny Damon (number 18)38 – of course, 1918 was the last time the Red Sox had won it all – until 2004.

After the season’s triumphant conclusion, Kapler was one of Boston’s 16 free agents. He decided to play in Japan, signing a $2 million contract with the Yomiuri Giants, who promised him the chance to play every day. Things in Japan did not go as Kapler hoped. He had difficulty adjusting, and in early July 2005, the Giants placed him on waivers. He was hitting .153 at the time, and no other Japanese teams claimed him. But the Red Sox were eager to have Kapler back, given how popular he was with the fans and in the clubhouse; by mid-July, the details were worked out. Kapler rejoined the Red Sox in early August. But he was only in 36 games before he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in a game against Toronto on September 14.

Kapler had surgery, spent months in physical therapy, and finally began rehabbing in early June 2006 at Double-A Portland. Sea Dogs fans, who recalled his brief appearance there in 2003, were eager to see him. After three consecutive rainouts, he finally got into the lineup, as the DH. He went hitless in three at-bats, but the next day, in a doubleheader against the Erie Seawolves, he went 2-for-4 and hit two doubles in the first game, and 2-for-3 with a triple and a double in the second game. (He also stayed late to sign autographs for fans who had waited.)39 Then it was on to Triple-A Pawtucket; after getting three hits in the four games he played, he was back in Boston. He hit a double and a single in four at-bats, and he received a hero’s welcome from the fans.40       

Kapler hit .254 in 72 games. The Red Sox declined to offer him salary arbitration. He decided to retire at age 31 and accepted a position managing Boston’s Single-A team, the Greenville (South Carolina) Drive. It was an opportunity to assist in the development of young players, and he was excited to begin.41 Fans were excited, too: At the event to introduce him to season-ticket holders, he ended up signing autographs for over two hours.42

Kapler’s Opening Day lineup included a familiar face: Red Sox starter Jon Lester, there on a rehab assignment after recovering from cancer. But the majority of the players had limited pro experience, including prospects Jason Place, an outfielder who was the Red Sox’ 2006 first-round draft pick (and a Greenville high-school star); and pitcher Josh Papelbon, younger brother of Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon. Kapler’s first year had its ups and downs, as the Drive had a losing record, going 58-81. But some of the young players showed promise, and he enjoyed mentoring and motivating the team. Attendance was up, the players liked him, and while he made some mistakes, he said he learned a lot.43  

Evidently, one thing Kapler learned was that he missed playing. He told reporters that managing had reawakened his competitive spirit; he felt physically healthy, and he believed he could still contribute to a major-league team.44 In December, he signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, reuniting him with former Texas Rangers GM Doug Melvin. It turned out to be a good move. Filling in for Mike Cameron, who had been suspended for 25 games, Kapler hit .293 in April, with 4 homers and 13 RBIs. Even when he returned to being a role player, he continued getting timely hits and making key defensive plays. Then, in early September, he sustained a shoulder injury. At the time, he was batting .301 with 8 homers, 17 doubles, and 38 RBIs in 96 games. But he was unable to return for the remainder of the season.    

Once again a free agent, Kapler signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, who liked his versatility, as well as his past success against left-handed pitching. Manager Joe Maddon used him in 99 games; he played all three outfield positions. Overall, he ended up hitting only .239, but that didn’t tell the whole story. He had 8 home runs and 30 RBIs against lefties, and a .379 on-base percentage.45 In late October the Rays re-signed him for the 2010 season. 

But Kapler was unable to contribute much. He was hitting only .217 when he injured his hip in early June. He came back in July, but in mid-August, he was back on the DL with a sprained right ankle. He had not even been doing well against lefty pitching: His average was just .206. As a result, the Rays, who had numerous other outfielders available, were in no hurry to bring Kapler back, even when his ankle felt better.46 He did not play again in 2010, and finished at .210 in just 59 games.

Kapler still believed he could play and tried to latch on with another team. He was invited to the Los Angeles Dodgers training camp, but while he got some hits and played hard, the Dodgers did not sign him. So he retired, after 12 years in the majors. He was a special-assignment scout for Tampa Bay for several years, and in June 2012, he joined two other Jewish former major leaguers, Shawn Green and Brad Ausmus, who were working with Team Israel in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic. Ausmus managed the team, and Kapler and Green agreed to be player-coaches. Kapler sustained a groin injury and couldn’t play, but he was still able to coach. Team Israel won two games, but then lost and was eliminated.

In 2013 Kapler and his wife divorced. Kapler joined Fox Sports 1 as a baseball analyst, and then, in late 2014, he was hired by the Dodgers as director of player development. In late October 2017, he got the opportunity to manage again, this time at the major-league level, when the Philadelphia Phillies hired him. Major factors in the decision, according to GM Matt Klentak, were Kapler’s “track record of leadership … progressive thinking, and working with young players.” (By progressive thinking, Klentak was referring to Kapler’s “fondness for analytics and sports science.”)47

At first, many players responded favorably to Kapler’s positive attitude, but as the 2018 season went on, some Phillies fans believed he was overly optimistic, especially when the team collapsed in the last 49 games, going 16-33 and ending up with a losing record, 80-82. Some also believed he relied too heavily on analytics, and wasn’t responsive to how his players felt, which he later acknowledged was probably true.48 He made some adjustments in 2019; in addition, the team acquired slugger Bryce Harper. But nothing worked. Kapler never won over the fans, and after the Phillies finished 81-81, he was fired. Looking back on the experience, he was philosophical about what happened. “I loved the city,” he said, “But in the end, the fans were passionate about winning, and we didn’t win enough games.”49

He wasn’t unemployed for long. San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi hired him to take over for the retiring Bruce Bochy. Some fans were skeptical, given Kapler’s record with the Phillies, but he proved that he could do the job. The 2020 season was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Giants went 29-31, in a rebuilding year. One other noteworthy thing occurred in 2020: Kapler hired a female coach, Alyssa Nakken, who had previously worked in the Giants’ front office.50 This was no token hire, Kapler said. “She knows the game, [and] she knows what she is doing.” He spoke about the importance of “representation”—that little girls will see her and possibly envision a role in major league baseball. “Alyssa is capable of doing anything she wants. I expect her to be a manager one day.”51 Meanwhile, Kapler and the players were getting along well, morale was high, and the fans couldn’t wait for 2021.

It turned out to be a memorable season. Kapler guided the Giants to a league-leading 107 wins, the most in the franchise’s history, resulting in a trip to the playoffs, after four consecutive years with losing records. The Giants lost to the Dodgers in the Division Series, but Kapler was proud of what his team achieved. And he noted that while he still utilized analytics, he had learned to listen more and micromanage less. “I’ve really started to respect, understand, and appreciate the feedback I’m getting from players,” he said.52 And the Baseball Writers Association recognized Kapler’s leadership, naming him 2021 National League Manager of the Year. 

If the Giants overachieved in 2021, they underachieved in 2022, going 81-81, but few sportswriters blamed Kapler; they respected his passion for baseball and acknowledged that his unconventional approach usually got good results.53 He also established a reputation for speaking his mind, whether about baseball or current events. He credited his parents, especially his father, for teaching him to advocate for social justice. When his dad died in 2020, Kapler used his blog to publish a moving tribute to his influence,54 and also got a new hand tattoo to honor him.

In 2023, the Giants continued to underachieve; they ultimately finished fourth, and failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row. With only three games left in the season, Giants management unexpectedly fired Kapler. He ended his time in San Francisco with a record of 295-248. On social media, he thanked the fans, and told them he was “Looking forward to the next adventure.” That next adventure turned out to be a job as Assistant General Manager with the Miami Marlins, focusing on player development.55

Through it all, Kapler has remained a proud nonconformist, aware that not everyone likes his politics (or his tattoos), but he believes in the importance of being true to himself. As he once told an ESPN reporter, “My message is, don’t tone yourself down to make someone else comfortable.”56

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank sports radio broadcaster and baseball historian Marty Lurie for helping to arrange the interview with Gabe Kapler.

Sources

Rob Neyer hosted a SABR podcast in 2020 during which Gabe Kapler discussed his views on social justice: https://sabr.org/sabrcast/episode/62.

The author consulted various newspaper databases, including Newspapers.com, NewspaperArchive.com, and GenealogyBank.com, as well as Baseball-Reference.com.

Notes

1 Bob Hohler, “Kapler Says Sayonara and Heads Off to Japan,” Boston Globe, November 23, 2004: F5.

2 Randy Galloway, “Rangers Will Be Fine Without Gonzalez,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 18, 2000: D-8.  

3 Vic Feuerherd, “Change of Plans: Kapler Back at It,” State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin), March 20, 2008: F8.

4 Mark Herrmann, “Power to Surprise – Rangers’ Kapler Not What You Would Expect,” Newsday (Long Island, New York), April 12, 2000: A87.  

5 Lynn Henning, “Kapler’s Background Colorful, Exhaustive,” Detroit Free Press, March 21, 1999: 1C, 10C.

6 T.R. Sullivan, “Gung-Ho Gabe Grows Up,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 5, 2000: 1C, 10C.

7 Alex Zola, “Detroit Outfielder Is Hailed as Next Hank Greenberg: Meet Gabriel Kapler, Jewish Tiger Who Shook Party-Boy Habits to Make It to the Majors,” The Forward (New York), April 16, 1999: 26.  

8 Rod Beaton, “Player of Year: Tigers’ Kapler, Top Prospect, Was Drafted in 57th Round,” USA Today, September 24, 1998: 3C. 

9 John Klima, “Kapler Is Proving Low Draft Was Wrong,” Simi Valley (California) Star, July 31, 1996: B4.

10 Steve Henson, “Fick’s Stripes Astonish and Impress Tiger Brass,” Los Angeles Times, September 7, 1997: C17.

11 “Gillespie Won’t Play in All-Star Game,” Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1998: C21.

12 Dave Desmond, “Minor League Baseball,” Los Angeles Times, June 21, 1998: C18.

13 Gene Guidi, “Kapler Named Minors’ Top Player,” Detroit Free Press, September 10, 1998: 6D.

14 Gene Guidi, “Kapler’s Debut in Rightfield: Single and Steal in Four At-Bats,” Detroit Free Press, September 21, 1998: 3D.

15 Rod Beaton, “Player of Year: Tigers’ Kapler, Top Prospect, Was Drafted in 57th Round,” USA Today, September 24, 1998: 3C.

16 Eric Sondheimer, “Kapler’s Career Has Received a Big Lift,” Los Angeles Times, September 2, 1998: C9, C10.  

17 John Lowe, “Babe in the City,” Detroit Free Press, March 31, 1999: 1C.

18 Lowe.

19 Gene Guidi, “Tigers Fulfill Kapler’s Prophecy,” Detroit Free Press, April 2, 1999: 3C.

20 Gene Guidi, “Hunter Benching Fuels Trade Talks,” Detroit Free Press, April 26, 1999: 5D.

21 “Weaver Finds Comfort Zone,” Ventura County Star, May 1, 1999: C5.

22 John Klima, “Kapler Displays Power,” Ventura County Star (Camarillo, California), June 29, 1999: C5.

23 “After Trade, Kapler Shakes Off Shock,” Port Huron (Michigan) Times Herald, November 3, 1999: 6B.

24 T.R. Sullivan, “Eye Opener,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 4, 2000: D1. 

25 T.R. Sullivan, “Short Hops,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 17, 2000: 4D.

26 “Rangers Deal, but Rogers Remains,” Austin American-Statesman, August 1, 2002: C1.

27 Alan Robinson, “Rangers Acquire Hollandsworth After Trading Kapler to Rockies,” Tyler (Texas) Morning Telegraph, August 1, 2002: Section 4, 1.

28 “Rockies to Watch,” San Francisco Chronicle, September 3, 2002: C7.

29 Bob Hohler, “Next Stop for Kapler,” Boston Globe, June 25, 2003: F3.

30 Kevin Thomas, “Sea Dogs Notebook,” Portland (Maine) Press Herald, June 29, 2003: 5D.

31 “Night of Pedro, Kim, and a Loss,” Portland Press Herald, July 26, 2003: 5D, 8D.

32 “Red Sox Stand By Position,” Daily Hampshire Gazette (Northampton, Massachusetts), December 23, 2003: D3.

33 Kevin Thomas, “Sox Fans’ Support: Priceless,” Portland Press Herald, February 9, 2004: C1.

34 Douglas Belkin, “Jews With Tattoos,” Boston Globe, August 15, 2004: M7.

35 A thorough explanation of why Judaism has historically opposed tattooing can be found in “The Tattoo Taboo in Judaism.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-tattoo-taboo-in-judaism/. 

36 Howard Ullman (Associated Press), “Kapler Set to Step In for Nixon,” North Adams (Massachusetts) Transcript, March 20, 2004: B4.

37 Charles Odum (Associated Press), “Nine-Run Rally Lowe Point of Terrible Trip,” Quincy (Massachusetts) Patriot Ledger, July 5, 2004: 19.

38 Ben Walker (Associated Press), “Red Sox Say Goodbye to Ghosts and Curses,” Lynn (Massachusetts) Daily Item, October 29, 2004: C1.

39 Kevin Thomas, “Quite the Finish,” Portland Press Herald, June 12, 2006: C1, C7.

40 Mike Fine, “Kapler Has 2 Hits in First Game Since Sept. 7,” Quincy Patriot Ledger, June 20, 2006: 24.

41 Nick Cafardo, “New Manager Kapler Has an Extensive To-Do List,” Boston Globe, January 28, 2007: C10.

42 Willie T. Smith III, “Fans Get to Know Kapler,” Greenville (South Carolina) News, February 4, 2007: 5C.

43 Willie T. Smith III, “Drive End Record Year with Victory,” Greenville News, September 4, 2007: 2C.

44 “Former Sox OF Kapler Looking to Resume His Playing Career,” Biddeford (Maine) Journal Tribune, September 21, 2007: B3. 

45 Tony Fabrizio, “Rays Re-Sign Kapler,” Tampa Tribune, October 28, 2009: S4.

46 Tony Fabrizio, “Team Won’t Rush Kapler’s Return,” Tampa Tribune, September 4, 2010: S4.

47 Rob Maadi (Associated Press), “Phillies Hire Gabe Kapler as Manager,” Cincinnati Enquirer, October 31, 2017: 4C.

48 Scott Lauber, “Kapler Begins New Job Defending Himself,” Philadelphia Daily News, November 14, 2019: A41.

49 Gabe Kapler, telephone call with the author, August 4, 2023.

50 Nakken, a former college softball player, was hired as an assistant coach, working with the players on baserunning and outfield defense. On April 12, 2022, she made history when she was called into the Giants-Padres game to coach first base, making her the first woman to coach on the field in a regular season major-league game.   

51 Gabe Kapler, telephone call with the author, August 4, 2023.

52 Noah Trister (Associated Press), “Cash, Kapler Win Manager of the Year Awards,” Merced (California) Sun-Star, November 18, 2021: 1B.

53 Chris Biderman, “Her Moment, Her Job,” Sacramento Bee, April 20, 2022: 3A.

54 Gabe Kapler, “Saying Goodbye,” Kaplifestyle, December 31, 2020: https://kaplifestyle.com/2020/12/31/saying-goodbye/.

55 Steve Adams, “Marlins to Hire Gabe Kapler as Assistant General Manager,” MLB Trade Rumors, December 1, 2023, https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/marlins-hire-gabe-kapler-assistant-general-manager.html

56 Tim Keown, “Being Gabe Kapler: Inside the Mind of the San Francisco Giants’ Nonconformist Manager,” ESPN.com, May 13, 2022: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33904139/mind-san-francisco-giants-nonconformist-manager.