In the Majors at Last : After Seven Years, Former Titan Gary Buckles Makes the Big Time

Gary Buckles walked slowly from the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen; the beating of his heart and voices in his head all he could hear. Hoping to calm his nerves, Buckles took a deep breath on reaching the mound at Busch Stadium.

Nice try, but a Club Med vacation wouldn’t have relaxed Buckles. Buckles, a career minor league reliever, appeared in his first game for the Cardinals on July 23 after being promoted from triple-A Louisville that day.

Less than 24 hours after pitching mop-up for the Redbirds in a 6-0 loss at Oklahoma City, Buckles faced the powerful Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning of a 4-4 tie. What’s more, his debut occurred in front of a crowd of more than 52,000.

Nerve-rattling time, indeed.

But Buckles did his job despite the swell of emotion. He was removed after pitching a scoreless seventh in a game the Braves won, 8-5, in 12 innings.

“That (first game) was incredible,” Buckles said. “Never did I believe I’d pitch in the big leagues. It had been so long, I just gave up hope it would happen.”

After struggling through seven mostly nondescript seasons--including one year in which no team wanted him--Buckles, 29, broke through this season. And although the baseball strike has curtailed Buckles’ progress, the former Huntington Beach High, Golden West College and Cal State Fullerton pitcher now has hope and, many believe, a future.

Buckles, a right-hander, was 0-1 with a 2.25 earned-run average in 12 innings in 10 appearances with St. Louis.

Like any good middle reliever, Buckles (6 feet, 185 pounds) maintained the status quo--which kept the Cardinals in games. Buckles allowed the go-ahead run only once. A surprising accomplishment, considering the source.

A few years ago, Buckles didn’t even have a team .

As a college senior in 1987, Buckles was 3-3 with one save and a 4.24 ERA. That completed his mediocre two-year career with the Titans, and he wasn’t selected in the 1987 amateur draft. But the Angels signed him as a free agent.

Buckles pitched in the Angels’ organization for five seasons. In 1988 at single-A Quad Cities, Iowa, Buckles relieved in 46 games and was 14-3 with eight saves and a 3.18 ERA. He struck out 109 in 79 2/3 innings.

Good times ahead, he thought, and two quick promotions followed. But things began to unravel in 1990 at triple-A Edmonton. Buckles’ ERA grew in proportion with the hitters’ skill at the top minor league level. By 1991, he feared for his job.

His suspicion was confirmed when Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi, then the minor league director, told Buckles he was not in the organization’s plans. He was released in 1991 after a winless season (0-7, 4.15 ERA).

“Bavasi told me they needed to look at younger prospects,” Buckles said. “It bothered me because I thought I did a pretty good job over there. It was really frustrating.”

And it was only beginning.

Buckles said he was offered a coaching position in the organization’s lower levels, which he immediately declined. He figured he would quickly sign with another team. But several tryouts later, Buckles was still out of baseball.

Without any prospects, Buckles returned home to Fullerton as the 1992 season opened. His disappointment might have become depression had it not been for his wife, Gina.

They had met while students at Cal State Fullerton, and Gina always knew the right things to say to lift Gary’s spirits. Gary returned to Fullerton to finish his degree in physical education.

He worked as a teacher’s aide in the Westminster School District and started a car-detailing business while Gina worked as an accountant. They enjoyed being together, something not previously possible during the baseball season.

Still, though, Gina knew something was wrong. Although Gary tried to hide his pain, Gina saw how much he missed the game.

“Sometimes when he thought I wasn’t looking, he’d go into a pitching motion or pretend to make a pick-off throw,” Gina said. “It killed me because he was just kind of moping around.

“I’d call him all the time from work and say, ‘Gary, did you call any teams today?’ His answer was always, ‘Well, ah, not really.’ It was tough.”

Finally, Gina’s prodding paid off.

Gary started making calls and was invited to spring training in 1993 for an audition with the Florida Marlins. Just before he left, Gina learned she was pregnant. The couple did not have medical insurance, which provided more incentive, and pressure, for Gary.

The tryout did not go well.

Buckles knocked on a few more doors in Florida, but no one was buying. Buckles was heading home when he passed the Cardinals’ spring training facility and decided to plead for a chance.

It worked--and so did his pitching. St. Louis signed Buckles and assigned him to Louisville. The Redbirds picked up the medical bills for the birth of Megan Diane Buckles, now 10 months old.

But Buckles was not in the clear. The Redbirds considered releasing him after he went 4-2 with a 5.42 ERA in 1993.

“Gary called at the end of last year and told me don’t be surprised if he got released,” Gina said. “I thought it was my fault for making him try. I cried for two days.”

Louisville didn’t release him. Buckles’ job security, however, wasn’t great.

“He didn’t fit into our plans,” Louisville General Manager Dale Owens said. “He was left in extended spring training (at St. Petersburg), which is not a good sign. That usually means they don’t have a spot for you.”

Against a wall again, Buckles responded with outs. He also helped the younger pitchers without being asked.

That combination earned Buckles another chance with the Redbirds. And he responded.

Relying on an improved breaking ball and a knuckle-curve, which is as hard to hit as it sounds, Buckles at last found a groove despite not throwing more than 86 m.p.h. Buckles was so tough on American Assn. hitters he was selected to the triple-A all-star game.

He was 5-1 with two saves and a 2.95 ERA for the Redbirds. He had pitched 64 innings, the third-highest total in his career, when he was summoned to St. Louis.

“Buck was outstanding,” Louisville Manager Joe Pettini said. “He was the most consistent reliever we had. With a lot of guys, you don’t know what’s going to happen when they come in a close game. We never worried with Buck, and he did the same in St. Louis.”

Which is where Buckles would still be had the major league baseball season not stopped Aug. 12. Wanting Buckles to continue pitching, the Cardinals optioned him to Louisville on Aug. 11. Cardinal Manager Joe Torre said Buckles will return if the strike doesn’t wipe out the season.

Buckles took a few days to get settled and has had little work since returning. That will soon change because the Redbirds are suddenly battling for a playoff spot.

Buckles is eager to again contribute for the Redbirds, but he’s hoping the big boys work things out--soon.

“When I look back on all that has happened to me, it’s just amazing,” Buckles said. “All the times I could have just said, ‘Forget it.’ It makes it even better.”