Wichita Gamblers
Code:
Seasons: 34
Record: 2618-2891(.475)
Average Record: 77-85
Championships: NONE
Pennants: NONE
Divisions: 1(2008)
Wild Cards: 2(1989 & 2010)
Most Wins: 97(1989)
Most Losses: 102(1996 & 2018)
Silver Sluggers: 2
1986 Joseph Martin .327 BA, 93 XBH, 125 RBI
2002 Donatello Marrero .298 BA, 77 XBH, 119 RBI
Bronze Arms 0
Platinum Rookies: 3
1989 CF Lamont Rivera .326 BA, 45 XBH, 91 RS
2004 1B Ken Bankhead .319 BA, 76 XBH, 87 RBI
2018 1B Matthew Prohphet .325 BA, 36 XBH, 77 RBI
Hall of Famers: 2
MR Margarito Solorzano
SP Ty Thrasher
The Gamblers are one of only three USBA franchises to never make it to the USBA Championship Series notching just two wild card spots and one division title in the team's 34 year existence. The Gamblers manage to sneak past Las Vegas as the worst franchise in the USBA by virtue of a significantly better winning percentage. Known as the Whatchamacallits in the early days, the Wichita franchise has experienced some tough luck throughout it's history.
Twice the franchise won over 90 games only to finish second in the division to New Orleans. 1989 saw the Whachamacallits win 96 games only to tie Houston for the wild card and force a one game playoff. After winning the playoff the team still finished an astounding 11.5 games behind the 108 win New Orleans team. In 2009 the team won 92 games but lost the division by two games to New Orleans and the Liberty League Wildcard by four games to Detroit.
When the team finally did make the playoffs they didn't do a whole lot to get the fans excited losing in the USBA Division Series each time. A three game sweep at the hands of the Memphis Riversharks in 1989 was a crushing blow to the 97 win Wichita team and it took them ten seasons to return to the post season.
Up until Wayne Marshall broke team records for homers(54) and RBI(156) Joseph Martin was the best hitter the franchise had seen. Problem is Martin played just five seasons in Wichita from '85~'89 and retired from baseball after the 1990 season at the age of 36. Only two pitchers have ever won 100+ games in a Wichita uniform and the two that wear Gamblers' hats in the Hall of Fame only played a combined 11 seasons in Wichita. Seems no one wants to hang around this town for whatever reason.
The two previously mentioned Hall of Famers were USBA journeymen who just happened to be pretty good. Margarito Solorzano is the only primary middle reliever in the USBA Hall of Fame. He played for four different teams, no more than five seasons for any one team, and had arguably his three best seasons in Wichita from '91~'93. During that span Solorzano pitched in over 300 games and almost 360 innings while posting earned run averages of 2.45, 2.30, and 2.20 respectively.
Ty Thrasher was starting pitcher that played his first seven seasons for the Wichita club. He posted six consecutive winning seasons from '92~'97(84-57) while the team never won more than 79 games and as few as 60. His career ERA in over 1440 innings pitched in a Wichita uniform was a remarkable 2.82. He went on to play for three other teams and pitched to no-hitters while playing for San Diego.
MR Margarito Solorzano(1 AS, 1373 IP, 2.94 ERA, 82-57-115, .94 WHIP)
SP Ty Thrasher(7 AS, 3102 IP, 3.10 ERA, 185-146, .91 WHIP, 3509 K)