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This memorial website was created in memory of Ken Gimblin, who was born on December 2, 1937 and passed away on April 15, 2014, at the age of 76. He will be remembered by so many!
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Happy birthday my dear friend. Everyday you are greatly missed and thought about. I am very blessed to have met, known, and developed a friendship with you. Thank you for the memories.
-Sent by Mike Vasile
Thank you for all the wonderful stories, memories, great laughs, acts of kindness, words of encouragement, lifelong advice and recommendations, and especially your honest and genuine friendship since the beginning. You will be missed greatly...lighting a candle for a dear unique friend.
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Mentor and Friend
When I was 13 in my first year of Jr. High School my first dream was to play on the Jr. high baseball team knowing full well I was good enough to make the team and be a starter.
I played sandlot ball with most of the guys trying out so I knew where I stood.
When I went to try out Ken told me I was too young and only 8th and 9th graders could play.
Needless to say I was totally devestated and down right mad !!!.
For the next few days while the team was practicing on the ball field I would play catch with myself throwing the ball against the wall of the gym as hard as I could not realizing Coach Gimblin was watching me as my frustration played out on the gym wall and pavement.
I guess he saw something in me that he liked and came over and said, "I've been watching you and I think I've made a mistake not letting 7th graders try out, I want you to try out with the team"
I was so excited and couldn't wait to get home and tell my Dad.
I not ony went on to be the first 7th grader to make the Jr.high baseball team but 3 years later I was the only sophomore to make the Varsity High School team.
It was Ken's belief in me as a young man and ballplayer that motivated me to always do my best and never give up on a dream.
He took me to my first Major League baseball game and took me on the field and I was able to meet and have pictures taken with some ball players, many of them now in the Hall of Fame.
That was the beginning of a life long friendship with Ken I will never forget.
God Bless you Coach and thanks for the memories !!!
Birthday Photo
Memories of Ken (shared by Gary Allen)
Like so many other people, I grew up in the 60's listengint to Ken's reports on KROY radio.
In 1985, I was hired to be the statistian for the Sacramento Kings and I was lucky enough to sit next to Ken every home game for the first 3 years at the first Arco Arena. I always enjoyed talking sports with Ken in those years.
I was so glad I was able to see and talk to him twice this past season (just 6-8 weeks ago). He was a wonderful person and a real gentleman.