Randall Pennington Gumpert

Randall Pennington Gumpert, 90 years old, of Monocacy, Berks County, PA, died peacefully with his extended family at his side at the Highlands of Wyomissing where he resided for 10 months. Born in Monocacy, he was a son of the late Abram and Emma (Nolte) Gumpert. He was the husband of Ann Louise (Boyer) Gumpert, at home. Mr. Gumpert had been a Major League baseball player and scout. He had pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics, the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators. He began his career in 1936, pitching his first game two weeks after graduation from high school on June 13, 1936. His final game was on September 23, 1952. He managed the Bradford Yankees in 1956, the 1956-1958 Kearney Yankees and the 1960 St. Petersburg Saints. He gave up Mickey Mantle's first home run in 1951. He last worked for the Major League Scouting Bureau of Newport Beach, CA, for 19 years before retiring in 1993. He was an American League All Star in 1951. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, the Berks County Sports Hall of Fame, the Reading Phillies Hall of Fame, the Daniel Boone Wall of Fame and the Major League Scouting Hall of Fame. He is a graduate of the former Birdsboro High School Class of 1936. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Birdsboro, PA, and was a WW II U.S. Coast Guard Veteran. In addition to his wife Ann, he is survived by two sons: Michael R., husband of Peggy Gumpert of Weavertown, PA, and Jeffrey S., husband of Suzanne Gumpert of Myerstown, PA. He is survived by one daughter, Cynthia B., wife of Jeffrey Knauer of New Holland, PA. He is survived by one sister, Winifred G., widow of John P. Weeple of Lancaster, PA. There are four grandchildren, Jonathan Knauer, Whitney Knauer, Emily Gumpert and Scott Gumpert. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, PA, on Saturday, November 29, 2008, at 10:30 AM. Friends & relatives may visit from 9:30-10:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, Massachusetts 024457226 or to the Berks County American Legion Baseball League Scholarship Fund, c/o Jim Snyder, Treasurer, 27 Annabeth Road, Oley, PA 19547.