Born and raised in Jalisco, Mexico, Gilberto (aka Gil) didn't play in an organized baseball league, such as little league, MSBL, until he was 22 years old. However, his passion for baseball began, at the age of 16, when his uncle gave him a homemade baseball bat. Thanks to him, he began playing in a Mexican league. At that moment, he was hooked for life.
He played baseball for many years in Mexico. When he was 22, he began playing organized baseball locally (i.e., city winter and night leagues, Woodland-Davis championship games, and MSBL tournaments) in Sacramento, Arizona, Las Vegas, and San Diego.
In 1992, he was invited to play in what is now the Woodland MSBL , and in another league, with the Pirates. During this time, he was chosen for All Star games and was a key player on various Championship teams. He received many trophies, and awards. He also received a MVP award in one of the All Star games.
In 2009, he received a phone call from his lifelong friend, the late, Dennis Viegas inviting him to play in the MSBL World Series in Phoenix. He (Dennis) also told him that if he wanted to win a championship ring, he needed to go with a "winning team" (i.e., the Sacramento Tribe) to Phoenix. He will never forget when Ken Chavez included him in the roster for Phoenix...especially after meeting the Sacramento Tribe team players...his new baseball family.
Since 2009, he has won five National Championship rings and one MVP ring while playing in the MSBL World Series in Phoenix.
At the time of this induction, he is playing with the A's (50+) and Dodgers (60+), and is considered one of few catchers that can still catch 9 innings or more in the same day if needed.
He thinks he is the first Mexican-born player inducted into the Sacramento MSBL Hall of Fame. His favorite quote is from Al Gallagher 1971, "There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit."
