Born in San Francisco, California, Gentile was a powerful, left-handed slugger listed at 6\' 4", 215 lb. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a high school pitcher in 1952. He played his first minor league season as a pitcher, earning a 2-6 win-lost record. The next year he was converted into a first baseman. He languished for eight years in the minors for a Dodgers team that already had All-Star Gil Hodges at first base and Norm Larker. He dominated the minors, leading two separate leagues in home runs.\n', "

On September 24, 1957, Gentile made the last putout at Brooklyn's famed Ebbets Field in the final game ever played there. Dee Fondy, batting for Pittsburgh, hit a ground ball to Don Zimmer at shortstop. Zimmer threw to Gentile at first base for the game's final out. \n", '

Gentile was traded to Baltimore in 1960, where he was named to the 1960 All-Star Game his first full season. He enjoyed his best season in 1961, hitting a career-highs .302 batting average, 46 home runs, 141 runs batted in(see below), 96 runs, 147 hits, 25 doubles, 96 walks, .423 on-base percentage, .646 slugging average and 1.069 OPS. He finished third in the MVP ballot (behind Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris). In addition, Gentile hit five grand slams — including two straight in one game — setting an American League record that stood until Don Mattingly belted six in 1987.\n', '

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