Dothan Magazine

Although he loved football, his opportunity to play in the major leagues came during the 2001 draft, where he was signed in the first round (15th overall). Surprisingly, getting drafted so high and receiving a significant signing bonus was difficult for Gabe. “It took me a while to come to grips with how to handle this success and money. I knew I had to deal with this while being a good steward and most importantly honoring God. It is because of Him that I am here and, ultimately, all of this belongs to Him.” Gabe lives the Gospel through his daily actions. It is easy to sense that in this gentle, humble, kind-hearted individual after a few minutes of conversation. In his second year in the majors, he was given the nickname “the Southern Gentleman” because of his polite manners, and gentlemanly conduct. Gabe attributes this to the way he was raised. “My parents brought me up right. They taught me to never take myself too seriously, and to do right with the blessings God’s given me.”

That’s part of the key to Gabe’s success on the field as well. “There’s a difference in handling pressure on the football field and the baseball field. When you’re playing football, you get nervous before the game, but once the opening snap starts the game, you’re focused on playing. The nerves are gone and it’s constant action. Baseball has a different pace.

Read the full story in the March/April 2009 issue of Dothan Magazine, now available at these locations around Dothan.

“You didn’t have to push me out of the house to go play outside. Baseball, football, basketball--- if there was a game being played somewhere, I was there!”

It was at the Doug Tew center where Gabe hit his first home run over the fence and into the street. He also played baseball for American Legion Post 12 and Northview High School, where he continued living an idyllic childhood. Gabe reminisced fondly about eating blackberries off the bushes before long practices with his teammates. Also a standout football player, Gabe attended Auburn University where he became the starting quarterback in 1998. “My father, a former Auburn center, told me that the first time I stepped onto the field as the quarterback for Auburn, my life would never be the same. He was right.”