Gaebelein played from 1901 to 1930 for Halleschen FC Hohenzollern (renamed Hallescher SV 1898 in 1918, then known after 1945 as BSG Unit Mitte Halle), of which he remained a member until his death in 1964.
He made his debut in the competition for the Crown Prince Cup on October 9, 1910 in the game in Leipzig against Northern Germany alongside Camillo Ugi on the left wing.
In the final on February 22, 1914 in Berlin, with teammates such as goalkeeper Johannes Schneider and the outfield players Willy Völker, Ernst Rokosch, Paul Pömpner and Eduard Pendorf, he lost by 1-2 against Northern Germany, in whose ranks the offensive players Adolf Jäger, Otto Harder, Richard Queck and Ernst Möller stood out.
Gaebelein experienced his second final appearance on June 20, 1920 in Hanover in the game against West Germany; but also his second defeat with a score of 0-1 after extra time.
However, Gaebelein had also participated in the VMBV's attack alongside Förderer and Pömpner in the victorious semi-final on November 14, 1920 in Dresden against Brandenburg (2:1).