In his playing days (1984–90), Gideon was a first baseman and pitcher in the minor league organizations of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.

He threw and batted left-handed, standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighing 200 pounds (91 kg).

On May 29, 2009, Gideon was also named manager of the Tulsa Drillers of the Double-A Texas League, part of a chain reaction of promotions in the Rockies' organization that followed the firing of Colorado pilot Clint Hurdle.

[2] Hurdle was replaced by Jim Tracy as Colorado's MLB manager, Triple-A skipper Tom Runnells became Tracy's bench coach, Tulsa manager Stu Cole took over Runnells' Colorado Springs Sky Sox, and Gideon took the reins in Tulsa.

[3] In 2013, he was named the "development supervisor " of the Rockies' Short Season-A affiliate, the Tri-City Dust Devils.