[citation needed] Afterwards, he would miss the 1944 season while serving in the United States Army during World War II.
After his discharge from military, he was obtained by the Athletics from Lancaster as part of a minor league working agreement late in 1944.
[4] Nevertheless, Gerkin had a decent career in the minors while playing for various MLB affiliate teams and in the Mexican League, posting an overall record of 71-43 with a 3.96 ERA in a span of six seasons from 1943–1953.
In between, Gerkin played winterball for the Tigres de Marianao and Leones del Habana clubs of the Cuban League in the 1947-1948 season.
[citation needed] Gerkin died in 1978, at Veterans Hospital in Bay Pines, eleven days short of his 66th birthday.