Jerry Grote

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Gerald Wayne Grote (born October 6, 1942 in San Antonio, Texas) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Houston Colt .45s, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals between 1963 and 1981.

Grote was the starting catcher for the Mets from 1966 to 1976. His acquisition by the Mets from the Astros for pitcher Tom Parsons and cash ranks as one of the best trades in team history. He caught every inning of every playoff and World Series game for the Mets in 1969 and 1973. He was also the National League's starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game, played in Houston.

Grote was an outstanding defensive catcher, calling games for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw, and Jon Matlack. He possessed a rifle arm throwing opposing baserunners out at second or third base. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing first base." Grote was acknowledged to be highly competitive by his teammates and opponents. One of his trademarks was seen whenever his pitcher ended an inning with a strikeout, whereupon, while leaving the field, Grote would roll the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout). This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball, thus adding insult to injury.

Grote was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1992. After retirement Grote continued to raise prize Texas longhorns on his ranch near Austin, Texas.

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

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