Orval Grove
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Orval Grove | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| May 28, 1940 for the Chicago White Sox |
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| Final game | |
| April 27, 1949 for the Chicago White Sox |
|
| Career statistics | |
| ERA | 3.78 |
| K | 374 |
| Wins | 63 |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Orval Leroy Grove (August 29, 1919-April 20, 1992) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in West Mineral, Kansas, he spent his entire 10-year career with the Chicago White Sox. He made his debut on May 28, 1940, but only played in 3 games during that season.[1] After pitching 2 games the following season, Grove began to make an impact, starting a few games during the 1942 season. However, he missed most of the season due to knee surgery. He was given the opportunity to be an everyday starter for the 1943 season upon the retirement of White Sox hall of fame pitcher Ted Lyons,[2] and it became his career year.
Grove took advantage of being in the rotation, winning nine consecutive decisions, becoming at that time the second member of the White Sox to perform that feat, the first being Lefty Williams in 1917.[3] Grove ended the season with an ERA of only 2.75 and a 15-9 record.[1] Alongside this, he also came on July 8, 1943 one out away from pitching a no-hitter, losing the no-hitter when New York Yankees second baseman Joe Gordon doubled.[4]
Although those stats dipped slightly the following season (a 14-15 record with a 3.72 ERA), his other stats improved, leading to Grove's lone all-star appearance, in which he ended up not pitching.[5] Grove's 1945 and 1946 seasons kept him as a stable in the rotation, despite leading the leagues in wild pitches in 1946.[1] However, by the 1947 season he showed signs of slowing down. His ERA went above 4, and his 1948 season was diasppointing,finishing with a 2-10 record.[1] After pitching 1 game during the 1949 season, on April 27, he was released. After his retirement, he received a few Baseball Hall of Fame votes, receiving 5 in 1958 and 7 in 1960.[6] He died in Carmichael, California on April 20, 1992, and is buried alongside his wife, Catherine.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Orval Grove Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ Ted Lyons - The Baseball Page. Retrieved on 2007-04-30.
- ^ White Sox Season Records. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ Lost in the Ninth. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ 1944 All-Star Game. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
- ^ National Baseball Hall of Fame - History of BBWAA Voting. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.
