Ross Grimsley

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Ross Grimsley
Pitcher
Born: January 7, 1950 (1950-01-07) (age 58)
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 16, 1971
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
September 24, 1982
for the Baltimore Orioles
Career statistics
Win-Loss Record     124-99
ERA     3.81
Strikeouts     750
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • All star in 1978

Ross Albert II Grimsley (born January 7, 1950 in Topeka, Kansas) is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1971-73), Baltimore Orioles (1974-77 and 1982), Montreal Expos (1978-80) and Cleveland Indians (1980). His father, Ross Sr., pitched for the 1951 Chicago White Sox.

He helped the Reds win the 1972 National League Pennant and the 1973 NL Western Division, and the Orioles win the 1974 American League Eastern Division.

He was named to the 1978 National League All-Star Team as a member of the Expos and had his only career 20-win season that year, finishing with a record of 20-11.

He finished 7th in voting for the 1978 National League Cy Young Award after having a 20-11 record, 36 games, 36 games started, 19 complete games, 3 shutouts, 263 innings pitched, 84 strikeouts and a 3.05 ERA.

In 11 seasons he had a 124-99 record, 345 games, 295 games started, 79 complete games, 15 shutouts, 17 games finished, 3 saves, 2,039⅓ innings pitched, 2,105 hits allowed, 947 runs allowed, 863 earned runs allowed, 202 home runs allowed, 559 walks allowed, 750 strikeouts, 15 hit batsmen, 40 wild pitches, 8,544 batters faced, 49 intentional walks, 9 balks and a 3.81 ERA.

After he was traded from the Reds to the Orioles, he began to grow his hair longer and was known for a huge mop of curly hair. Like some pitchers of his day, most notably Gaylord Perry, he was accused of doctoring baseballs and some hitters alleged that he hid Vaseline in his hair.

In an incident on September 16, 1975 at Fenway Park, Grimsley, warming in the Orioles' bullpen, responded to Boston fans' heckling by winding and throwing into the right field bleachers. The ball passed through the protective netting, injuring a Boston fan who later successfully sued Grimsley and the Orioles. He is currently the pitching coach for the Augusta GreenJackets.

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