WHY I THINK BOBBY GRICH SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

 WHY I THINK BOBBY GRICH SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN 

By- Damien 

Bobby Grich was an unusual talent at second base. He didn’t have much consistency at the plate but he had a ton of power, drew a lot of walks, and played great defense. Grich also showed that he had skills to bunt and steal bases. From 1970 through 1986 Grich showed the Orioles and the Angels that he very well may have been the best second baseman in all of baseball. Bobby Grich started his career with the Orioles in 1970 for 30 games as a 21 year old shortstop. He would not become a regular second baseman until 1973, when he became an asset to perhaps the best defensive infield in history. Grich, shortstop Mark Belanger, and Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson combined to win 28 Gold Gloves, and four time winner Grich proved worthy to play in that infield. He was an all-star by 1972 and good for 19 homers by 1974. Grich signed with the Angels in late 1976 after two quality seasons for the Orioles and slumped, batting .243 in 52 games in 1977. He was a regular again in 1978 and caught fire in 1979, batting .294 with 30 home runs and 101 RBI’s to finish eighth in the AL MVP Award voting. Grich was an all-star again in 1980 and had his best year in the strike shortened season of 1981, batting .304 with 22 home runs and 61 RBI’s. He became the first second baseman to lead the AL in homers since Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie hit 14 in 1901, and the first to lead the AL in slugging percentage since 1945. He slumped to .261 and 19 homers in 1982 but had another great season in 1983, batting .292 with 16 longballs. He had one last good season in 1984 at the age of 35 but was barely better than average in 1985. He resigned with the Angels for the 1986 season and batted .268 with nine homers in 98 games. That year the Angels almost made the World Series, and Grich hit a go ahead home run in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Red Sox. He announced his retirement after Game 7. Bobby Grich was a great power hitter, an amazing fielder, and a unique talent who really should have been elected to the Hall of Fame as soon as he was eligible. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS 

Games career: 2,008 season high: 162 in 1973 led AL: 162 in 1973 

At Bats career: 6,890 season high: 582 in 1974 

Hits career: 1,833 season high: 157 in 1979 

Doubles career: 320 season high: 31 in 1976 

Triples career: 47 season high: 7 in 1973 

Home Runs career: 224 season high: 30 in 1979 led AL: 22 in 1981 

Runs career: 1,033 season high: 93 in 1976 

Runs Batted In career: 864 season high: 101 in 1979 

Stolen Bases career: 104 season high: 17 in 1973 and 1974 

Walks career: 1,087 season high: 107 in 1973 and 1975 

Strikeouts career: 1,278 season high: 117 in 1974 

Batting Average career: .266 season high: .304 in 1981 

On Base Percentage career: .371 season high: .414 in 1983 

Slugging Percentage career: .424 season high: .543 in 1981 led AL: .543 in 1981 

Total Bases career: 2,919 season high: 287 in 1979 

Sacrifice Hits career: 107 season high: 19 in 1978 

Fielding Percentage career: .983 season high: .997 in 1985 led AL 2B: .995 in 1973, .997 in 1985 

Double Plays career: 1,428 season high: 132 in 1974 led AL 2B: 130 in 1973, 132 in 1974, 122 in 1975 

Putouts career: 4,882 season high: 484 in 1974 led AL 2B: 431 in 1973, 484 in 1974, 423 in 1975, 389 in 1976 

Assists career: 5,891 season high: 509 in 1973 led AL 2B: 509 in 1973, 453 in 1974, 484 in 1975 

DID YOU KNOW? 

-set the MLB record for fielding percentage by a second baseman in both 1973 and 1985 

-was a six time all-star 

-won the AL Silver Slugger for second basemen in 1981 

-also finished ninth in the AL MVP Award voting in 1974, 14th in both 1972 and 1981, and 19th in 1973 

-hit three straight home runs in one game in 1974 

-led the MLB with 20 hit by pitch in 1974 

-hit three doubles and three home runs in five ALCSes 

-was declared the AL Player of the Week on September 16, 1984 

-led the AL in home run percentage in 1981 (6.3) 

-led AL second basemen in games in 1973 (162), 1974 (160), and 1979 (153) 

-his 132 double plays at second base in 1974 are the 20th most of all time, and his 130 in 1973 rank 26th 

-his 484 putouts at second base are the second most of all time, his 431 in 1973 rank 38th, and his 423 in 1975 rank 48th 

-ranks 50th in career assists 

-among MLB second basemen, ranks 22nd in career games, 12th in double plays, 17th in putouts, and 19th in assists 

-was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 1988 as the first inductee and into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1998