Heinie Groh
From BR Bullpen
Henry Knight Groh
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 158 lb.
- Debut April 12, 1912
- Final Game October 2, 1927
- Born September 18, 1889 in Rochester, NY USA
- Died August 22, 1968 in Cincinnati, OH USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Heinie Groh had a long career and was on five World Series teams. He played on the Cincinnati Reds team that won the tainted 1919 World Series, was on the great New York Giants teams that went to the Series in 1922-24, and finished out his career with one appearance in the 1927 World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Yankees, who won 4-0.
He led the league twice in on-base percentage, once in runs scored, once in hits, twice in doubles, once in walks and twice in hit-by-pitch. He was often a lead-off man. He had a lifetime batting average of .292, split half between the dead-ball era and half in the lively ball era.
He held out for a pay raise at the beginning of the 1921 season and refused to play. As a result, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned him. Landis would approve Groh's reinstatement only "on the express condition that Groh joins the Cincinnati team immediately and remains with it throughout the 1921 season." Groh was back in the Reds lineup two days later.
- Famous for using the "bottle bat".
Groh managed the 1928 Charlotte Hornets, 1930 Canton Terriers and 1931-1932 Binghamton Triplets.
Groh was a scout for the New York Giants (1934-1940), Brooklyn Dodgers (1941-1942), and Philadelphia Phillies (1946-1953).
He was the brother of Lew Groh.
Late in life, Groh worked part-time as a cashier at a race track.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 2-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1917 & 1918)
- NL OPS Leader (1919)
- NL Runs Scored Leader (1918)
- NL Hits Leader (1917)
- 2-time NL Doubles Leader (1917 & 1918)
- NL Bases on Balls Leader (1916)
- Won two World Series with the Cincinnati Reds (1919) and the New York Giants (1922)
| Preceded by Christy Mathewson | Cincinnati Reds Manager 1918 | Succeeded by Pat Moran |
[edit] Further Reading
- Lawrence Ritter: The Glory of Their Times, The Macmillan Company, New York, NY, 1966, pp. 271-277.
