Grover Gilmore (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Ernest Grover Gilmore was a right fielder
who played from through in the Federal League
. Listed at 5' 9½", 170 lb., he batted and threw left handed.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Gilmore started his Minor leagues career in 1910 with the Denver Grizzlies, playing for them one year before joining the San Francisco Seals (1912), Buffalo Bisons (1912) and Fort Wayne Railroaders
(1914). Then, in 1914 he joined the Kansas City Packers
of the outlaw Federal League
.
Gilmore became a regular outfielder for the Packers during the last two seasons of the league. He was solid in his season debut, batting a .287 average
with 23 stolen base
s, driving in
32 runs while scoring
91 more. His only negative was that he became the first rookie
batter to log 100 strikeout
s in a single season, whiffing 108 times. No rookie until Philadelphia Phillies
first baseman Dick Allen
in 1964 would up 100 strikeouts with a higher batting average, when he hit .318 and was striking out 138 times.
The next year Gilmore cut down his strikeouts to 44 and hit .285 in 119 games, while collecting 22 doubles
, 15 triples
and a career-high 47 RBI.
In a two-season career, Gilmore posted a .286 average (269-for-941) with two home run
s and 79 RBI in 258 games, including 47 doubles, 20 triples, 42 stolen bases and a .341 on-base percentage. He also hit .216 and four homers in 64 minor league games.
In 1912, while playing in the minors, Gilmore was on his way to Buffalo after being released by the San Francisco Coast League team. His departure was saddened by the loss of his watch from a fob that he had received from President William Howard Taft
. The theft was given publicity, and two days later a package was received which contained both watch and fob. They were sent to Gilmore.
Gilmore was a long time resident of Sioux City, Iowa
, where he died at the age of 31.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
who played from through in the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
. Listed at 5' 9½", 170 lb., he batted and threw left handed.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Gilmore started his Minor leagues career in 1910 with the Denver Grizzlies, playing for them one year before joining the San Francisco Seals (1912), Buffalo Bisons (1912) and Fort Wayne Railroaders
Central League (baseball)
The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season...
(1914). Then, in 1914 he joined the Kansas City Packers
Kansas City Packers
The Kansas City Packers were a Federal League baseball club in Kansas City from 1914 to 1915. They finished sixth in 1914 with a 67-84 record, and fourth in 1915 with an 81-72 record....
of the outlaw Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
.
Gilmore became a regular outfielder for the Packers during the last two seasons of the league. He was solid in his season debut, batting a .287 average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 23 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s, driving in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
32 runs while scoring
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
91 more. His only negative was that he became the first rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
batter to log 100 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in a single season, whiffing 108 times. No rookie until Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
first baseman Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
in 1964 would up 100 strikeouts with a higher batting average, when he hit .318 and was striking out 138 times.
The next year Gilmore cut down his strikeouts to 44 and hit .285 in 119 games, while collecting 22 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 15 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a career-high 47 RBI.
In a two-season career, Gilmore posted a .286 average (269-for-941) with two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 79 RBI in 258 games, including 47 doubles, 20 triples, 42 stolen bases and a .341 on-base percentage. He also hit .216 and four homers in 64 minor league games.
In 1912, while playing in the minors, Gilmore was on his way to Buffalo after being released by the San Francisco Coast League team. His departure was saddened by the loss of his watch from a fob that he had received from President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
. The theft was given publicity, and two days later a package was received which contained both watch and fob. They were sent to Gilmore.
Gilmore was a long time resident of Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, where he died at the age of 31.