Jerry Grote
Encyclopedia
Gerald Wayne Grote is a former professional
baseball
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
career as a catcher
for the New York Mets
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
, catcher and third baseman
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
to score Bob Aspromonte
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
, Grote platooned
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
and John Hoffman
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
became the first pitcher
in major league history to lose a complete game
no-hitter
in nine inning
s.
In 1965
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
Gus Triandos
and prospect Ron Brand
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven home run
s. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Tom Parsons
.
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a strikeout
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
in a double header
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
and his 56.3% caught stealing
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
and, finished second in team earned run average
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
but, were heavy underdogs
heading into the 1969 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
rally alive and Al Weis
followed with the game-winning hit
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Rod Gaspar
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
. In 1972
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
. In the World Series
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
. Grote rebounded in 1975
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
. At Veterans Stadium
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
, who had been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
season, John Stearns
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
by the Kansas City Royals
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
home run, a double, a stolen base
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
, accumulating 1,092 hits
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 strikeout
s against the San Diego Padres
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
, Tommy John
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a stolen base
, and though Hall of Fame
catcher Johnny Bench
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
."
Gerald Wayne Grote (born October 6, 1942) is a former professional
baseball
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
career as a catcher
for the New York Mets
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
, catcher and third baseman
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
to score Bob Aspromonte
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
, Grote platooned
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
and John Hoffman
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
became the first pitcher
in major league history to lose a complete game
no-hitter
in nine inning
s.
In 1965
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
Gus Triandos
and prospect Ron Brand
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven home run
s. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Tom Parsons
.
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a strikeout
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
in a double header
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
and his 56.3% caught stealing
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
and, finished second in team earned run average
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
but, were heavy underdogs
heading into the 1969 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
rally alive and Al Weis
followed with the game-winning hit
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Rod Gaspar
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
. In 1972
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
. In the World Series
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
. Grote rebounded in 1975
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
. At Veterans Stadium
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
, who had been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
season, John Stearns
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
by the Kansas City Royals
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
home run, a double, a stolen base
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
, accumulating 1,092 hits
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 strikeout
s against the San Diego Padres
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
, Tommy John
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a stolen base
, and though Hall of Fame
catcher Johnny Bench
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
."
Gerald Wayne Grote (born October 6, 1942) is a former professional
baseball
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
career as a catcher
for the New York Mets
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
, catcher and third baseman
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
to score Bob Aspromonte
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
, Grote platooned
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
and John Hoffman
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
became the first pitcher
in major league history to lose a complete game
no-hitter
in nine inning
s.
In 1965
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
Gus Triandos
and prospect Ron Brand
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven home run
s. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Tom Parsons
.
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a strikeout
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
in a double header
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
and his 56.3% caught stealing
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
and, finished second in team earned run average
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
but, were heavy underdogs
heading into the 1969 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
rally alive and Al Weis
followed with the game-winning hit
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Rod Gaspar
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
. In 1972
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
. In the World Series
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
. Grote rebounded in 1975
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
. At Veterans Stadium
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
, who had been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
season, John Stearns
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
by the Kansas City Royals
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
home run, a double, a stolen base
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
, accumulating 1,092 hits
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 strikeout
s against the San Diego Padres
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
, Tommy John
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a stolen base
, and though Hall of Fame
catcher Johnny Bench
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
."
of the Lakeland Tigers
and the Birmingham Barons
. In , he played for the St. Lucie Legends
in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
. He was inducted into Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, and the New York Mets Hall of Fame
in . In , he was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. On October 8, 2011, Grote was inducted into the Trinity University
Athletic Hall of Fame. After retirement, Grote continued to raise prize Texas longhorns on his ranch near Austin, Texas
. He appeared as a Mystery Guest on the television
game show
What's My Line?
.
Grote can be heard as color commentator
with Mike Capps on the Round Rock Express (PCL) radio home broadcasts (2010)--and on the Internet on MiLB.com.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
career as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Early life
Grote was raised in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Douglas MacArthur High School is a public secondary school in a northeast suburb of San Antonio, Texas in the United States. The school, a part of the North East Independent School District serves students in ninth grade through twelfth grade, with admission based primarily on the locations of...
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, catcher and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
Houston Colt .45s
After one season at Trinity University, Grote was signed as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
1962 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was a season in American baseball, and the first season in franchise history. Harry Craft was named Houston's first manager...
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
1963 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s' 1963 season was a season in American baseball. The team finished ninth in the National League with a record of 66-96, 33 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :...
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
to score Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
1964 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was the team's third season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Houston Colt .45s finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 66-96, 27 games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals...
, Grote platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
Dave Adlesh
David George Adlesh was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1968. He played his entire Major League career with the Houston Colt 45's/Houston Astros. Adlesh threw and batted right-handed....
and John Hoffman
John Hoffman (baseball)
John Edward Hoffman was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher whose career lasted seven seasons , including brief stints in Major League Baseball with the – Houston Colt .45s/Astros...
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson (right-handed pitcher)
Kenneth Travis Johnson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who became the first and so far only pitcher to lose a complete game nine-inning no-hitter.-No-hit game:...
became the first pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in major league history to lose a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in nine inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s.
In 1965
1965 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was the franchise's first season in the Houston Astrodome, as well as its first season as the Astros after three seasons known as the Colt .45s. It involved the Houston Astros finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 65-97, 32 games behind the...
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
and prospect Ron Brand
Ron Brand
Ronald George Brand is a former Major League Baseball catcher, and an original member of the Montreal Expos.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven 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. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons (baseball)
Thomas Anthony Parsons is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets .- External links :*...
.
New York Mets
Grote became the starting catcher for the Mets immediately upon his arrival in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a 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....
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
1968 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 7th regular season for the Mets. They went 73-89 and finished 9th in the National League. They were managed by Gil Hodges...
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
Ron Hunt
Ronald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball player. A second baseman who also played third base sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and St...
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
1969 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the eighth season for the Mets franchise, which played its home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62, finishing first in the newly-established National League East by eight games over the Chicago Cubs...
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
1969 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs finishing as "the most celebrated second-place team in the history of baseball.". In the first season after the National League was split into two divisions, the Cubs finished with a record of 92-70, 8 games behind the New York Mets in the...
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
and his 56.3% caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
and, finished second in team earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
1969 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was a season in American baseball. The National League had been split into two divisions before the season, with the Braves somewhat incongruously being assigned to the National League West...
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
1969 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1969 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Mets struck first in the second off Phil Niekro when Jerry Grote singled in a run and Ken Boswell scored on a passed ball by Braves catcher Bob Didier...
but, were heavy underdogs
Underdogs
Underdogs is the second full-length album released by the Matthew Good Band in 1997, as a follow-up to the 1995 album Last of the Ghetto Astronauts...
heading into the 1969 World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
against the Baltimore Orioles
1969 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1969 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. In the first season after the American League was split into two divisions, the Orioles won the first-ever American League East title, finishing first with a record of 109 wins and 53 losses, 19 games ahead of the runner-up...
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
rally alive and Al Weis
Al Weis
Albert John Weis is a former Major League Baseball infielder.Weis grew up in Bethpage, New York, and graduated from Farmingdale, New York, High School in 1955...
followed with the game-winning hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
Rod Gaspar
Rod Gaspar
Rodney Earl Gaspar is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.A switch hitter, Gaspar played for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres ....
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
. In 1972
1972 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 11th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Yogi Berra, the team had a 83-73 record yielding a third place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Death of Gil Hodges :...
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
1973 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record, the National League pennant and a defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics in the World Series...
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
1973 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 99-63, 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games...
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
. In the World Series
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 45th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 23, 1974, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
Duffy Dyer
Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Expos , and Detroit Tigers .-Playing career:Dyer played alongside Sal Bando and Rick Monday as a member of...
. Grote rebounded in 1975
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. At Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
, who had been traded to the 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...
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
1977 New York Mets season
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in...
season, John Stearns
John Stearns
John Hardin Stearns is a former major league catcher who played for the New York Mets from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda take over the reins as Manager from longtime skipper Walter Alston. The Dodgers coasted to a 10-game victory in the National League West and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, only to lose to the New York Yankees in the World...
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shortly after joining the Dodgers, Grote struck out in his only career at-bat against former battery-mate, Tom Seaver, who was now with the Reds. During his two seasons with the Dodgers, he played part time as a backup to Steve YeagerSteve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
1981 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 50 wins and 53 losses...
by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
home run, a double, a 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...
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
Career statistics
In a 16 year career, Grote played in 1421 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,092 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 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 against the San Diego Padres
1970 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* January 17, 1970: John Scott was drafted by the Padres in the 1st round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft .-Regular season:...
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, Tommy John
Tommy John
Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
Dan Quisenberry
Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals...
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a 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...
, and though Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
catcher Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
."
Gerald Wayne Grote (born October 6, 1942) is a former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
career as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Early life
Grote was raised in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Douglas MacArthur High School is a public secondary school in a northeast suburb of San Antonio, Texas in the United States. The school, a part of the North East Independent School District serves students in ninth grade through twelfth grade, with admission based primarily on the locations of...
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, catcher and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
Houston Colt .45s
After one season at Trinity University, Grote was signed as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
1962 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was a season in American baseball, and the first season in franchise history. Harry Craft was named Houston's first manager...
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
1963 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s' 1963 season was a season in American baseball. The team finished ninth in the National League with a record of 66-96, 33 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :...
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
to score Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
1964 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was the team's third season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Houston Colt .45s finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 66-96, 27 games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals...
, Grote platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
Dave Adlesh
David George Adlesh was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1968. He played his entire Major League career with the Houston Colt 45's/Houston Astros. Adlesh threw and batted right-handed....
and John Hoffman
John Hoffman (baseball)
John Edward Hoffman was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher whose career lasted seven seasons , including brief stints in Major League Baseball with the – Houston Colt .45s/Astros...
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson (right-handed pitcher)
Kenneth Travis Johnson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who became the first and so far only pitcher to lose a complete game nine-inning no-hitter.-No-hit game:...
became the first pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in major league history to lose a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in nine inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s.
In 1965
1965 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was the franchise's first season in the Houston Astrodome, as well as its first season as the Astros after three seasons known as the Colt .45s. It involved the Houston Astros finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 65-97, 32 games behind the...
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
and prospect Ron Brand
Ron Brand
Ronald George Brand is a former Major League Baseball catcher, and an original member of the Montreal Expos.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven 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. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons (baseball)
Thomas Anthony Parsons is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets .- External links :*...
.
New York Mets
Grote became the starting catcher for the Mets immediately upon his arrival in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a 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....
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
1968 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 7th regular season for the Mets. They went 73-89 and finished 9th in the National League. They were managed by Gil Hodges...
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
Ron Hunt
Ronald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball player. A second baseman who also played third base sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and St...
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
1969 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the eighth season for the Mets franchise, which played its home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62, finishing first in the newly-established National League East by eight games over the Chicago Cubs...
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
1969 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs finishing as "the most celebrated second-place team in the history of baseball.". In the first season after the National League was split into two divisions, the Cubs finished with a record of 92-70, 8 games behind the New York Mets in the...
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
and his 56.3% caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
and, finished second in team earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
1969 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was a season in American baseball. The National League had been split into two divisions before the season, with the Braves somewhat incongruously being assigned to the National League West...
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
1969 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1969 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Mets struck first in the second off Phil Niekro when Jerry Grote singled in a run and Ken Boswell scored on a passed ball by Braves catcher Bob Didier...
but, were heavy underdogs
Underdogs
Underdogs is the second full-length album released by the Matthew Good Band in 1997, as a follow-up to the 1995 album Last of the Ghetto Astronauts...
heading into the 1969 World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
against the Baltimore Orioles
1969 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1969 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. In the first season after the American League was split into two divisions, the Orioles won the first-ever American League East title, finishing first with a record of 109 wins and 53 losses, 19 games ahead of the runner-up...
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
rally alive and Al Weis
Al Weis
Albert John Weis is a former Major League Baseball infielder.Weis grew up in Bethpage, New York, and graduated from Farmingdale, New York, High School in 1955...
followed with the game-winning hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
Rod Gaspar
Rod Gaspar
Rodney Earl Gaspar is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.A switch hitter, Gaspar played for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres ....
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
. In 1972
1972 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 11th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Yogi Berra, the team had a 83-73 record yielding a third place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Death of Gil Hodges :...
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
1973 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record, the National League pennant and a defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics in the World Series...
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
1973 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 99-63, 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games...
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
. In the World Series
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 45th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 23, 1974, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
Duffy Dyer
Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Expos , and Detroit Tigers .-Playing career:Dyer played alongside Sal Bando and Rick Monday as a member of...
. Grote rebounded in 1975
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. At Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
, who had been traded to the 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...
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
1977 New York Mets season
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in...
season, John Stearns
John Stearns
John Hardin Stearns is a former major league catcher who played for the New York Mets from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda take over the reins as Manager from longtime skipper Walter Alston. The Dodgers coasted to a 10-game victory in the National League West and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, only to lose to the New York Yankees in the World...
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shortly after joining the Dodgers, Grote struck out in his only career at-bat against former battery-mate, Tom Seaver, who was now with the Reds. During his two seasons with the Dodgers, he played part time as a backup to Steve YeagerSteve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
1981 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 50 wins and 53 losses...
by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
home run, a double, a 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...
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
Career statistics
In a 16 year career, Grote played in 1421 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,092 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 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 against the San Diego Padres
1970 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* January 17, 1970: John Scott was drafted by the Padres in the 1st round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft .-Regular season:...
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, Tommy John
Tommy John
Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
Dan Quisenberry
Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals...
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a 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...
, and though Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
catcher Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
."
Gerald Wayne Grote (born October 6, 1942) is a former professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
career as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Early life
Grote was raised in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. When he was just ten years old, he and his family were caught in an F-4 tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
. His mother, father and two sisters made it to safety, however, he lost his grandmother in the storm. Grote attended Douglas MacArthur High School
Douglas MacArthur High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Douglas MacArthur High School is a public secondary school in a northeast suburb of San Antonio, Texas in the United States. The school, a part of the North East Independent School District serves students in ninth grade through twelfth grade, with admission based primarily on the locations of...
where, he played on the baseball team as a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, catcher and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. As a high school pitcher, he threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
and a one hitter. Grote played for Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in 1962, and led the Tigers in batting average (.413), home runs (five), RBI (19), runs (29), and hits (31).
Houston Colt .45s
After one season at Trinity University, Grote was signed as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962
1962 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was a season in American baseball, and the first season in franchise history. Harry Craft was named Houston's first manager...
, and was assigned to play for their minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate, the San Antonio Bullets
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
. At the age of 20, he made his major league debut with the Colt .45s on September 21, 1963
1963 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s' 1963 season was a season in American baseball. The team finished ninth in the National League with a record of 66-96, 33 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.- Offseason :...
as a late-inning defensive replacement for John Bateman, and hit a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
to score Bob Aspromonte
Bob Aspromonte
Robert Thomas Aspromonte is a former utility player who had a 13 year career in 1956 and from 1960 to 1971. He played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colt 45's/Astros, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets all of the National League.During his career, Aspromonte played first base, second...
in his only at-bat. For the season, he appeared in three games, including on September 27, when every starter in the Colts' line-up was a rookie.
In 1964
1964 Houston Colt .45s season
The Houston Colt .45s season was the team's third season in Major League Baseball. It involved the Houston Colt .45s finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 66-96, 27 games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals...
, Grote platooned
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with Bateman behind the plate, however, the Colts also experimented with young catchers Dave Adlesh
Dave Adlesh
David George Adlesh was a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1968. He played his entire Major League career with the Houston Colt 45's/Houston Astros. Adlesh threw and batted right-handed....
and John Hoffman
John Hoffman (baseball)
John Edward Hoffman was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher whose career lasted seven seasons , including brief stints in Major League Baseball with the – Houston Colt .45s/Astros...
as well, as neither Grote nor Bateman hit for a very high average that season (.181 and .190, respectively). Grote was the Colts' catcher on April 23, when Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson (right-handed pitcher)
Kenneth Travis Johnson is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who became the first and so far only pitcher to lose a complete game nine-inning no-hitter.-No-hit game:...
became the first pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in major league history to lose a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in nine inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
s.
In 1965
1965 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was the franchise's first season in the Houston Astrodome, as well as its first season as the Astros after three seasons known as the Colt .45s. It involved the Houston Astros finishing in ninth place in the National League with a record of 65-97, 32 games behind the...
, the newly renamed Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
remained unsettled behind the plate, with former All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
and prospect Ron Brand
Ron Brand
Ronald George Brand is a former Major League Baseball catcher, and an original member of the Montreal Expos.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
being added to the mix. Grote spent the entire season with Houston's Triple A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, where he batted .265 with eleven 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. At the end of the season, he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Tom Parsons
Tom Parsons (baseball)
Thomas Anthony Parsons is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets .- External links :*...
.
New York Mets
Grote became the starting catcher for the Mets immediately upon his arrival in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Though he batted only .237 with three home runs in , his handling of the Mets' young pitchers and his solid defensive skills were instrumental in helping the Mets avoid 100 losses and a last place finish for the first time in franchise history. Grote earned a reputation with his teammates and opponents as highly competitive, developing the trademark of rolling the ball to the far side of the pitcher's mound (closest to the Mets' dugout) while leaving the field after his pitcher ended an inning with a 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....
. This necessitated the opposing team's pitcher having to walk further to stoop and retrieve the ball.
In 1968
1968 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 7th regular season for the Mets. They went 73-89 and finished 9th in the National League. They were managed by Gil Hodges...
, Grote was hitting over .300 at mid-season and was recognized as one of the top catchers in the National League when he was selected to be the starting catcher in the 1968 All-Star Game
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. He became only the second Met player in franchise history after Ron Hunt
Ron Hunt
Ronald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball player. A second baseman who also played third base sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and St...
to earn a starting role in an All-Star game. Grote was held hitless in two at-bats during the game. He ended the year with a .282 batting average along with three home runs and 31 runs batted in.
The 1969
1969 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the eighth season for the Mets franchise, which played its home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62, finishing first in the newly-established National League East by eight games over the Chicago Cubs...
season would be a memorable one for Grote and the Mets. The Chicago Cubs
1969 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs finishing as "the most celebrated second-place team in the history of baseball.". In the first season after the National League was split into two divisions, the Cubs finished with a record of 92-70, 8 games behind the New York Mets in the...
had been in first place since the beginning of the season and, had a nine game lead as late as August 15. However, the Cubs began to falter while the Mets continued to play well. When the two teams met for a two-game series on September 8, the Mets won both games to move just a half game behind the Cubs. Aside from calling Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
's five-hit pitching performance in the second game, Grote drove in the Mets' seventh and final run of the game. The following day, the Mets swept the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in a double header
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
, with Grote catching all 21 innings. Coupled with a Cubs loss (who'd slumped to a 9-17 record in their final 26 games), the Mets moved into first place for the first time ever during the season. The Mets stayed in the lead for the rest of the season, with a 37-11 record in their final 48 games and clinched the National League Eastern Division title on September 24.
Grote finished the season with a .252 average and produced career-highs with 6 home runs and 40 runs batted in but, it was his defensive skills that proved most valuable for the Mets. Grote posted a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
and his 56.3% caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage was second-best among National League catchers. He was also given credit for guiding the Mets young pitching staff which, led the league in victories and shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
and, finished second in team earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
The Mets went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves
1969 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was a season in American baseball. The National League had been split into two divisions before the season, with the Braves somewhat incongruously being assigned to the National League West...
in the 1969 National League Championship Series
1969 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1969 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Mets struck first in the second off Phil Niekro when Jerry Grote singled in a run and Ken Boswell scored on a passed ball by Braves catcher Bob Didier...
but, were heavy underdogs
Underdogs
Underdogs is the second full-length album released by the Matthew Good Band in 1997, as a follow-up to the 1995 album Last of the Ghetto Astronauts...
heading into the 1969 World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
against the Baltimore Orioles
1969 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1969 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. In the first season after the American League was split into two divisions, the Orioles won the first-ever American League East title, finishing first with a record of 109 wins and 53 losses, 19 games ahead of the runner-up...
. Following a 4-1 loss in the series opener with Cy Young award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Seaver on the mound, it seemed as if the Mets had little chance against the Orioles. However, the Mets bounced back, winning the next four games to capture their first world championship. Besides catching every inning in the post-season, Grote contributed offensively with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in Game Two to keep a ninth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
rally alive and Al Weis
Al Weis
Albert John Weis is a former Major League Baseball infielder.Weis grew up in Bethpage, New York, and graduated from Farmingdale, New York, High School in 1955...
followed with the game-winning hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. With Game Four tied, Grote doubled to start the tenth inning then, pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
Rod Gaspar
Rod Gaspar
Rodney Earl Gaspar is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.A switch hitter, Gaspar played for the New York Mets and San Diego Padres ....
scored the winning run when an errant throw hit J.C. Martin on the wrist. With Grote calling the pitches, the Mets pitching staff held the Orioles hitters to a .146 batting average during the series.
Grote and the 1969 Mets became an improbable part of baseball history. In their previous seven seasons, the Mets had finished in last place five times. Their sudden turn of fortune in 1969 and their subsequent upset victory in the World Series stunned the sports world and, became one of the more storied events in baseball lore. The team became known as the Miracle Mets.
Grote continued to provide the Mets with good defense, leading National League catchers in and in putouts and in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
. In 1972
1972 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 11th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Yogi Berra, the team had a 83-73 record yielding a third place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Death of Gil Hodges :...
, Grote played in only 64 games due to injuries and, in late September, he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
In May 1973
1973 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record, the National League pennant and a defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics in the World Series...
, Grote broke a bone in his right arm when he was hit by a pitch and went on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for two months. When he returned in mid-July, the Mets began winning, climbing from last place on August 30 to win the National League Eastern Division pennant. They then proceeded to defeat the heavily-favored Cincinnati Reds
1973 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 99-63, 3½ games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers, before losing the NLCS to the New York Mets in five games...
in the 1973 National League Championship Series
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
. In the World Series
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
, the Mets took the Oakland Athletics
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
to the seventh and final game, before they were defeated. As he had in 1969, Grote caught every inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of every post-season game for the Mets in . Looking back on his two pennant-winning seasons with the Mets, Grote said, "It was no miracle," Grote said of his 1969 season with the Mets. "Now, '73 was a miracle."
In , Grote was batting .287 with four home runs and 27 runs batted in to earn his second All-Star selection
1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1974 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 45th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 23, 1974, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
however, injuries were beginning to take their toll and, he split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer
Duffy Dyer
Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets , Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Expos , and Detroit Tigers .-Playing career:Dyer played alongside Sal Bando and Rick Monday as a member of...
. Grote rebounded in 1975
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
, posting a career-high .295 batting average in 119 games and, led all National League catchers with a .995 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. At Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
on July 4, , Grote stepped in as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against long time teammate Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
, who had been traded to the 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...
during the off-season. With the Mets down 3-2, Grote connected for a game winning two run home run.
By the 1977
1977 New York Mets season
The 1977 New York Mets season was the 16th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Joe Frazier followed by Joe Torre, the team finished in last place for the first time since 1967, and for the first time since divisional play was introduced in...
season, John Stearns
John Stearns
John Hardin Stearns is a former major league catcher who played for the New York Mets from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....
had taken over as the Mets' starting catcher as back injuries continued to plague Grote and, in August, after twelve seasons with the Mets, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda take over the reins as Manager from longtime skipper Walter Alston. The Dodgers coasted to a 10-game victory in the National League West and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, only to lose to the New York Yankees in the World...
for two players to be named later. Neither of the minor leaguers the Dodgers sent the Mets ever reached the majors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shortly after joining the Dodgers, Grote struck out in his only career at-bat against former battery-mate, Tom Seaver, who was now with the Reds. During his two seasons with the Dodgers, he played part time as a backup to Steve YeagerSteve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
, and appeared in two World Series against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He retired from professional baseball after the season, only to be lured out of retirement in 1981
1981 Kansas City Royals season
The Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 50 wins and 53 losses...
by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, who were experiencing a shortage of catchers. On July 3, , at the age of 38, Grote went 3 for 4 with a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
home run, a double, a 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...
, driving in a team-record seven runs. After another short stint with the Dodgers, he retired for good after the season.
Career statistics
In a 16 year career, Grote played in 1421 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,092 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 4,339 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 39 home runs and 404 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .991 fielding percentage. At the time of his retirement in 1981, his .991 career fielding percentage was eighth highest all-time among catchers. On April 22, , Grote set a major league record with 20 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in a game when, Tom Seaver threw 19 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 against the San Diego Padres
1970 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* January 17, 1970: John Scott was drafted by the Padres in the 1st round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft .-Regular season:...
. He is the Mets all-time leader in games played as a catcher (1,176). Grote caught 116 shutouts in his career, ranking him 15th all-time among catchers.
Grote called the pitches for some of the most outstanding pitchers of his era, including Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, Tommy John
Tommy John
Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
, Don Sutton and Dan Quisenberry
Dan Quisenberry
Dan Raymond "Quiz" Quisenberry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Kansas City Royals...
. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm against opposing baserunners. Hall of Fame inductee Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
found Grote to be one of the most difficult catchers on which to attempt a 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...
, and though Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
catcher Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
was the perennial Gold Glove winner
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
during their careers in the National League together, Bench once said of Grote, "If Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
."
| Seasons | Games | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | HBP | Avg. | Slg. | Fld% | CS% |
| 16 | 1421 | 4339 | 352 | 1092 | 160 | 22 | 39 | 404 | 15 | 399 | 600 | 26 | .252 | .326 | .991 | 38% |
Post retirement & honors
After his playing career had ended, Grote spent as managerManager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Lakeland Tigers
Lakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
and the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
. In , he played for the St. Lucie Legends
St. Lucie Legends
The St. Lucie Legends was a U.S. baseball team and one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989....
in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
. He was inducted into Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, and the New York Mets Hall of Fame
New York Mets Hall of Fame
The New York Mets Hall of Fame was created in 1981 to recognize the careers of former New York Mets players, managers, broadcasters and executives. There are presently 25 members...
in . In , he was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame. On October 8, 2011, Grote was inducted into the Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
Athletic Hall of Fame. After retirement, Grote continued to raise prize Texas longhorns on his ranch near Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He appeared as a Mystery Guest on the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
.
Grote can be heard as color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
with Mike Capps on the Round Rock Express (PCL) radio home broadcasts (2010)--and on the Internet on MiLB.com.
External links
