Lerrin LaGrow
Encyclopedia
Lerrin Harris LaGrow was a Major League Baseball
pitcher who played 10 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers
(1970, 1972–1975), St. Louis Cardinals
(1976), Chicago White Sox
(1977–1979), Los Angeles Dodgers
(1979), and Philadelphia Phillies
(1980).
, LaGrow attended Arizona State University
in 1968 and 1969 before beginning his professional baseball career.http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/arizona_state_university_baseball_players.shtml He was the Southern League's Player of the Year in 1970. The Tigers brought him up in July 1970, and he had a 7.30 earned run average
in 10 relief appearances. After spending the 1971 season back in the minor leagues, LaGrow rejoined the Tigers in 1972 and 1973, appearing in 37 games, 34 of which were in relief.
of 240) in 16 games. He also pitched 1 scoreless inning in Game 2 of the 1972 American League Championship Series
against the Oakland Athletics
. LaGrow's single inning led to one of the most memorable moments of the 1972 ALCS. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Bert Campaneris
came to bat, having had 3 hits, 2 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in his first 3 at bats in the game. LaGrow's first pitch hit Campaneris in the ankle. Campaneris staggered for a moment, glared at LaGrow and then flung his bat toward LaGrow. The bat spiraled at LaGrow five feet off the ground, but LaGrow ducked, and the bat narrowly missed LaGrow, landing a few feet behind the mound. A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and Tigers manager Billy Martin
had to be restrained by umpires and teammates to prevent him from going after Campaneris. Both LaGrow and Campaneries were suspended for the rest of the ALCS. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Lerrin_LaGrow_1948&page=chronology http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lerrin_LaGrow
. LaGrow pitched in 8 games for the Cardinals with a 1.48 earned run average.
During 1977 and 1978, LaGrow moved to Chicago and became their ace reliever. He appeared in a career high 66 games for the White Sox in 1977 and another 52 in 1978. In 1977, he had 25 saves for the White Sox, third best in the American League. He was also among the league leaders in saves in 1978 with 16.
He finished his career with stints with the Dodgers and Phillies. In 10 seasons he had a 34-55 Win-Loss record in 309 games (67 as a starter), with 19 complete games, 2 shutouts, 140 games finished, 54 saves, 779 innings pitched, 814 hits allowed, 74 home runs allowed, 312 walks allowed, 375 strikeouts, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.445 WHIP.
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...
pitcher who played 10 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1970, 1972–1975), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1976), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1977–1979), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1979), and 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...
(1980).
Early career
Born in Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, LaGrow attended Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in 1968 and 1969 before beginning his professional baseball career.http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/arizona_state_university_baseball_players.shtml He was the Southern League's Player of the Year in 1970. The Tigers brought him up in July 1970, and he had a 7.30 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...
in 10 relief appearances. After spending the 1971 season back in the minor leagues, LaGrow rejoined the Tigers in 1972 and 1973, appearing in 37 games, 34 of which were in relief.
Bert Campaneris bat throwing incident: 1972 ALCS
In 1972, LaGrow had a 1.32 earned run average (Adjusted ERA+Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 240) in 16 games. He also pitched 1 scoreless inning in Game 2 of the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. LaGrow's single inning led to one of the most memorable moments of the 1972 ALCS. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Bert Campaneris
Bert Campaneris
Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco , nicknamed "Campy", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams, primarily the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics...
came to bat, having had 3 hits, 2 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in his first 3 at bats in the game. LaGrow's first pitch hit Campaneris in the ankle. Campaneris staggered for a moment, glared at LaGrow and then flung his bat toward LaGrow. The bat spiraled at LaGrow five feet off the ground, but LaGrow ducked, and the bat narrowly missed LaGrow, landing a few feet behind the mound. A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and Tigers manager Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
had to be restrained by umpires and teammates to prevent him from going after Campaneris. Both LaGrow and Campaneries were suspended for the rest of the ALCS. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Lerrin_LaGrow_1948&page=chronology http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lerrin_LaGrow
Starting pitcher: 1974-1975
In 1974 and 1975, LaGrow became part of the Tigers starting rotation, starting 34 games in 1974 and 26 games in 1975. While LaGrow's earned run average was below average in those 2 years, his record looked even worse, as the 1974 and 1975 Tigers were among the worst teams in franchise history, losing 90 in 1974 and 102 in 1975. In 1974, LaGrow was 8-19, and in 1975 his record was 7-14.White Sox relief ace: 1977-1978
In April 1976, the Tigers sold LaGrow to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. LaGrow pitched in 8 games for the Cardinals with a 1.48 earned run average.
During 1977 and 1978, LaGrow moved to Chicago and became their ace reliever. He appeared in a career high 66 games for the White Sox in 1977 and another 52 in 1978. In 1977, he had 25 saves for the White Sox, third best in the American League. He was also among the league leaders in saves in 1978 with 16.
He finished his career with stints with the Dodgers and Phillies. In 10 seasons he had a 34-55 Win-Loss record in 309 games (67 as a starter), with 19 complete games, 2 shutouts, 140 games finished, 54 saves, 779 innings pitched, 814 hits allowed, 74 home runs allowed, 312 walks allowed, 375 strikeouts, a 4.11 ERA and a 1.445 WHIP.