Alex Grammas facts for kids

Alexander Peter Grammas (April 3, 1926 – September 13, 2019) was an American professional baseball player, manager, and coach. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Grammas played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Chicago Cubs. He threw and batted with his right hand. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. Grammas's family came from Agios Dimitrios near Sparta, Greece.

Playing Career Highlights

Grammas went to Mississippi State University. He started his baseball journey by signing with the Chicago White Sox in 1949. He played in their minor league system, which is like a training ground for young players. In 1951, he joined the Cincinnati Reds' organization.

In 1953, Grammas played for the New York Yankees' top minor league team, the Kansas City Blues. He had a great year, getting 179 hits and batting .307. This means he got a hit in about 30.7% of his turns at bat. He was even named an All-Star shortstop in his league.

The Cincinnati Redlegs traded Grammas to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1953. He played for both the Cardinals and the Redlegs several times during the 1950s. In 1962, he joined the Chicago Cubs and finished his playing career there in 1963.

Grammas was the starting shortstop for the Cardinals in 1954, 1955, and 1959. He was known for his good fielding skills. He played in 913 MLB games over ten seasons. He got 512 hits, including 90 doubles, ten triples, and 12 home runs. He also had 163 runs batted in (RBIs). His lifetime batting average was .247.

Manager and Coach Roles

After his playing days, Grammas became a manager and coach. In 1964, he managed a minor league team for the Cubs. He then became a third base coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965. A third base coach helps players know when to run to the next base.

In 1969, Grammas briefly became the manager for the Pirates. He then returned to the Cincinnati Reds as a third base coach. He was part of the famous "Big Red Machine" teams from 1970 to 1975. These teams were very successful, winning the World Series in 1975.

In 1975, the Milwaukee Brewers hired Grammas as their manager. The team's president, Bud Selig, said Grammas was the best choice. However, the Brewers struggled under Grammas, finishing in sixth place in their division in 1976 and 1977. He ended his managing career with a record of 137 wins and 191 losses.

Grammas went back to coaching in 1978 with the Reds. He then coached for the Atlanta Braves in 1979. In 1980, he joined the Detroit Tigers as their third base coach. He stayed with the Tigers for 12 years, helping them win the World Series in 1984.

Death

Alex Grammas passed away at his home in Birmingham, Alabama on September 13, 2019.