Bob Grim (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bob Grim |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 8, 1930 New York, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: October 23, 1996 (aged 66) Shawnee, Kansas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 18, 1954, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 24, 1962, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 61–41 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.61 | ||
| Strikeouts | 443 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert Anton Grim (born March 8, 1930 – died October 23, 1996) was a talented pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was known for his strong start with the New York Yankees.
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Bob Grim's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Yankees
Bob Grim was born in New York City. He joined the New York Yankees as a young player in 1948. His first game in the Major Leagues was on April 18, 1954, with the Yankees. He always wore uniform number 55 for the team.
That year, Bob had an amazing season. He won 20 games and lost only 6. This made him the first Yankees rookie since 1910 to win 20 games! He also had a 3.26 earned run average (ERA), which shows how well he prevented runs. Because of his great performance, he was voted the American League Rookie of the Year.
Playing in the World Series
Bob Grim played in two exciting World Series with the Yankees. In 1955, they played against the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1957, they faced the Milwaukee Braves.
By 1957, Bob started having arm problems. This meant he changed his role on the team. He became a "relief pitcher," which means he would come into the game to pitch later on, usually to help the team keep a lead. He was even recognized for leading the American League in "saves" that year with 19. A "save" is when a relief pitcher finishes a close game without letting the other team score too much. Back then, "saves" weren't officially tracked like they are today.
All-Star Game Moment
Bob Grim had a memorable moment in the 1957 All-Star Game. He came in to pitch at the very end of the game. The American League was leading 6–5. Bob got the last batter, Gil Hodges, to hit a fly ball that was caught. This secured the win for his team!
However, in Game 4 of the 1957 World Series, he had a tough moment. He gave up a "walk-off home run" to Eddie Mathews of the Milwaukee Braves. A walk-off home run means the game ends right there because the team that hit it wins.
Moving to Other Teams
In 1958, Bob Grim was traded from the Yankees to the Kansas City Athletics. He played for them for two seasons. In 1960, he moved around quite a bit! He played for three different teams in one year: the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 1961, he played at the Triple-A level, which is a step below Major League Baseball. He returned to the Kansas City Athletics in 1962 for his final season in the MLB. His last Major League game was on May 24, 1962.
Later Life
Bob Grim passed away in Shawnee, Kansas, when he was 66 years old. He suffered a heart attack while playing outside, throwing snowballs with children in his neighborhood.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
