Burleigh Grimes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burleigh Grimes |
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Grimes, c. 1916
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| Pitcher / Manager | |||
| Born: August 18, 1893 Emerald, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Died: December 6, 1985 (aged 92) Clear Lake, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 10, 1916, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 20, 1934, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 270–212 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.53 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,512 | ||
| Managerial record | 131–171 | ||
| Winning % | .434 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 1964 | ||
| Election Method | Veterans Committee | ||
Burleigh Arland Grimes (born August 18, 1893 – died December 6, 1985) was a famous American professional baseball player and manager. He was the last pitcher officially allowed to throw the spitball. This special pitch, along with his tough look, earned him the nickname "Ol' Stubblebeard."
Grimes had an amazing 19-year career in MLB, winning 270 games. He also played in four World Series. In 1964, he was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Burleigh Grimes was born in Emerald, Wisconsin. His father, Nick Grimes, was a farmer who loved baseball. Nick taught Burleigh how to play the game from a young age. Burleigh also enjoyed boxing as a kid.
Grimes was a right-handed pitcher and batter. He was about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. He began his professional baseball journey in 1912. He played for the Eau Claire Commissioners in the Minnesota–Wisconsin League.
From the very start of his career, Grimes used a special pitch called the spitball. He would use slippery elm to make the baseball slick. This made the ball move in unexpected ways.
Major League Baseball Career
Grimes joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916. He played with them through 1917. Before the 1918 season, he was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1920, baseball decided to ban the spitball. However, Grimes was one of 17 pitchers who were still allowed to throw it. This gave him a unique advantage over other players.
Grimes played for several teams during his career. After the Dodgers, he pitched for the New York Giants in 1927. He then returned to the Pirates from 1928 to 1929. He also played for the Boston Braves in 1930. Later, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals from 1930 to 1931.
In 1928, with the Pirates, Grimes had a fantastic season. He won 25 games and led the National League in several pitching categories. In the 1931 World Series, Grimes helped the Cardinals win. He pitched well in Game 7, even though he had a back injury.
He was traded to the Chicago Cubs before the 1932 season. He later returned to the Cardinals in 1933 and 1934. He also played briefly for the Pirates and the New York Yankees in 1934. His nickname, "Ol' Stubblebeard," came from his habit of not shaving on days he was scheduled to pitch.
Grimes was also a good hitter for a pitcher. He had a .248 batting average during his career. He scored 157 runs and had 168 RBI. In four World Series, he hit an impressive .316.
He was known for his strong desire to win. He wanted to do everything he could to help his team succeed. Grimes played alongside many future Hall of Famers. In fact, he had 36 teammates who later joined him in the Hall of Fame. This is more than any other Hall of Famer.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing days, Grimes continued his career in baseball. In 1935, he became a player-manager for the Bloomington Bloomers. He pitched in 21 games for them. After that, he managed the Louisville Colonels.
Grimes became the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1937 to 1938. Famous baseball legends like Babe Ruth and Leo Durocher were part of his team. After two seasons, he moved on from managing the Dodgers.
He spent many years in baseball as a minor league manager and a scout. He worked as a scout for teams like the Yankees, Athletics, and Orioles. As a scout for the Baltimore Orioles, Grimes helped discover future pitching stars Jim Palmer and Dave McNally. He also helped manage the Independence Yankees where Mickey Mantle started his professional career in 1949.
Later Life and Legacy
Burleigh Grimes was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964. He passed away on December 6, 1985, at the age of 92, after a long illness. He is buried in Clear Lake, Wisconsin.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
- List of members of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
