Charlie Grimm facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlie Grimm
Grimm with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1921
First baseman / Manager
Born: (1898-08-28)August 28, 1898 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died: November 15, 1983(1983-11-15) (aged 85) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
debut
July 30, 1916, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last appearance
September 23, 1936, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average	.290
Hits	2,299
Home runs	79
Runs batted in	1,077
Managerial record	1,287–1,067
Winning %	.547
Teams
As player Philadelphia Athletics (1916) St. Louis Cardinals (1918) Pittsburgh Pirates (1919–1924) Chicago Cubs (1925–1936) As manager Chicago Cubs (1932–1938, 1944–1949) Boston / Milwaukee Braves (1952–1956) Chicago Cubs (1960)
Career highlights and awards
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame

Charles John Grimm (born August 28, 1898 – died November 15, 1983) was a famous American professional baseball player and manager. People often called him "Jolly Cholly" because he was so cheerful. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman. He is best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs. Charlie Grimm was also a sports commentator on the radio and a popular person who helped promote baseball. He started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But in 1925, he joined the Cubs and stayed with them for most of his career. Grimm was known for being friendly and talkative. He even played old songs on his left-handed banjo. He is one of the few people who have played in and managed over 2,000 baseball games each.

Playing Baseball

Starting Out with the Pirates (1916–1924)

Charlie Grimm started his major league career in 1916. He joined the Philadelphia Athletics on July 28. Two days later, he played his first game against the Chicago White Sox. He played twelve games for the Athletics, mostly as a pinch hitter or in the outfield.

In 1918, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 50 games. He was usually the first baseman or a pinch hitter. He also spent time with a minor league team called the Little Rock Travelers. In 1919, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates for 14 games. He played very well, hitting .318, and soon became a regular player for them.

In 1920, Grimm played 148 games for the Pirates, mostly at first base. He was a great fielder, making very few errors. He hit his first home run on June 29 against the Chicago Cubs. Over the next few years, he improved his hitting. In 1923, he had a great year, hitting .345.

By 1924, Grimm had played 770 games with the Pirates. He was a very consistent player, rarely missing a game.

Becoming a Chicago Cub (1925–1936)

On October 27, 1924, Charlie Grimm was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He quickly became an important player for the Cubs. In 1925, he played 141 games and hit .306. He was good at getting on base and rarely struck out. He continued to hit over .300 for the Cubs four times.

In 1929, his team, the Cubs, reached the World Series for the first time in eleven years. They played against his old team, the Athletics. Grimm was the only left-handed hitter on the Cubs. He had seven hits in the Series, including a home run. However, the Cubs lost the Series to the Athletics.

In 1932, Charlie Grimm became a player-manager for the Cubs. This means he played on the team and also made decisions as the manager. He led the Cubs to win the National League pennant that year. He played in 149 games and hit .307. He also got his 2,000th hit on July 6 at Wrigley Field. In the 1932 World Series, the Cubs were swept by the New York Yankees.

The next year was his last as a main player. He played fewer games in his final three seasons. Charlie Grimm was known for being a very strong first baseman. He played 2,131 games at first base, which was one of the highest numbers at the time. His 20,711 putouts (when a fielder gets an out) are still one of the most in MLB history. He also led the league in fielding percentage for first basemen seven times.

Over his 20-season career (1916–1936), Grimm played 2,166 games. He had a batting average of .290 with 2,299 hits. He also had 79 home runs and 1,077 RBI. In the 1929 and 1932 World Series, he hit very well, with a .364 batting average.

Leading the Teams

Managing the Chicago Cubs (1932–1949)

On August 2, 1932, Charlie Grimm became the manager of the Chicago Cubs. He helped the team win 37 of their last 55 games. This led them to win the National League pennant, which is like winning their league championship. This was the Cubs' first pennant since 1929. In the 1932 World Series, they lost to the New York Yankees. Grimm stayed as manager for the next seven seasons.

His Cubs teams always finished in the top three places. In 1935, he led them to a fantastic season, winning 100 games. This included an amazing 21-game winning streak in September! In the 1935 World Series, they played the Detroit Tigers. The Cubs fought hard but lost the Series in six games. In 1938, Grimm was moved to the broadcast booth to announce games. Another player, Gabby Hartnett, took over as manager and also led the Cubs to a pennant.

Grimm returned to manage the Cubs in 1944. The team had been struggling, but he helped them improve a lot. In 1945, he led them to win the league pennant again, with 98 wins. In the 1945 World Series, Grimm's team faced the Tigers once more. It was a very close series that went to a seventh game. The Cubs lost the final game. This was the last time the Cubs won a pennant for 71 years. Grimm managed the Cubs for a few more years before stepping down in 1949.

A 1933 Goudey baseball card of Charlie Grimm as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Later Coaching Years (1952–1960)

After leaving the Cubs, Charlie Grimm managed a minor league team called the Dallas Eagles. He had also managed the Milwaukee Brewers minor league team before. He was very popular in Milwaukee because of his German background. He led the Brewers to win league titles in 1943 and 1951.

In 1952, Grimm became the manager of the Boston Braves. He was the last manager for the Boston team before they moved to Milwaukee. He then managed the Milwaukee Braves for their first three years in Wisconsin. In 1954, the Braves won 92 games, which was their best record in years. They continued to have winning seasons. In 1956, Grimm was replaced as manager. The next year, the Braves won the World Series under their new manager.

Grimm came out of retirement to manage the Cubs again briefly in 1960. He later worked as a coach and in the front office for the Cubs. He was part of the Cubs' "College of Coaches" in 1961, which was a unique idea where several coaches shared the manager's duties.

What Made Him Great?

Charlie Grimm finished his managerial career with 1,287 wins and 1,067 losses. He won three league pennants (championships) as a manager. His 946 wins as a Cubs manager are the second most in the team's history. He managed for 19 seasons and usually had winning teams. Only a few managers have won more than 200 games more than they lost, and Grimm is one of them.

Even though he won many games and three pennants, Charlie Grimm is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball historian Bill James said that Grimm ranks among some of the best managers in history, just below the top 10.

Managerial Record

After Baseball

After he retired from baseball, Charlie Grimm lived near Lake Koshkonong in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. He passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, at age 85, from cancer. His wife was allowed to spread his ashes on Wrigley Field, which is a special honor.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
• List of Major League Baseball managers by wins
• List of Major League Baseball player-managers