Bobby Grich

At 75 years old, Bobby Grich has this physical status:

Robert Anthony Grich (born January 15, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles (1970–1976) and the California Angels (1977–1986).

In 1981, Grich led the American League in home runs and won the Silver Slugger Award, which is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position.

A six-time All-Star, he also excelled as a defensive player, winning four consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1973 and 1976.

In 1988, Grich became the first inductee into the California Angels Hall of Fame and, in 1998 he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.

Grich currently works in the Angels' front office.

Source

Baseball career

Grich attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, and graduated in 1967. In the first round (19th overall) of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles (19th overall). At the age of 21, Grich made his first major league debut with Baltimore midway through the 1970 season. He struggled early in his career and earned "encouragement" from manager Earl Weaver, who would say "Home run in Rochester" each time he flew out. The Orioles won the World Series in October after defeating the Cincinnati Reds.

The Orioles had a stacked roster from 1969 to 1974, winning five AL East Division titles in six seasons. When the Orioles finished third in the division in 1972, Grich's return was blocked by incumbent second baseman Davey Johnson, but the Orioles remained ardently about him and traded Johnson to the Braves.

In 1973, Grich set a new all-time major league fielding record with a.995 fielding percentage, and 12 seasons later (1985), he broke the record (.997). He has earned four gold Glove Awards and six times in the American League All-Star squad. He was an excellent fielder with good range, soft hands, and a strong arm, and he was always turning the field.

Following the 1976 season, Grich became a free agent and signed a multi-year deal with the California Angels. The Angels originally intended to move Grich to shortstop after finding Jerry Remy at second place. Grich, on the other hand, suffered a herniated disk in his back while moving an air conditioning unit during the 1977 season, playing in only 52 games. For Don Aase, the Angels traded Remy to the Boston Red Sox and pushed Grich back to second for the 1978 season.

In 1979, Grich batted.294, hitting 30 home runs and 101 RBI. Grich, along with Tony Armas, Dwight Evans, and Eddie Murray, led in home runs (2.23) in 1981, a career-high.304.

Grich played for the Orioles in 1973 and 1974, when Baltimore lost to Oakland in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). During Grich's tenure as an ALCS quarterback, the Angels made their first three postseason appearances, but they lost to the Orioles in 1979 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1982. In his last MLB season (1986), Grich came nearest, winning the ALCS 3-1 and needing just one more victory to advance to the World Series. In the ninth inning of Game 5, they blew a 5-2 lead to the Boston Red Sox, but they lost the next two and were eliminated. In Game 5, Grich hit a home run that deflected off center fielder Dave Henderson's glove, putting the Angels on top 3-2. Henderson, who was down to their final strike, sent Boston ahead. Following Game 7, Grich announced his retirement at the age of 37.

Grich batted.266, with 320 doubles, 47 triples, 864 home runs, 8,833 runs, 1,087 bases on balls, 1,313 stolen bases, and a.371 on-base percentage in 2,008 games played in 17 major league seasons. "I was short on talent, so I had to be long on intensity," he said when reflecting on his baseball career.

Source