Pete Grey: A Baseball Oddity

If you learn in regards to the historical past of baseball, acquainted names frequently pop up. Ruth Gehrig, Dimaggio, Mantle, Robinson are all names common with baseball fans. Let me share with you the story of 1 participant that does not come up in lots of conversations, however this fellow was definitely probably the most distinctive participant within the historical past of the game.

His name was Pete Grey and his entry into professional ball was fairly an auspicious one. We first see his profession start within the Canadian-American League in 1942. Enjoying the outfield for the Trois-Rivieres crew, Pete wound up the yr main the league in hitting with a lofty.381 batting common. From that nice begin, he was promoted to Memphis within the Southern Affiliation. As a member of the Memphis Chicks, he hit a decent.289 in 1943. The next yr Pete actually hit his stride punishing Southern Affiliation pitching at a.333 clip.

After three wonderful years within the minor leagues, Pete was referred to as as much as the majors by the St. Louis Browns. Now the Browns had received the pennant in 1944, so they’d a reasonably good crew throughout the warfare years when lots of the stars have been off preventing our enemies. Pete did not honest as effectively with Main League pitching as he had within the minors, however in 253 plate appearances, he solely struck out 11 instances. His batting common dropped off to.218 and by 1946 Pete was again within the minor leagues. He continued for 4 extra years within the minors and by 1949 he was out of baseball 강남야구장.

Now why am I telling you this story? It will appear that Pete was like 1000’s of different younger men who got here by way of the minors and when given an opportunity within the large present, did not ship sufficient to stick with the Main League membership. Here is the place the story will get attention-grabbing. One summer season day in 1945 once I was seven years old, my dad took me to Yankee Stadium to see my heroes. I liked baseball however bear in mind there was no tv. We had good seats and we arrived early sufficient to see batting and fielding observe. The Browns have been on the town and so they have been within the area hitting fungoes to the outfielders. I watched Pete in left area going by way of his paces. He did the whole lot very easily. In the course of the game Pete carried out effectively. He received a few hits and all in all it was a superb day. So what made Pete so totally different that I am devoting an entire weblog to him? What was superb about Pete was the truth that he solely had one arm. He had misplaced his proper arm in a farming accident.

Being a professional baseball participant myself, I understand how troublesome it’s to do the issues needed to achieve baseball with two arms. To perform what Pete did with solely his left arm is one thing that to today nonetheless appears virtually unattainable to me. Pete was really an instance of American Exceptionalism.

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