Emil Gross
| Emil Gross | ||
|---|---|---|
Home runs 7 | | |
| Runs scored | 141 | |
| Teams | ||
| ||
Emil Michael Gross (March 4, 1858 – August 21, 1921), was an American professional
In 1880, Gross established a new major league record by appearing in 87 games as catcher. During his major league career, he appeared in 248 games and compiled a .295
Early years
Gross was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1858.[1] Gross began his professional baseball career playing for the St. Paul Red Caps of the League Alliance in 1877.[2]
Major League Baseball
Providence
In August 1879, Gross made his major league debut with the
In 1880, Gross became the Gray's number one catcher and led the National League's catchers in games played (87), putouts (429), assists (126), errors (86), and passed balls (73).
At the time of the 1880 U.S. Census, in June 1880, Gray registered as a boarder at 150 Broad Street in Providence, the same address registered for teammates Mike McGeary, George Bradley, Jack Farrell, Joe Start, Paul Hines, and John Peters.[5]
Gross returned to Providence in 1881 and was the team's catcher in 50 games. He compiled a .307 batting average and a 1.1 wins above replacement rating. His 37 errors as catcher ranked as the third highest in the National League.[1]
At the end of the 1881 season, Gross was placed on the National League's blacklist upon charges of "general dissipation and insubordination."[6][7]
Philadelphia and after
In 1883, after one year out of baseball, Gross was reinstated from the blacklist and joined the
Gross concluded his major league career in 1884 playing for the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies of the Union Association. Gross hit .358 with a .589 slugging percentage in 23 games in the Union Association.[1] He also played during the 1884 season for Springfield in the Ohio State League and Oil City in the Iron & Oil Association.[2]
When Gross's name was offered as a possible outfielder in 1885, a St. Louis correspondent wrote: "Great Scot! He couldn't judge a flour barrel twenty feet in the air."[8]
Later years
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By 1889, Gross was described as "an extensive property owner in Chicago." His mother had recently left him a sum in excess of $100,000.[9] In 1909, Gross was reported to be a businessman in Chicago.[10] Gross died in 1921 at age 63 in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He was buried in Chicago at Graceland Cemetery.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Emil Gross Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ a b "Emil Gross Minor League Statistics". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "1879 Providence Grays". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Progressive Leaders & Records for Def. Games as C". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ 1880 United States Federal Census; Place: Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: 1212; Family History Film: 1255212; Page: 375C; Enumeration District: 023. Ancestry.com [database on-line].
- ^ Bryan Di Salvatore (1999). A Clever Base-Ballist: The Life and Times of John Montgomery Ward. Pantheon Books. p. 131.
- ^ Dennis Pajot (2009). The Rise of Milwaukee Baseball. McFarland. p. 116.
- ^ "Notes and Comments" (PDF). Sporting Life. May 20, 1885. p. 7.
- ^ "Philadelphia Pointers" (PDF). Sporting Life. May 22, 1889. p. 4.
- ^ "Press Pointers: How Base Ball Appeared In the Much-Talked-About "Good Old Times"" (PDF). Sporting Life. June 5, 1909. p. 4.