Ernest Groth

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Ernest Groth
Pitcher
Born: May 3, 1922
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: December 27, 2004(2004-12-27) (aged 82)
Beaver, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 1947, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
May 4, 1949, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.91
Strikeouts2
Teams

Ernest William Groth (May 3, 1922 – December 27, 2004) was an American

Cleveland Indians during the 1947 and 1948 seasons and the Chicago White Sox during the 1949 season. In four career games, Groth pitched 7⅓ innings and had a 4.91 earned run average
(ERA).

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Groth began his professional career in the Wisconsin State League in 1942. After his rookie season, he spent the next three years serving in the military during World War II. After he returned, he spent more time in the minor leagues, then spent parts of the 1947 and 1948 seasons with the Cleveland Indians. After the end of the 1948 season, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, and played with them in 1949. He spent the next seven seasons pitching in the minor leagues, retiring at the end of the 1956 season. After his retirement, he ran Groth's Nursery and worked for Standard Steel, and died in 2004.

Early life and minor leagues

Groth was born in

Mike Garcia. In 26 games, he pitched in 203 innings, had a 16–10 win–loss record and a 3.59 ERA.[5]

After the 1942 season, Groth spent the following three years serving with the

one-hitter against the Elmira Pioneers in the second game of a doubleheader on August 19.[6] In 29 games, Groth finished with a 13–7 record and a 2.98 ERA.[5] Shortly afterward, he became engaged to Blanche Klein, a fellow graduate of Beaver Falls High.[2]
The two were married shortly after.

Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox

In 1947, Groth was promoted to the Oklahoma City Indians of the Texas League, the Cleveland Indians' AA-class minor league affiliate. In 33 games with Oklahoma City, he threw 180 innings and finished the season with a 7–11 record and a 3.45 ERA.[5] After the minor league season ended in September, Groth was called up to the Cleveland Indians major league roster, and made his debut on September 11, 1947. He pitched in one more game, finishing the season having pitched 1⅓ innings, striking out one batter and not allowing a run.[7]

Groth was looking to stay in the major league in 1948. He spent

Dallas Eagles.[5] After Baltimore's season ended, he was promoted to the Indians' roster, and pitched in one game for the Indians that season.[7]

At the end of the 1948 season, on December 2, the Indians traded Groth to the Chicago White Sox along with Bob Kuzava for Frank Papish.[13] After signing a contract with the White Sox, Groth took part in spring, training alongside many other newcomers to the White Sox, where his pitching performance earned him a place on the major league roster. He pitched in three games for the White Sox, losing one, and finished his tenure with the White Sox with a 5.40 ERA in five innings pitched.[7] After his final game on May 4, the White Sox purchased Ed Klieman and sold Groth to the Kansas City Blues, a New York Yankees minor league team, ending his major league career.[14]

Return to minor leagues

Groth spent the 1949 season with the Kansas City Blues, finishing with a 12–9 record, a 4.28 ERA, and 162 innings pitched.

Washington Senators.[5] He pitched in 26 games for the Lookouts, finishing with a 3–8 record and a 6.29 ERA.[5]

For the next five seasons, Groth played for the Oklahoma City Indians of the Texas League. He was sold to Oklahoma City by Baltimore in December 1951.[18] In his first season with Oklahoma City, he finished with a 15–12 record, a 3.43 ERA, and 207 innings pitched.[5] The following season, Groth started things off with a victory in an early appearance against the Dallas Eagles where he allowed only four hits.[19] He finished the season with an 8–8 record and a 5.37 ERA. In 1954, Groth improved his pitching, finishing the season with a 14–11 record and a 3.75 ERA.[5] After a 9–13 season in 1955, Groth split time between Oklahoma City and the Tulsa Oilers in 1956, finishing the season with a combined 9–16 record.[5] He ended his professional career after the 1956 season.

Later life

After retiring from baseball, Groth returned to his hometown of Beaver Falls. He and his family ran Groth's Nursery, and he worked for Standard Steel until his retirement. He and his wife had three daughters; Elizabeth, Constance, and Suellen. Groth was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He also spent time playing in local golf tournaments. Groth died on December 27, 2004.[1]

References

  1. ^
    Beaver County Times
    . December 29, 2004. p. A4.
  2. ^ a b "Engagement of Blanche Klein, Ernest Groth Is Announced Here". Beaver County Times. August 30, 1946. p. 20.
  3. ^ "East Rochester Nine Downs Chippewa In League Battle". Beaver County Times. June 7, 1941. p. 7.
  4. ^ Anderson, Bill (August 21, 1941). "Sport Slants". Beaver County Times. p. 7.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Ernest Groth Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  6. The Hartford Courant
    . August 20, 1946. p. 13.
  7. ^ a b c "Ernest Groth Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  8. ^ "Indians to Coast; Leave 15 in Camp". The Sporting News. March 17, 1948. p. 20.
  9. ^ "Connie Mack In Dead Heat Race". Kentucky New Era. April 5, 1948. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Baltimore to Retain Pact With Cleveland in Spite of Trouble". The Milwaukee Journal. April 17, 1948. p. 2.
  11. ^ "Orioles Crush Bears As Groth Stars, 13–0". The New York Times. June 2, 1948. p. 38. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  12. ^ "Orioles Down Bears, 1–0; Baltimore Defeats Newark on Three-Hitter by Groth". The New York Times. July 10, 1948. p. 10. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  13. St. Petersburg Times
    . December 3, 1948. p. 25.
  14. ^ "Klieman Sold To White Sox". St. Petersburg Times. May 15, 1949. p. 23.
  15. ^ Slayton, Jack (March 2, 1950). "Five Bombers, One Redbird Miss First Drill". St. Petersburg Times. p. 23.
  16. ^ "Pacific Coast League". The Sporting News. April 26, 1950. p. 28.
  17. Pittsburgh Press
    . January 5, 1951. p. 31.
  18. ^ "Player Transactions". The Sporting News. December 19, 1951. p. 23.
  19. ^ Ratliff, Harold V. (April 13, 1953). "Top-Rated Texas League Clubs Falter". The Victoria Advocate. p. 2.

External links

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