Jim Greengrass
| Jim Greengrass | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: October 24, 1927 Addison, New York, U.S. | |
| Died: September 9, 2019 (aged 91) Chatsworth, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 9, 1952, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1956, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .269 |
| Home runs | 69 |
| Runs batted in | 282 |
| Teams | |
James Raymond Greengrass (October 24, 1927 – September 9, 2019) was an American
right-handed
and was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 200 pounds (91 kg).
Baseball career
Minor leagues
Greengrass was born in
minor league baseball career spanned almost seven full years, including a failed attempt as a pitcher and two years (1946–47) devoted to military duty. Finally, on August 28, 1952, the pennant-bound Yankees packaged Greengrass, who had spent the season in the Double-A Texas League, three other players and cash in a trade to Cincinnati for the Reds' former All-Star pitcher, Ewell Blackwell
.
Cincinnati Redlegs
Away from the Yankees, Greengrass got his chance to play regularly in the major leagues. That September he started 17 games in the Cincinnati outfield, collected 24
Pop Dillon the record for the most doubles hit on the opening day of the Major League Baseball season, with his four two-baggers on April 13, 1954.[2]
Philadelphia Phillies
In 1955, Greengrass collected only four
at bats through April 29. On the following day, April 30, he was traded to the Phillies in a three-for-three deal, and celebrated his arrival by getting two hits and his first 1955 home run in his Philadelphia debut on May 1.[3] He hit safely in his next five games as a Phillie as well. He eventually leveled off, however, to bat .272 with 12 homers in 94 games (including 79 starts in right field) with the Phillies. However, 1955 was his last good year in the majors. His problems with phlebitis began that season[1]
and he struggled through the 1956 campaign, his last year in MLB, hitting .205 with five homers as a backup outfielder.
Greengrass batted .269 lifetime during his big-league service, with his 482 hits including 82 doubles, 16 triples and 69 home runs. Despite his condition, he was able to continue his pro career in the higher levels of minor league baseball into 1961.
Death
Greengrass died in Chatsworth, Georgia, on September 9, 2019.[4]
References
- ^ a b Owens, Tom (March 16, 2010). "Jim Greengrass of Home (in Cincy)". baseballbytheletters.com. Baseball by The Letters. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ "Most Doubles hit in an Opening Day Game". BaseballBunts.com. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs 8, Philadelphia Phillies 7 (1)". retrosheet.org. May 1, 1955. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
- ^ "Obituary for James Raymond Greengrass | Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home". Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet