| Joe Grzenda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1937-06-08)June 8, 1937 Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: July 12, 2019(2019-07-12) (aged 82) Covington Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 26, 1961, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 23, 1972, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 14–13 |
| Earned run average | 4.00 |
| Strikeouts | 173 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Joseph Charles Grzenda (June 8, 1937 – July 12, 2019) was an American professionalbaseballrelief pitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for eight seasons (1961; 1964–1967; 1969–1972) for theDetroit Tigers,Kansas City Athletics,New York Mets,Minnesota Twins,Washington Senators andSt. Louis Cardinals. Born inScranton, Pennsylvania, he stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). His professional career lasted for 20 seasons (1955–1974) and included 492 appearances in theminor leagues.
Grzenda was aleft-handed sidearm pitcher who pitched in 219 Major Leaguegames, all but three games as arelief pitcher. His best season statistics-wise was in 1971 for theWashington Senators, when he earned five victories with an excellent 1.92earned run average (ERA). All told, he posted a 14–13won–lost record and an even 4.00earned run average in the big leagues, with 14saves. In 308innings pitched, he surrendered 323hits and 120bases on balls, and notched 173strikeouts.
Not known for his hitting ability, Grzenda once grounded out to third base inRFK Stadium and received a standing ovation. On September 30, 1971, he became the last pitcher in the franchise's tenure at Washington, D.C., getting two outs in the top of the ninth inning before fans, knowing the team would be leaving forDallas–Fort Worth after the season to become theTexas Rangers, stormed the RFK Stadium field, causing a forfeit. Thirty-four years later, when baseball returned to the nation's capital, Grzenda returned to the RFK field before theWashington Nationals' first home game, handingGeorge W. Bush the ball he would use to throw out the first pitch.
As a fielder, Grzenda was charged with no errors during his eight-year career for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (6 putouts, 66 assists).[1] In 1969 he made an appearance in theALCS for theMinnesota Twins.
Grzenda died at his home inCovington Township, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 2019.[2]
