Eli Grba

From BR Bullpen

Eli Grba

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 207 lb.

• Debut July 10, 1959
• Final Game August 4, 1963
• Born August 9, 1934 in Chicago, IL USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

Eli Grba packed a lot of notoriety into a five-year major league career. First, his unusual last name, with its lack of vowels in the middle of the word, got immediate attention. Second, he appeared in the 1960 World Series with the New York Yankees after going 6-4 in the regular season. Third, he was the first pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1960 expansion draft and threw the first pitch in franchise history (Grba got the win in the Angels' first game). He spent his last two seasons in the majors with the Angels.

He was a pretty good hitter for a pitcher, with a lifetime batting average of .219. In 160 career at-bats in the majors, he had 5 doubles and 4 home runs.

He was in the minors in Salisbury in 1953, Corning in 1954, San Jose in 1955, San Francisco in 1956. He was in the military in 1959, and appeared in Richmond in 1960. In 1964 he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs -- by then he seemed to be having difficulties seeing the catcher's signals through his thick spectacles.

He was a pitching coach for various minor league teams from 1982-88, and was a minor league manager in 1989 and 1990. He was a pitching coach again in 1991, and scouted from 1992-97.

[edit] Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

[edit] Related Sites

• Eli Grba's description of his career