Harley Grossman

From BR Bullpen

Harley Joseph Grossman

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
School Ball State University
Debut April 22, 1952
Final Game April 22, 1952
Born May 5, 1930 in Evansville, IN USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Indiana Native Harley Grossman never raced automobiles or motorcycles but did make a run for the major leagues when he made the Washington Senators out of spring training in 1952. Called in to pitch in relief against the Red Sox at Fenway Park he allowed a couple of base hits, including a home run to Walt Dropo, and was sent down to Chattanooga never to return to the majors to get a chance to lower his 54.00 ERA.

Harley was signed as an amateur free agent by the Senators before the 1949 season and spent his first two seasons with the Fulton Railroaders of the Kitty League where he went 19-10 with a 3.48 ERA in his first year and returned in 1950 to win 13 and lose 8 with a 2.77 ERA.

1951 would see him with the Charlotte Hornets of the Tri-State League where he won 10 and lost but 2, with a 2.18 ERA. After his bad luck in the major leagues early in 1952, Harley would spend the rest of the year with the Chattanooga Lookouts, where he would go 1-1, pitching 40 innings, mostly in relief.

Grossman, who was the second player from Ball State College, (that became Ball State University in 1965,) to play in the major leagues, just four years behind Hal Rice who came up with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1948, would spend his last season in pro baseball with the Scranton Miners of the Eastern League in 1953, going 4-9 with a 5.21 ERA.

Harley who would have five seasons in pro baseball (1949-53) put together some good stats in his run in the minor leagues. The righthander appeared in 150 contests, won 47 and lost 30, while pitching 624 innings, giving up 619 base hits along with 199 base on balls for a career 3.41 ERA.

Grossman, who was the father-in-law of former major league player and coach, Harry Spilman, left baseball after the 1953 season to attend the University of Evansville. He would become a securities company manager in Evansville, IN, before being disabled by a stroke several years later. Grossman would die on September 5, 2003. He was 73 years old.