Joe Grace
From BR Bullpen
Joseph Laverne Grace
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut September 24, 1938
- Final Game September 3, 1947
- Born January 5, 1914 in Gorham, IL USA
- Died September 18, 1969 in Murphysboro, IL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Joe Grace specialized in playing for doormat teams. None of his major league teams finished over .500.
Grace was acquired in 1938 from Memphis and spent the end of the 1938 season and 1939-41 with the St. Louis Browns. Grace entered the Army in January 1942 and was discharged in October 1945, so he missed playing for the Browns' pennant-winner in 1944. He came back to St. Louis in 1946, and was traded in mid-season to the 1946 Washington Senators, finishing out his major league career with the 1947 Senators.
Near the end of the 1947 season, he was selected off waivers by the Pirates, but did not appear in the majors with them.
His best year was 1941, when he hit .309. His .410 on-base percentage was sixth in the league in he was also fourth in the league in hit-by-pitch.
He mostly played right field, along with some left field, and in 1940-41 appeared 21 times behind the plate.
The book "Hanging On: How 400 Big Leaguers Coped" gives his minor league stats after his major league days. He was in the PCL at least during 1950-52. He hit .302 in 1951 and .299 in 1952.
