Mickey Grasso
From BR Bullpen
Newton Michael Grasso
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
- Debut September 18, 1946
- Final Game May 8, 1955
- Born May 10, 1920 in Newark, NJ USA
- Died October 15, 1975 in Miami, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Mickey Grasso caught for seven years in the major leagues, but was also famous for the three years he spent in a German prisoner-of-war camp.
Before he went into the service, he played at Trenton in 1941. He was nicknamed Mickey because he resembled Mickey Cochrane.
In 1954 he appeared in only 4 games during the regular season with the great 1954 Cleveland Indians that won 111 games, but was in one game in the 1954 World Series.
In 1951 he hit a home run in the first American League home Opening Day game played at night.
He became the regular catcher on the 1952 Senators, which had quite a few well-known players, in spite of finishing only 5th in the league. Mickey Vernon played first, Eddie Yost played third, Pete Runnels was at short, Jackie Jensen was in the outfield. The Cuban star Connie Marrero at age 40 won 11 games for the team, and had been the winning pitcher of the 1951 Opening Day night game in which Grasso hit the home run.
