Jump to content

Billy Grabarkewitz: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Docsteroo (talk | contribs)
25 edits
m →Los Angeles Dodgers: added hyphen to legitimize term "write-in"
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit
 
(24 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Billy Grabarkewitz
|name = Billy Grabarkewitz
Line 5: Line 7:
|position = [[Third baseman]] / [[Second baseman]]
|position = [[Third baseman]] / [[Second baseman]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|1|18}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|1|18}}
|birth_place= [[Lockhart, Texas]]
|birth_place= [[Lockhart, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_date =
|bats =Right
|bats =Right
Line 25: Line 27:
|stat3value =141
|stat3value =141
|teams =
|teams =
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{by|1969}}–{{by|1972}})
* [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1972}})
*[[California Angels]] ({{by|1973}})
* [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] ({{mlby|1973}})
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] (1973–{{by|1974}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1973}}–{{mlby|1974}})
*[[Chicago Cubs]] (1974)
* [[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|1974}})
*[[Oakland Athletics]] ({{by|1975}})
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1975}})
| highlights =
| highlights =
*[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1970]])
*[[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1970]])
}}
}}

'''Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz''' (born January 18, 1946) is a retired [[Major League Baseball]] [[infielder]].
'''Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz''' (born January 18, 1946) is an American former [[professional baseball]] [[infielder]], who played seven years in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).


==Early years==
==Early years==
Grabarkewitz lettered in [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[american football|football]], [[golf]] and [[Track and field|track]] at [[Alamo Heights High School]], and in {{by|1963}}, he played for the now defunct [[Bourne Braves|Sagamore Clouters]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> After high school, he attended [[St. Mary's University, Texas|St. Mary's University]] in nearby [[San Antonio, Texas]] for two years before being selected by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the twelfth round of the [[1966 Major League Baseball draft]].
Grabarkewitz lettered in [[baseball]], [[basketball]], [[american football|football]], [[golf]] and [[Track and field|track]] at [[Alamo Heights High School]], and in {{by|1963}}, he played for the now defunct [[Bourne Braves|Sagamore Clouters]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}}</ref> After high school, he attended [[St. Mary's University, Texas|St. Mary's University]] in nearby [[San Antonio, Texas]] for two years before being selected by the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the twelfth round of the [[1966 Major League Baseball draft]].


Grabarkewitz immediately impressed in his first professional season. The [[second baseman]] clubbed eleven [[home run]]s and scored a [[Northwest League]] leading 62 [[run (baseball)|runs]] for the [[Duke Snider]] led [[Tri-City Atoms]] to lead the team to its second straight title. In {{by|1967}}, Grabarkewitz was shifted to [[shortstop]] with the [[California League]]'s [[Santa Barbara Dodgers]], and continued to impress with his bat. He led his club with 24 home runs, and his 122 runs scored were nearly double his nearest competitor. All told, Grabarkewitz batted .283 with 48 home runs, 157 [[runs batted in]] and 287 runs scored over his minor league career when he made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 22, {{by|1969}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196904220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 0|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|location=[[Dodger Stadium]]|date=April 22, 1969}}</ref>
Grabarkewitz immediately impressed in his first professional season. The [[second baseman]] clubbed eleven [[home run]]s and scored a [[Northwest League]] leading 62 [[run (baseball)|runs]] for the [[Duke Snider]] led [[Tri-City Atoms]] to lead the team to its second straight title. In {{by|1967}}, Grabarkewitz was shifted to [[shortstop]] with the [[California League]]'s [[Santa Barbara Dodgers]], and continued to impress with his bat. He led his club with 24 home runs, and his 122 runs scored were nearly double his nearest competitor. In {{by|1968}}, Grabarkewitz won the "Fastest Dodger in [[Spring training]]", beating out [[Willie Davis (baseball)|Willie Davis]], [[Bill Russell (shortstop)|Bill Russell]] and [[Bobby Valentine]]. After beginning the season with the [[Texas League]]'s [[Albuquerque Dodgers]], Grabarkewitz was slated to join the Dodgers on August 3, when he broke his ankle & leg in six places in a home plate collision the very day he was to be called up. According to Dodgers orthopedist, Dr. [[Frank Jobe]], the injury was so severe he likely would not ever play again.


Grabarkewitz was given the opportunity to earn the Dodgers' starting shortstop job, but struggled in that role. He was batting .120 with five RBIs and no home runs when the Dodgers reacquired Dodgers legend [[Maury Wills]] from the [[Montreal Expos]] for [[Ron Fairly]] and [[Paul Popovich]] on June 11. Shortly afterwards, Grabarkewitz was reassigned to the triple A [[Spokane Indians]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]], where he played all over the [[infield]]. He returned to the majors in late July, and was hitless in fifteen [[at bat]]s through the rest of the season.
All told, Grabarkewitz batted .283 with 48 home runs, 157 [[runs batted in]] and 287 runs scored over his minor league career when he made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 22, {{by|1969}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196904220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 0|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|date=April 22, 1969}}</ref> Grabarkewitz was given the opportunity to earn the Dodgers' starting shortstop job, but struggled in that role. He was batting .120 with five RBIs and no home runs when the Dodgers reacquired Dodgers legend [[Maury Wills]] from the [[Montreal Expos]] for [[Ron Fairly]] and [[Paul Popovich]] on June 11. Shortly afterwards, Grabarkewitz was reassigned to the triple A [[Spokane Indians]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]], where he played all over the [[infield]]. He returned to the majors in late July, and was hitless in fifteen [[at bat]]s through the rest of the season.


==Los Angeles Dodgers==
==Los Angeles Dodgers==
Grabarkewitz began the {{by|1970}} season at second base, but shifted over to third by the end of April. Following a 2-for-3 performance against the [[San Francisco Giants]] on May 17, Grabarkewitz's [[batting average]] peaked at a season high of .420,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197005170.shtml|title=Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 0|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=Dodger Stadium|date=May 17, 1970}}</ref> and earned him serious consideration as a write in candidate for the [[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/06/15/a-booboo-or-baby-for-bowie|last=Leggett|first=William|date=June 15, 1970|title=A Boo Boo or Baby for Bowie|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Though his campaign was unsuccessful (the [[Cincinnati Reds]]' [[Tony Pérez]] was elected), [[National League]] [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Gil Hodges]] selected Grabarkewitz as one of his reserve position players. Grabarkewitz entered the game in the seventh inning, and [[hit (baseball)|hit]] a two [[out (baseball)|out]] [[Single (baseball)|single]] in the bottom of the twelfth [[inning]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1970-allstar-game.shtml|title=1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|website=Baseball-Reference.com|location=[[Riverfront Stadium]]|date=July 14, 1970}}</ref> that set up the famous [[Pete Rose]]/[[Ray Fosse]] collision at the plate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13223207/ray-fosse-pete-rose-all-star-game-collision-shook-marion-ill|last=Wulf|first=Steve|date=July 9, 2015|title=The Place Where Ray Fosse and Pete Rose Collide|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
Grabarkewitz began the {{by|1970}} season at second base, but shifted over to third when [[Steve Garvey]] was demoted to Spokane. Following a 2-for-3 performance against the [[San Francisco Giants]] on May 17, Grabarkewitz's [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] peaked at a season high of .420,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN197005170.shtml|title=Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 0|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=May 17, 1970}}</ref> and earned him serious consideration as a write-in candidate for the [[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1970/06/15/a-booboo-or-baby-for-bowie|last=Leggett|first=William|date=June 15, 1970|title=A Boo Boo or Baby for Bowie|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> Though his campaign was unsuccessful (the [[Cincinnati Reds]]' [[Tony Pérez]] was elected), [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Gil Hodges]] selected Grabarkewitz as one of his reserve position players. Grabarkewitz entered the game in the seventh inning, and [[hit (baseball)|hit]] a two [[out (baseball)|out]] [[Single (baseball)|single]] in the bottom of the twelfth [[inning]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1970-allstar-game.shtml|title=1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=July 14, 1970}}</ref> that set up the infamous [[Pete Rose]]/[[Ray Fosse]] collision at the plate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13223207/ray-fosse-pete-rose-all-star-game-collision-shook-marion-ill|last=Wulf|first=Steve|date=July 9, 2015|title=The Place Where Ray Fosse and Pete Rose Collide|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>


Grabarkewitz's batting average was .341 at the time of the All-Star game, and he was embroiled in a battle for the NL batting crown with [[Rico Carty]] and [[Roberto Clemente]]. However, he batted only .232 over the remainder of the season, and ended the season with a .289 average. He led the Dodgers with a .399 [[on-base percentage]] and seventeen home runs, and tied with [[Willie Davis (baseball)|Willie Davis]] for a team leading 92 runs scored. He also set a Dodgers franchise record by [[strikeout|striking out]] 149 times.
Grabarkewitz's batting average was .341 at the time of the All-Star game, and he was embroiled in a battle for the NL batting crown with [[Rico Carty]] and [[Roberto Clemente]]. However, he batted only .232 over the remainder of the season, and ended the season with a .289 average. Regardless, he led the Dodgers with a .399 [[on-base percentage]] and seventeen home runs, and tied with Willie Davis for a team leading 92 runs scored. He also set a Dodgers franchise record by [[strikeout|striking out]] 149 times. And, per Dr. Frank Jobe, “led the league in x-rays”.


During the off season, the Dodgers dealt second baseman [[Ted Sizemore]] and minor league [[catcher]] [[Bob Stinson (baseball)|Bob Stinson]] to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[third baseman]] [[Dick Allen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/biggest-trades-in-dodgers-history-1958-to-1972|last=Cole|first=Howard|date=March 17, 2020|title=Biggest Trades in Dodgers History, 1958 to 1972|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> with the intention of shifting Grabarkewitz back to second. However, a [[Spring training]] arm injury limited Grabarkewitz's services to start the season, and caused him to miss the entire month of August. He appeared in 44 games in {{by|1971}}, mostly as a [[pinch hitter]] or [[pinch runner]], and batted .225 with six RBIs and no home runs. Similarly, injuries limited Grabarkewitz to 53 games and a .167 average in {{by|1972}}. After the season, he was traded with [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Frank Robinson]], [[Bill Singer]], [[Mike Strahler]] and [[Bobby Valentine]] to the [[California Angels]] for [[Ken McMullen (baseball)|Ken McMullen]] and [[Andy Messersmith]].
During the off season, the Dodgers dealt second baseman [[Ted Sizemore]] and minor league [[catcher]] [[Bob Stinson (baseball)|Bob Stinson]] to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[third baseman]] [[Dick Allen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/biggest-trades-in-dodgers-history-1958-to-1972|last=Cole|first=Howard|date=March 17, 2020|title=Biggest Trades in Dodgers History, 1958 to 1972|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> with the intention of shifting Grabarkewitz back to second. Unfortunately, a [[Spring training]] arm injury limited Grabarkewitz's services to start the season, and caused him to miss the entire month of August. He appeared in 44 games in {{by|1971}}, mostly as a [[pinch hitter]] or [[pinch runner]], and batted .225 with six RBIs and no home runs. Similarly, injuries limited Grabarkewitz to 53 games and a .167 average in {{by|1972}}. After the season, he was traded with [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Frank Robinson]], [[Bill Singer]], [[Mike Strahler]] and Bobby Valentine to the [[California Angels]] for [[Ken McMullen (baseball)|Ken McMullen]] and [[Andy Messersmith]].


==California Angels==
==California Angels==
The Angels used Grabarkewitz at second, third and short, and even tried him in the [[outfield]] and the newly formed [[designated hitter]] position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/glossary/rules/designated-hitter-rule|title=Designated Hitter Rule|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Nothing seemed to click, as Grabarkewitz's average never climbed above .200 after April. On August 14, he was traded to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for a [[player to be named later]].
The Angels used Grabarkewitz at second, third and short, and even tried him in the [[outfield]] and the newly formed [[designated hitter]] position,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/glossary/rules/designated-hitter-rule|title=Designated Hitter Rule|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> however, the shoulder and [[ankle problems]] continued, as Grabarkewitz's average never climbed above .200 after April.


==Philadelphia Phillies==
==Philadelphia Phillies==
Returning to the National League seemed to rejuvenate Grabarkewitz. He appeared in 25 of the Phillies' final 41 games, mostly at second, and batted .288. However, with All-Stars [[Dave Cash]], [[Larry Bowa]] and [[Mike Schmidt]] in Philadelphia's infield, Grabarkewitz saw very little playing time in {{by|1974}}. He was used exclusively as a pinch hitter or pinch runner to start off the season, and didn't need his glove at all until the 45th game of the season. With his average at .133 with one home run and two RBIs, Grabarkewitz went to the [[Chicago Cubs]] midway through the season for cash considerations.
Grabarkewitz's contract was sold by the Angels to the [[1973 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] on August 14, 1973 in a transaction that was completed four months later at the [[Winter Meetings]] on December 6 when [[Denny Doyle]] was sent to California for [[Aurelio Monteagudo]] and [[Chris Coletta]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19731207&id=uk0iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k6wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=998,3299850 Rappoport, Ken. "National League Tentatively Agrees to Move Padres to Washington, D.C." ''The Associated Press'' (AP), Friday, December 7, 1973.] Retrieved December 23, 2022.</ref> Returning to the National League seemed to rejuvenate him. He appeared in 25 of the Phillies' final 41 games, mostly at second, and batted .288. However, during the off season, the Phillies acquired [[Dave Cash (baseball)|Dave Cash]] from the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]]. With All-Stars Cash, [[Larry Bowa]] and [[Mike Schmidt]] around Philadelphia's infield, Grabarkewitz saw very little playing time in {{by|1974}}. He was used exclusively as a pinch hitter or pinch runner to start off the season, and didn't need his glove at all until the 45th game of the season. With his average at .133 with one home run and two RBIs, Grabarkewitz went to the [[Chicago Cubs]] midway through the season for cash considerations.


==Chicago Cubs==
He played [[third baseman|third base]], [[second baseman|second base]], and [[shortstop]] in the Major Leagues from 1969 to 1975. His best season was 1970, when he was the starting third baseman for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and was selected as an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]].
The Cubs were battling injuries, and had something of a revolving door at second base until Grabarkewitz's arrival. He took over the job, and batted a respectable .248 over the rest of the season while also playing some short. His only home run as a Cub came against the Phillies on July 26.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197407260.shtml|title=Chicago Cubs 10, Philadelphia Phillies 7|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=July 26, 1974}}</ref> Once again Grabarkewitz saw his club acquire a young prospect second baseman when the Cubs received [[Manny Trillo]] from the [[Oakland Athletics]] in a package for [[Billy Williams]].

==Oakland A's==
Grabarkewitz was released during Spring training {{by|1975}}, and joined his friend Williams with Oakland two days before the season started. He spent most of the season with Oakland, but appeared in only his sixth game before breaking his ribs and shoulder from a collision with the [[Kansas City Royals]]' [[Hal McRae]]. He was assigned to the Pacific Coast League's [[Tucson Toros]] to rehab. He batted .279 with eight home runs and forty RBIs for Tucson but he never recovered from his injuries. He was credited service for the entire 1975 ML season with Oakland and retired at seasons end.

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Games
|[[Plate appearance|PA]]
|[[At bat|AB]]
|[[Run (baseball)|Runs]]
|[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|[[Double (baseball)|2B]]
|[[Triple (baseball)|3B]]
|[[Home runs|HR]]
|[[Runs batted in|RBI]]
|[[Stolen bases|SB]]
|[[Base on balls|BB]]
|[[Strikeout|SO]]
|[[Hit by pitch|HBP]]
|[[Batting average (baseball)|Avg.]]
|[[Slugging percentage|Slg.]]
|[[Fielding percentage|Fld%]]
|-
|466
|1390
|1161
|189
|274
|41
|12
|28
|141
|33
|202
|321
|10
|.236
|.364
|.960
|}
Grabarkewitz was part of a core of young Dodgers prospects that became known as "The Mod Squad" after the popular [[The Mod Squad|TV series of the same name]], and appeared on the cover of the May 19, 1969 edition of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', along with his fellow Mod Squad members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1969/05/19/some-kids-make-a-sad-man-happy|last=Leggett|first=William|date=May 19, 1969|title=Some Kids Make a Sad Man Happy|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> In {{by|1977}}, he became an independent life insurance agent in San Antonio. In {{by|2000}}, Grabarkewitz founded Southwest Marketing Alliance in [[Dallas, Texas]], and now has over 1,200 agents in his national hierarchy. He resides in [[Colleyville, Texas]] and [[Hilton Head, South Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swmalife.com/about.html|title=SMA's Mission: Recruit & Reward The Quality Independent Agents & Agencies|website=swmalife.com/index.html}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 61: Line 107:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Baseballstats|mlb=115001|espn=22214|br=g/grababi01|fangraphs=1004907|brm=grabar001bil|retro=G/Pgrabb101}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=115001|espn=22214|br=g/grababi01|fangraphs=1004907|brm=grabar001bil|retro=G/Pgrabb101}}
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/4c0f2e4e Billy Grabarkewitz] at the [[Society for American Baseball Research]]
*[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/4c0f2e4e Billy Grabarkewitz] at [[Society for American Baseball Research]]


{{DEFAULTSORT:Grabarkewitz, Billy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grabarkewitz, Billy}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball third basemen]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Albuquerque Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Texas]]
[[Category:Arizona Instructional League Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Caldwell County, Texas]]
⚫
[[Category:Bourne Braves players]]
[[Category:California Angels players]]
[[Category:California Angels players]]
⚫
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
[[Category:Oakland Athletics players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball third basemen]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Oakland Athletics players]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Lockhart, Texas]]
⚫
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:St. Mary's Rattlers baseball players]]
[[Category:St. Mary's Rattlers baseball players]]
⚫
[[Category:Texas State Bobcats baseball players]]
⚫
[[Category:Tri-City Atoms players]]
[[Category:Santa Barbara Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Santa Barbara Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Arizona Instructional League Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Albuquerque Dodgers players]]
[[Category:Spokane Indians players]]
[[Category:Spokane Indians players]]
⚫
[[Category:Texas State Bobcats baseball players]]
⚫
[[Category:Tri-City Atoms players]]
[[Category:Tucson Toros players]]
[[Category:Tucson Toros players]]
⚫
[[Category:People from Lockhart, Texas]]
⚫
[[Category:Bourne Braves players]]

Latest revision as of 14:29, 8 July 2024

Billy Grabarkewitz
Third baseman / Second baseman
Born: (1946-01-18) January 18, 1946 (age 78)
Lockhart, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 22, 1969, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
April 25, 1975, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average.236
Home runs28
Runs batted in141
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz (born January 18, 1946) is an American former professional baseball infielder, who played seven years in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early years

[edit]

Grabarkewitz lettered in baseball, basketball, football, golf and track at Alamo Heights High School, and in 1963, he played for the now defunct Sagamore Clouters of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] After high school, he attended St. Mary's University in nearby San Antonio, Texas for two years before being selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the twelfth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball draft.

Grabarkewitz immediately impressed in his first professional season. The second baseman clubbed eleven home runs and scored a Northwest League leading 62 runs for the Duke Snider led Tri-City Atoms to lead the team to its second straight title. In 1967, Grabarkewitz was shifted to shortstop with the California League's Santa Barbara Dodgers, and continued to impress with his bat. He led his club with 24 home runs, and his 122 runs scored were nearly double his nearest competitor. In 1968, Grabarkewitz won the "Fastest Dodger in Spring training", beating out Willie Davis, Bill Russell and Bobby Valentine. After beginning the season with the Texas League's Albuquerque Dodgers, Grabarkewitz was slated to join the Dodgers on August 3, when he broke his ankle & leg in six places in a home plate collision the very day he was to be called up. According to Dodgers orthopedist, Dr. Frank Jobe, the injury was so severe he likely would not ever play again.

All told, Grabarkewitz batted .283 with 48 home runs, 157 runs batted in and 287 runs scored over his minor league career when he made his major league debut with the Dodgers on April 22, 1969.[2] Grabarkewitz was given the opportunity to earn the Dodgers' starting shortstop job, but struggled in that role. He was batting .120 with five RBIs and no home runs when the Dodgers reacquired Dodgers legend Maury Wills from the Montreal Expos for Ron Fairly and Paul Popovich on June 11. Shortly afterwards, Grabarkewitz was reassigned to the triple A Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League, where he played all over the infield. He returned to the majors in late July, and was hitless in fifteen at bats through the rest of the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers

[edit]

Grabarkewitz began the 1970 season at second base, but shifted over to third when Steve Garvey was demoted to Spokane. Following a 2-for-3 performance against the San Francisco Giants on May 17, Grabarkewitz's batting average peaked at a season high of .420,[3] and earned him serious consideration as a write-in candidate for the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[4] Though his campaign was unsuccessful (the Cincinnati Reds' Tony Pérez was elected), National League manager Gil Hodges selected Grabarkewitz as one of his reserve position players. Grabarkewitz entered the game in the seventh inning, and hit a two out single in the bottom of the twelfth inning[5] that set up the infamous Pete Rose/Ray Fosse collision at the plate.[6]

Grabarkewitz's batting average was .341 at the time of the All-Star game, and he was embroiled in a battle for the NL batting crown with Rico Carty and Roberto Clemente. However, he batted only .232 over the remainder of the season, and ended the season with a .289 average. Regardless, he led the Dodgers with a .399 on-base percentage and seventeen home runs, and tied with Willie Davis for a team leading 92 runs scored. He also set a Dodgers franchise record by striking out 149 times. And, per Dr. Frank Jobe, “led the league in x-rays”.

During the off season, the Dodgers dealt second baseman Ted Sizemore and minor league catcher Bob Stinson to the St. Louis Cardinals for third baseman Dick Allen[7] with the intention of shifting Grabarkewitz back to second. Unfortunately, a Spring training arm injury limited Grabarkewitz's services to start the season, and caused him to miss the entire month of August. He appeared in 44 games in 1971, mostly as a pinch hitter or pinch runner, and batted .225 with six RBIs and no home runs. Similarly, injuries limited Grabarkewitz to 53 games and a .167 average in 1972. After the season, he was traded with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, Mike Strahler and Bobby Valentine to the California Angels for Ken McMullen and Andy Messersmith.

California Angels

[edit]

The Angels used Grabarkewitz at second, third and short, and even tried him in the outfield and the newly formed designated hitter position,[8] however, the shoulder and ankle problems continued, as Grabarkewitz's average never climbed above .200 after April.

Philadelphia Phillies

[edit]

Grabarkewitz's contract was sold by the Angels to the Philadelphia Phillies on August 14, 1973 in a transaction that was completed four months later at the Winter Meetings on December 6 when Denny Doyle was sent to California for Aurelio Monteagudo and Chris Coletta.[9] Returning to the National League seemed to rejuvenate him. He appeared in 25 of the Phillies' final 41 games, mostly at second, and batted .288. However, during the off season, the Phillies acquired Dave Cash from the Pittsburgh Pirates. With All-Stars Cash, Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt around Philadelphia's infield, Grabarkewitz saw very little playing time in 1974. He was used exclusively as a pinch hitter or pinch runner to start off the season, and didn't need his glove at all until the 45th game of the season. With his average at .133 with one home run and two RBIs, Grabarkewitz went to the Chicago Cubs midway through the season for cash considerations.

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

The Cubs were battling injuries, and had something of a revolving door at second base until Grabarkewitz's arrival. He took over the job, and batted a respectable .248 over the rest of the season while also playing some short. His only home run as a Cub came against the Phillies on July 26.[10] Once again Grabarkewitz saw his club acquire a young prospect second baseman when the Cubs received Manny Trillo from the Oakland Athletics in a package for Billy Williams.

Oakland A's

[edit]

Grabarkewitz was released during Spring training 1975, and joined his friend Williams with Oakland two days before the season started. He spent most of the season with Oakland, but appeared in only his sixth game before breaking his ribs and shoulder from a collision with the Kansas City Royals' Hal McRae. He was assigned to the Pacific Coast League's Tucson Toros to rehab. He batted .279 with eight home runs and forty RBIs for Tucson but he never recovered from his injuries. He was credited service for the entire 1975 ML season with Oakland and retired at seasons end.

Career statistics

[edit]
Games PA AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO HBP Avg. Slg. Fld%
466 1390 1161 189 274 41 12 28 141 33 202 321 10 .236 .364 .960

Grabarkewitz was part of a core of young Dodgers prospects that became known as "The Mod Squad" after the popular TV series of the same name, and appeared on the cover of the May 19, 1969 edition of Sports Illustrated, along with his fellow Mod Squad members.[11] In 1977, he became an independent life insurance agent in San Antonio. In 2000, Grabarkewitz founded Southwest Marketing Alliance in Dallas, Texas, and now has over 1,200 agents in his national hierarchy. He resides in Colleyville, Texas and Hilton Head, South Carolina.[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "San Francisco Giants 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 0". Baseball-Reference.com. April 22, 1969.
  3. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers 8, San Francisco Giants 0". Baseball-Reference.com. May 17, 1970.
  4. ^ Leggett, William (June 15, 1970). "A Boo Boo or Baby for Bowie". Sports Illustrated.
  5. ^ "1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game". Baseball-Reference.com. July 14, 1970.
  6. ^ Wulf, Steve (July 9, 2015). "The Place Where Ray Fosse and Pete Rose Collide". ESPN.
  7. ^ Cole, Howard (March 17, 2020). "Biggest Trades in Dodgers History, 1958 to 1972". Sports Illustrated.
  8. ^ "Designated Hitter Rule". MLB.com.
  9. ^ Rappoport, Ken. "National League Tentatively Agrees to Move Padres to Washington, D.C." The Associated Press (AP), Friday, December 7, 1973. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  10. ^ "Chicago Cubs 10, Philadelphia Phillies 7". Baseball-Reference.com. July 26, 1974.
  11. ^ Leggett, William (May 19, 1969). "Some Kids Make a Sad Man Happy". Sports Illustrated.
  12. ^ "SMA's Mission: Recruit & Reward The Quality Independent Agents & Agencies". swmalife.com/index.html.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Billy_Grabarkewitz&oldid=1233332124"