As we continue our countdown of the top 100 Angels, we find fan favorite Bobby Grich at number 8 on the list. Bobby Grich was the first inductee to the Angels Hall of Fame but was unfortunately snubbed for the MLB Hall of Fame. In 1992, his first year of eligibility, he garnered only 2.6% of the vote and promptly fell off the ballot for future years. Incidentally, he is also in the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. He was a four time Gold Glove winner and a six time All Star.
As Angels second baseman in 1981, Bobby Grich led the American League in home runs thereby winning a Silver Slugger award. He was the first second baseman to lead the American League in home runs since Nap Lajoie did it in 1901. He was the first second baseman to lead either league in home runs since Rogers Hornsby did it in 1929.
While he was with the Orioles in 1973, he set an all time major league fielding record with a fielding percentage of .995. In 1985, while an Angel, he bested that record with a .997 fielding percentage. A humble man, he said of his MLB career, “I was short on talent so I had to be long on intensity.”
Bobby Grich had a career batting average of .266 over seventeen seasons with 320 doubles, 47 triples, 224 home runs, 864 RBIs, 1033 runs, 1833 hits, 1087 walks, and 104 stolen bases. His on base percentage was .371 and his OPS+ was 125. He retired from playing baseball at the age of 37 and currently works in the Angels front office.
Earlier this year, Bobby Grich was the victim of a bizarre theft on the Coto de Caza golf course. The culprit got away with his wallet and a set of high end golf clubs and promptly went on a spending spree with Grich’s credit cards.
Favorite old time Angel. Absolutely needs to be in the HOF. I think he got overshadowed by Joe Morgan. During the Angels 50th anniversary year, we lucked into being at the game where he threw out the first pitch. Didn’t know until we heard it on the radio on the way down. At the park, we were walking on the concourse toward the escalators. Guy in front of us turns around and yells something and it was Bobby. I was utterly stunned, couldn’t say a word. Right after that I bought a Grich jersey. Most expensive single article of clothing I own, I think.
He needs in the HOF. If Trammel got in, Grich deserves in.
I’ve told this story before, but it’s Grich…
When the Angels held spring training in Palm Springs, it was great to mix baseball with chasing coeds during Spring Break. If you’re not familiar with the old stadium in Palm Springs, it was basically a very small stadium in a public park next to Palm Springs High School.
I watch the Angels take infield drills at the high school, and then walked amongst the team to get autographs and photos as they walk back to the main stadium. Grich was particularly nice as he signed a ball for me and posed for a photo. We chatted while he walked the 200 yards to the stadium for the day’s game. Side note – Rod Carew was an ass and told me to f*ck off when I asked him to sign a ball.
Fast forward to that evening and a buddy and I are waiting to have dinner at Las Casuela’s on Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs. We’re chatting up a couple of cute coeds when in comes Grich. He sees me and says, “Didn’t I see you earlier today?” I said yes he did and we started discussing the day’s game.
One of the young ladies pipes up and asks Grich, “Are you an Angel?”
Grich — “No, you two are the angels.”
They giggle and he walks off with both of them, while my friend and I stand there in disbelief.
As he’s walking out the door, Grich turns back to look at me and wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
Smooth!
Back in the day there were stories of cars around the Long Beach area that had the bumper sticker “Honk if you haven’t slept with Bobby Grich.”
In Rob Goldman’s fine book, Once They Were Angels, there is a story about how Grich was eyeing Jim Fregosi’s wife in the stands right after Fregosi became manager in 1978 (Grich did not know that she was Fregosi’s wife).
DG’s story is classic.
great story! 🙂
The Grich who stole your chicks.
From Long Beach Wilson, alma mater of a few in my family.
if only he could have singled in the 9th.
I’m afraid my main memories of Grich and DeCinces come from that inning.
Anyway, he was a terrific player on a very, very good ballclub. Easily our best 2b and we’ve had some good ones.
Our best ever at 2b no doubt. Wish he had not been injured so much, I think it is costing him HoF votes in the past and Veterans spotlighting him later on.
Saw him go 5-5 against NYY in 1978 or ‘79 (I believe). Guidry started the game. Grich signed my program before the game. I have run into him a bunch of times since and reminded him of the story enough that when he sees me he says ‘5 for 5’.
Very nice man. And a GREAT ball player.