Wow I never realized Grote unretired after 3 years! Details here or below. Meanwhile..
Speaking of Grote, he was the catcher when Tom Seaver struck me out. Really.
ROUND ROCK, Texas – Former Major Leaguer Jerry Grote has been named Round Rock Express radio color analyst, club ownership announced Tuesday. Grote, who joined Express broadcaster Mike Capps in the booth for several home games last season, will be a permanent fixture for all home broadcasts and some road broadcasts this season.
A San Antonio, Texas, native, Grote made his Major League debut in 1963 with the Houston Colt .45s. He was traded prior to the 1966 season to the New York Mets and spent the next 12 seasons with the organization. Grote finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-78, 1981) and the Kansas City Royals (1981). He posted a .252 career average and was the starting catcher for the 1969 World Series Champion Mets.
“Jerry and I have known each other for twenty years through a common friend – the late scout, Red Murff, who signed Nolan Ryan and Jerry,” Capps said. “Jerry was the premier defensive catcher of his generation. He’s translated that into expert analysis of every facet of the game for our fans. Having him alongside is nothing but a treat, and our fans feel the same way.”
Grote finished in the National League’s top three in fielding percentage for catchers five times, leading the league with a .995 mark in 1975. He was instrumental in the development of the Mets young pitching staff of the late 1960s that included Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver along with Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, Don Cardwell, Jim McAndrew, Ron Taylor, Cal Koonce, Jack DiLauro and Tug McGraw.
Following the 1978 season, Grote retired from professional baseball but was lured back to the field by Kansas City in 1981 when the Royals experienced a shortage of catchers. On June 3 of that season, the 38-year-old Grote went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double, a stolen base and a Royals record seven RBI against the Seattle Mariners. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers late in the 1981 season at the request of manager Tommy Lasorda to work with 22-year-old catcher, future All-Star and current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia.
After his playing days, Grote served as manager of the Lakeland Tigers and Birmingham Barons. He also played for the St. Lucie Legends of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. Grote is enshrined in the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame (1991), the New York Mets Hall of Fame (1992) and the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame (1998).
Grote and his wife, Cheryl, live in Belton, Texas.
Grote was one of my all time favorite mets during the 60’s and 70’s..a real tough old school ball player..even johnny bench said that if grote was on the red’s he (bench) would be playing first base.
in my opninion,grote was equal to bench behind the plate.
it was well known he had no love for the sports writers.
the best base stealers of his playing days said they would rather try to steal on bench than grote.
did jerry ever win a gold glove?