MVP Profile: Lefty Grove, 1931

Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics

Age:  31

7^th season with Athletics

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190

 

Prior to 1931:

A native of Lonaconing, Maryland, Robert Moses Grove didn’t play organized baseball until he was 19 in 1919. The following year he took a leave from his job with the B & O Railroad to play with Martinsburg of the Class D Blue Ridge League for $125 per month. After producing a 6-6 record with a 1.68 ERA, Grove was sold to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League where he received $175 per month and went 12-2 with a 3.80 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched. Grove had an outstanding 25-10 record with Baltimore in 1921 as well as a 2.56 ERA, but he struggled with wildness and issued 179 walks. His 1922 tally was 18-8 with a 2.80 ERA, and in 1923 he was 27-10 with a 3.12 ERA and 186 walks. Grove spent one more season with Baltimore in 1924 and posted a 26-6 mark and 3.01 ERA with his walks down to 108 over 236 innings despite missing six weeks due to a wrist injury. Receiving lucrative offers from major league teams to buy Grove’s contract, the A’s purchased his services for $100,600. In his first year with the A’s in 1925, Grove struggled to a 10-12 record with a 4.75 ERA while leading the AL in walks (131) as well as strikeouts (116). Primarily a fastball pitcher when he joined the A’s, “Lefty” soon added a curve and changeup to good effect and led the league in ERA (2.51) and strikeouts (194) in 1926 to go along with a 13-13 tally. Grove was a 20-game winner for the first time in 1927, as he went 20-13 with a 3.19 ERA and once again topped the AL in strikeouts with 174. He was at the top in wins in 1928 with his 24-8 record to go along with a 2.58 ERA and league best 183 strikeouts. The A’s won the pennant in 1929, with Grove contributing a 20-6 mark while leading the AL in ERA (2.81) and strikeouts (170). Used in relief in the World Series against the Cubs, due to their strong group of righthanded batters, Grove gave up no runs in 6.1 innings pitched, struck out 10 batters, and picked up two saves as Philadelphia won in five games. The A’s repeated in 1930 and the ace lefthander went 28-5 to lead the AL in winning percentage (.848) as well as wins, games pitched (50), ERA (2.54), and strikeouts (209). He got to start in the World Series this time and posted a 2-1 record with a 1.42 ERA and 10 strikeouts as the A’s defeated the St. Louis Cardinals. Known for his temper as well as his pitching talent, he was a fierce competitor who would often trash the locker room following a loss. By 1931 he had won three ERA titles and had led the AL in strikeouts six seasons in a row.  

 

1931 Season Summary

Appeared in 41 games

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 41 [16, tied with Hod Lisenbee]

Games Started – 30 [15, tied with George Earnshaw & Red Ruffing]

Complete Games – 27 [1, tied with Wes Ferrell]

Wins – 31 [1]

Losses – 4

PCT - .886 [1]

Saves – 5 [6]

Shutouts – 4 [1]

Innings Pitched – 288.2 [2]

Hits – 249 [19]

Runs – 84

Earned Runs – 66

Home Runs – 10

Bases on Balls – 62

Strikeouts – 175 [1]

ERA – 2.06 [1]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 2

 

League-leading wins were +9 ahead of runner-up Wes Ferrell

League-leading win percentage was +.086 ahead of runner-up Firpo Marberry

League-leading shutouts were +1 ahead of runner-up George Earnshaw

League-leading strikeouts were +23 ahead of runner-up George Earnshaw

League-leading ERA was -0.61 lower than runner-up Lefty Gomez

 

Midseason Snapshot: 17-2, ERA - 2.12, 100 SO in 161 IP

 

Most strikeouts, game – 10 (in 8 IP) at Washington 4/18, (in 7 IP) vs. Bos. Red Sox 7/4

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at St. Louis Browns 6/23

 

Batting

 

PA – 122, AB – 115, R – 8, H – 23, 2B – 3, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 12, BB – 3, SO – 48, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .200, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – N/A

 

Fielding

Chances - 49

Put Outs – 2

Assists – 47

Errors – 0

DP – 1

Pct. - 1.000

 

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. St. Louis Cardinals)

GS – 3, CG – 2, Record – 2-1, PCT – .667, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 26, H – 28, R – 7, ER – 7, HR – 0, BB – 2, SO – 16, ERA – 2.42, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0

 

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP:BBWAA

 

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Lefty Grove, PhilaA.: 78 pts. – 98% share

Lou Gehrig, NYY: 59 pts. – 74% share

Al Simmons, PhilaA.: 51 pts. – 64% share

Earl Averill, Clev.: 43 pts. – 54% share

Babe Ruth, NYY: 40 pts. – 50% share

 

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A’s went 107-45 to win the AL pennant by 13.5 games over the New York Yankees. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.47), complete games (97) & shutouts (12). Following a 17-game May winning streak, the A’s rolled to a third consecutive pennant. Grove’s 31 wins, 16 of them consecutive, were a key to the club’s success. They lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 games to 3. In a Series dominated by the performance of St. Louis CF Pepper Martin, Grove won the first and sixth games, but Cardinal RHP Burleigh Grimes won the decisive seventh.

 

Aftermath of ‘31:

The A’s dropped to second place in 1932 but Grove had another strong season, posting a 25-10 record and leading the American League with a 2.84 ERA, 27 complete games, and four shutouts (tied with Detroit’s Tommy Bridges). His 188 strikeouts placed second, breaking his string of league-leading totals. Grove was chosen for the first All-Star Game in 1933 on his way to a 24-8 mark with a 3.20 ERA and a big drop in strikeouts to 114, which fueled rumors that his arm was giving out. With owner/manager Connie Mack unloading talent, Grove was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in the offseason. A sore arm held him to 8-8 with a 6.50 ERA in 1934. Grove rebounded in 1935, as he improved his curve, added a forkball, and became more of a control pitcher and went 20-12 with a league-leading 2.70 ERA plus 121 strikeouts in 273 innings. He won another ERA title in 1936 (2.81) to go along with a 17-12 tally, 6 shutouts, and 130 strikeouts. Grove won another 17 games in 1937, against 9 losses, and registered a 3.02 ERA along with 21 complete games and 153 strikeouts. In 1938 his 14-4 record allowed him to top the AL in winning percentage (.778) as well as ERA (3.08), while his innings pitched dropped under 200 for the first time since 1934, and only the third time since he arrived in the American League. He won one last ERA title in 1939 with a 2.54 mark as he recorded a 15-4 tally. Following a 7-6 campaign in 1940, Grove played one last season in 1941, going 7-7 with a 4.37 ERA and becoming the twelfth 300-game winner in AL/NL history. For his major league career, Grove posted a 300-141 record with a 3.06 ERA, 298 complete games, 35 shutouts, and 2266 strikeouts in 3940.2 innings pitched. He led the AL in ERA nine times, in wins four times, and in strikeouts seven times. With the A’s he was 195-79 with a 2.88 ERA, 179 complete games, 20 shutouts, and 1523 strikeouts in 2401 innings pitched. Frequently utilized as a reliever between starts, he unofficially compiled 54 saves, 50 of them with the A’s. Appearing in eight World Series games, all with the A’s, he posted a 4-2 record with a 1.75 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. A six-time All-Star, Grove was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. In retirement he supported youth baseball teams, and served on the council and as police chief in his hometown of Lonaconing, Maryland. He died in 1975 at age 75. A memorial park has been created in his honor in Lonaconing.

 

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.

 

 

MVP Profile: Frankie Frisch, 1931

Second Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  34 (Sept. 9)

5^th season with Cardinals

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 165

Prior to 1931:

A native of New York City who was born and raised in the Bronx, Frisch proved to be an outstanding all-around athlete at Fordham Prep and Fordham University, where he earned the nickname “the Fordham Flash” for his track and football exploits, as well as excelling at shortstop on the baseball team. Signed by the Giants just prior to his graduation from college in 1919, Frisch bypassed the minors and, under the supervision of manager John McGraw, he received coaching to develop his skills while with the Giants. A switch-hitter, Frisch batted .226 while appearing in 54 games during the 1919 season, splitting time between second and third base. Playing at third base in 1920, the energetic and aggressive young player improved his batting average to .280. Frisch broke out in 1921, a season in which the Giants won the NL pennant, and he contributed a .341 average with 31 doubles, 17 triples, and a league-leading 49 stolen bases. Frisch batted .300 in the World Series triumph over the Yankees, the Giants’ co-tenants at the Polo Grounds. Primarily a second baseman by 1922, Frisch still often appeared at third base. Using his speed and entire body to knock down batted balls in the field and throw out baserunners, he lacked finesse in the middle of the infield. A natural leader with a good head for baseball, McGraw made Frisch the team captain. An effective clutch hitter who lacked power and was a good bunter, he batted .327 in 1922 with 5 home runs, 51 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and 101 runs scored. The Giants again won the NL pennant and “the Fordham Flash” hit .471 in another World Series triumph over the Yankees. Frisch topped the NL with 223 hits in 1923 and also compiled 32 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 29 stolen bases, 116 runs, 111 RBIs, and a .348 average. The Giants won a third straight pennant but lost to the Yankees in the World Series, although Frisch hit .400 over the six games. In 1924 he topped the NL in runs scored with 121 while batting .328 with 33 doubles, 15 triples, 7 home runs, and 69 RBIs. The Giants were once again pennant winners but this time lost to the Washington Senators in the World Series where Frisch hit .333. The team dropped to second place in 1925 but “the Fordham Flash” batted .331 with 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, and 89 runs scored. In the field he split his time almost equally at second, third, and short. In 1926 the situation with the temperamental McGraw came to a head when the manager berated Frisch, who was playing hurt, after a tough loss after which the star second baseman briefly jumped the team in response. He finished up by hitting .314 in 135 games. With relations with McGraw strained beyond the breaking point, in the offseason the Giants engineered a blockbuster trade with the Cardinals that chiefly involved two future Hall of Fame second basemen, with Frisch being exchanged for Rogers Hornsby, a great hitter who had directed St. Louis to a World Series title as player/manager in 1926, but who also wore out his welcome with the team’s owner. Frisch had an excellent first season with the Cardinals in 1927, batting .337 with 208 hits, 10 home runs, 78 RBIs, 112 runs scored, and a league-leading 48 stolen bases. In the field he set a record for second basemen with 641 assists. Frisch placed second in NL MVP voting. The Redbirds returned to the top in the National League standings in 1928 and Frisch hit .300 with 10 home runs and 86 RBIs. He was a .334 hitter in 1929 for the fourth place Cardinals. As he had been in New York, Frisch was the team’s leader on the field and they won the NL pennant in 1930, a year in which he batted .346 with 46 doubles, 9 triples, 10 home runs, 114 RBIs, and 121 runs scored. He hit .208 in the six-game World Series loss to the Philadelphia Athletics.

1931 Season Summary

Appeared in 131 games

2B – 129, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 570

At Bats – 518

Runs – 96 [7]

Hits – 161 [18]

Doubles – 24

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 82 [13]

Bases on Balls – 45

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 13

Stolen Bases – 28 [1]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .311 [14]

OBP - .368 [15]

Slugging Pct. - .396

Total Bases – 205

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading stolen bases were +11 ahead of runner-up Babe Herman

Midseason snapshot: HR - 2, RBI - 33, SB – 8, AVG - .274, OBP - .339

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Brooklyn 6/9, (in 5 AB) vs. Chicago Cubs 8/8

Longest hitting streak – 23 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 4 AB) vs. Phila. Phillies 6/16, (in 5 AB) at NY Giants 6/30, (in 4 AB) at Brooklyn 8/13, (in 4 AB) at NY Giants 8/16

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 3

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at NY Giants 6/30

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 733

Put Outs – 290

Assists – 424

Errors – 19

DP - 93

Pct. - .974

Postseason Batting: 7 G (World Series vs. Phila. A’s)

PA – 29, AB – 27, R – 2, H – 7, 2B – 2,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 1, IBB – N/A, SO – 2, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .259, OBP - .286, SLG - .333, TB – 9, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Frankie Frisch, StLC.: 65 pts. – 81% share

Chuck Klein, PhilaP.: 55 pts. – 69% share

Bill Terry, NYG: 53 pts. – 66% share

Woody English, ChiC.: 30 pts. – 38% share

Chick Hafey, StLC.: 29 pts. – 36% share

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Cardinals went 101-53 to win the NL pennant by 13 games over the New York Giants while leading the league in doubles (353) and stolen bases (114). Won World Series over the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 games to 3. In a Series dominated by the exciting play of rookie outfielder Pepper Martin, the Cardinals avenged their World Series loss to the A’s of the previous year.

Aftermath of ‘31:

The Cardinals dropped to sixth place in 1932 and Frisch batted .292 while playing in 115 games. Having taken an around-the-world tour in the offseason after the World Series triumph, he was out of shape and failed to get on track in ’32. He rebounded in 1933 to hit .303 with 32 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs, and 66 RBIs. He was selected for the first All-Star Game and hit a home run during that contest. Shortly after the All-Star Game Frisch became player/manager of the Cardinals. Only a game over .500 when he took over the managerial reins, the Cards went 36-26 the rest of the way to finish fifth in the NL standings. In 1934 the Frisch-managed team known as the “Gas House Gang” won the pennant while the player/manager batted .305 while scoring 74 runs and knocking in 75 RBIs. Still a formidable fielder he placed second among the league’s second basemen with 294 put outs and 74 double plays. Frisch most significantly set the tone for the aggressive group of colorful characters who went on to defeat the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. He spent three more seasons as a playing manager with his production and playing time declining until he ended his playing career in 1937, a year before his managerial tenure in St. Louis came to an end. For his playing career, Frisch batted .316 with 2880 hits that included 466 doubles, 138 triples, and 105 home runs. He further scored 1532 runs and compiled 1244 RBIs as well as 419 stolen bases and struck out only 272 times. With the Cardinals he batted .312 with 1577 hits, 286 doubles, 61 triples, 51 home runs, 720 RBIs, 831 runs scored, and 195 stolen bases. Frisch appeared in eight World Series (four each with the Giants and Cardinals), totaling 50 games in which he batted .294 with 10 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Selected to each of the first three All-Star Games, Frisch was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. Following his retirement as a player and additional year as field manager of the Cardinals, Frisch went on to manage three other teams, with his longest tenure being seven years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His overall managerial record was 1138-1078, and the victory in the 1934 World Series remained the only such title won by any of his teams. A popular figure in the baseball world thanks to his good humor and talent for telling stories, he went on to become a member of the Hall of Fame’s Veterans Committee until his death as the result of a car accident in 1973 at age 75.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.