Born: York, Pa., 8/1/1952
B-L, T-L... 5'11", 175 lbs
Greg Gross was one of the major weapons used by the Phillies off the bench. He was a key pinch hitter, especially during the LCS. Actually, Gross's biggest hit may have been the shortest. Gross came up in the 8th inning of the 5th and deciding game of the LCS, with the Phillies losing 5-2. With Bowa and Boone on, Gross laid down a textbook bunt down the third base line and beat it out for a hit. The Phillies scored five runs in that inning, and went on to win the game 8-7.
1980 Statistics
|
|
Games |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1980 |
127 |
23 |
0 |
10 |
.240 |
|
LCS |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
.750 |
|
WS |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
Lifetime Statistics
|
Year |
Team |
AB |
Runs |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1973 |
Astros |
39 |
5 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
.231 |
|
1974 |
Astros |
589 |
78 |
185 |
0 |
36 |
.314 |
|
1975 |
Astros |
483 |
67 |
142 |
0 |
41 |
.294 |
|
1976 |
Astros |
426 |
52 |
122 |
0 |
27 |
.286 |
|
1977 |
Cubs |
239 |
43 |
77 |
5 |
32 |
.322 |
|
1978 |
Cubs |
347 |
34 |
92 |
1 |
39 |
.265 |
|
1979 |
Phillies |
174 |
21 |
58 |
0 |
15 |
.333 |
|
1980 |
Phillies |
154 |
19 |
37 |
0 |
12 |
.240 |
|
1981 |
Phillies |
102 |
14 |
23 |
0 |
7 |
.225 |
|
1982 |
Phillies |
134 |
14 |
40 |
0 |
10 |
.299 |
|
1983 |
Phillies |
245 |
25 |
74 |
0 |
29 |
.302 |
|
1984 |
Phillies |
202 |
19 |
65 |
0 |
16 |
.322 |
|
1985 |
Phillies |
169 |
21 |
44 |
0 |
14 |
.260 |
|
1986 |
Phillies |
101 |
11 |
25 |
0 |
8 |
.248 |
|
1987 |
Phillies |
133 |
14 |
38 |
1 |
12 |
.286 |
|
1988 |
Phillies |
133 |
10 |
27 |
0 |
5 |
.203 |
|
1989 |
Phillies |
75 |
2 |
15 |
0 |
4 |
.200 |
|
TOTALS |
|
1809 |
449 |
1073 |
7 |
308 |
.287 |
Phillies Publications
From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:
How Obtained: Acquired from Cubs along with Manny Trillo and Dave Rader, 2/23/79, for Barry Foote, Jerry Martin, Ted Sizemore, Derek Botelho and Henry Mack.
1979 Season: Saw little action the first part of the season but played more the second half due to Greg Luzinski's leg problems... Played all three outfield positions... Had 126 AB second half of the season compared to just 48 the first half... Hit .333 and raised his career average to .298... Batted .390 in September with 59 AB, the most action he saw all year... Had 14 hits as a pinch-hitter and batted .275... Had an eight-game hitting streak.
Career: Opted for his free agency at the end of 1979, then re-signed with the Phillies after being drafted by nine teams including the Phillies... Twice hit over .300 before this season, .314 with Houston in 1974 and .322 with the Cubs in 1977... Was THE SPORTING NEWS Rookie of the Year in 1974 and runner-up to Bake McBride for the same award by the Baseball Writers Association.
Personal/Misc: Graduate of Red Lands High School in Etters, Pa., Signed after high school by the Astros... Now makes his home in the suburban Philadelphia area... He and wife Debbie had their second child, Michael, last fall.
From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:
1980 Season: Saw limited playing time but still was one of team's most valuable and certainly its most versatile player... His AB dropped to a career low 154 and his average suffered from lack of playing time... Hit .256 as a pinch hitter with 5 RBI... Played all three outfield positions... Hit .253 second half of the season... Won two games with 8th inning pinch hits.
1980 Post Season: Had three pinch hits in LCS and all were important: the biggest was his bunt single off Nolan Ryan to load the bases in the Phils five-run 8th that helped lift them to a win in LCS # 5 and into the World Series... Had just 2 AB in the WS.
Career: Was THE SPORTING NEWS Rookie of the Year in 1974 and runner-up to Bake McBride for the same award by the BBWAA... Hit .314 with Houston in 1974 and .322 with the Cubs in 1977... Has a .295 lifetime average... Batted .333 for the Phillies in 1979 and .275 as a pinch hitter... Opted for free agency after the 1979 season but re-signed with the Phillies through 1984.
Personal/Misc: Graduate of Red Lands High School in Etters, Pa.... Originally signed by the Astros out of high school... Played winter ball for six weeks in Puerto Rico to work on his first base play and get some at bats; he left immediately after the World Series to play for Art Howe's club... Makes his permanent home in suburban Philadelphia.
From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:
- Favorite Color: Blue- to accent those icy blue eyes
- Favorite Singer/Group: Kenny Rogers
- Favorite Song: The Gambler
- Favorite City: Philadelphia- always wanted to play here
- Least Favorite City: New York- all those hotel doors jimmied
- Person You'd Most Like To Meet: Johnny Carson because he's met everyone
- Boyhood Idol(s): Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron
- Biggest Turn-On: My family
- Biggest Turn-Off: Finishing 4th last year
- Favorite Subject in School: History and Psychology
- Favorite TV Show: Quincy
- Favorite Book: The Moneychangers
- Person You Most Admire: My parents
- Greatest Achievement: Playing major league baseball
- Most Memorable Moment: Hitting two consecutive home runs in Atlanta in 1977
- Hobbies: Golf and racquetball
- Toughest Pitcher You've Faced: John Candelaria