Bobby Grich played a very solid 2B for the Orioles and Angels from 1970-1986. Unfortunately, an accident moving a refrigerator derailed what seemed to be a Hall of Fame pace. The numbers he put up for the first part of his career were similar only to Joe Morgan and had only been duplicated by Jackie Robinson and Rogers Hornsby. At the time he retired, his numbers were to be thought of as being very good for a second baseman. But the numbers put up by players such as Ryne Sandberg, Roberto Alomar and Jeff Kent take a lot of stock away from what Grich was able to do.
Robinson is a difficult player to make comparisons to, since he only played 10 seasons. Among the other 2B, Grich played the least amount of games, as Sandberg played 156 more games and the others appeared in more than 200+ more. Grich also had more than 1000 ABs less than the others. But Grich scored about 300 less career runs, almost 600 less hits, 80 less 2Bs and about 200 less RBIs than the second baseman that compiled the least at each stat. However, he had more career HRs than Alomar and a higher career OBP than Sandberg. And his .794 career OPS is just a point less than Sandberg and not that far behind Alomar (.814) and Morgan (.819).
When it comes to best individual seasons, Grich's best season takes a back seat to that of the others, especially Hornsby's 1925 (.403, 39, 143). Grich, in 1979, hit .294, 30, 101. Kent's MVP season of 2000 totaled .334, 33, 125, Alomar hit .323, 24, 120 in 1999, Morgan hit .320, 27, 111 in winning the 1976 MVP and Sandberg hit .306, 40 , 100 in 1990. However, Grich's best season was probably the strike shortened 1981 season, where he led the AL with 22 HRs and SLG at .543 as well as OPS+ at 165. Because of the strike, Grich only got to play in 100 games. I believe nobody played in more than 109 or 110 games that season.
Lets face it, Bobby Grich comes up short when it comes to comparing him to the best to play the position. He was a solid leader though, and his teams made it to the postseason five times throughout his career, including the first three in California Angels history (1979, 1982 and 1986). Though his numbers are not Hall of Fame worthy, he had a solid career and was known as one of the best gloves in the game. He hit .266, 224, 864 for his career, with 1833 hits, 1033 RS, 320 2Bs, 47 3B in 2008 games, 6890 ABs. His .371 OBP, .424 SLG equaled his .794 OPS. Not bad for a second baseman, especially before the emergence of Sandberg, Alomar and Kent.
Robinson is a difficult player to make comparisons to, since he only played 10 seasons. Among the other 2B, Grich played the least amount of games, as Sandberg played 156 more games and the others appeared in more than 200+ more. Grich also had more than 1000 ABs less than the others. But Grich scored about 300 less career runs, almost 600 less hits, 80 less 2Bs and about 200 less RBIs than the second baseman that compiled the least at each stat. However, he had more career HRs than Alomar and a higher career OBP than Sandberg. And his .794 career OPS is just a point less than Sandberg and not that far behind Alomar (.814) and Morgan (.819).
When it comes to best individual seasons, Grich's best season takes a back seat to that of the others, especially Hornsby's 1925 (.403, 39, 143). Grich, in 1979, hit .294, 30, 101. Kent's MVP season of 2000 totaled .334, 33, 125, Alomar hit .323, 24, 120 in 1999, Morgan hit .320, 27, 111 in winning the 1976 MVP and Sandberg hit .306, 40 , 100 in 1990. However, Grich's best season was probably the strike shortened 1981 season, where he led the AL with 22 HRs and SLG at .543 as well as OPS+ at 165. Because of the strike, Grich only got to play in 100 games. I believe nobody played in more than 109 or 110 games that season.
Lets face it, Bobby Grich comes up short when it comes to comparing him to the best to play the position. He was a solid leader though, and his teams made it to the postseason five times throughout his career, including the first three in California Angels history (1979, 1982 and 1986). Though his numbers are not Hall of Fame worthy, he had a solid career and was known as one of the best gloves in the game. He hit .266, 224, 864 for his career, with 1833 hits, 1033 RS, 320 2Bs, 47 3B in 2008 games, 6890 ABs. His .371 OBP, .424 SLG equaled his .794 OPS. Not bad for a second baseman, especially before the emergence of Sandberg, Alomar and Kent.
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