Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Celebrating 40 years of Ross Grimsley

40 years ago this week southpaw pitcher Ross Grimsley took the mound in his major league debut. I wasn't familiar with this one time All-Star until I read about him at the Hall of Very Good.

1980 Kellogg's
Ross Grimsley (card # 1)

I can't start to recap his career in a few paragraphs, especially when you can easily peruse it at baseball-reference.  But one thing that caught my eye was his trade on December 4, 1973.
Traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Wally Williams (minors) to the Baltimore Orioles for Bill Wood (minors), Junior Kennedy and Merv Rettenmund.
This really isn't that amazing or interesting.  Minor leaguers, players, teams.  Trades like this happen all the time.

I was intrigued by the double letter sequences in the players' names.

ROSS GRIMSLEY
WALLY WILLIAMS
BILL WOOD
JUNIOR KENNEDY
MERV RETTENMUND

Five players, all with at least one double letter sequence.  I know of no other trade that accomplishes this feat.

Ross, I tip my cap to you.

image lifted from this ebay auction
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3 comments:

  1. NathanMay 18, 2011 at 12:51 AM

    How have you not won a Ginter code contest yet?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mad GuruMay 18, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    I can tie you if I cheat. Fred McGriFF, Dave CoLLins, Mike Morgan and cash for Tom DoDD and Dale MuRRay. If I change the word cash to doLLars, I got my five. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 18, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Mike Morgan has to count for at least a half . . .

    ReplyDelete