Don Gross (baseball)

Don Gross
Pitcher
Born: (1931-06-30) June 30, 1931
Weidman, Michigan
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
July 21, 1955, for the Cincinnati Redlegs
Last MLB appearance
May 25, 1960, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 20–22
Earned run average 3.73
Innings pitched 398
Teams

Donald John Gross (born June 30, 1931, at Weidman, Michigan) is a retired American baseball player whose 13-year professional career (1950–52; 1954–63) included all or parts of six seasons of Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Redlegs (1955–57) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1958–60). A left-handed pitcher, Gross stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 186 pounds (84 kg). He attended Michigan State University.

Gross was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent[1] and began his professional career in 1950 in their farm system. His professional career was put on hold in 1953 due to military service.[2] Resuming professional baseball in 1954, he was promoted to the major leagues in 1955 making his debut on July 21 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Gross appeared in 145 games over his MLB career, including 37 games as a starting pitcher. Overall, he won 20 of 42 decisions (.476), striking out 230 batters and giving up 400 hits in 398 innings of work. His career earned run average was 3.73. He had a stellar record in minor league baseball, compiling a won-lost record of 68–39.

After the 1957 season, Gross was traded to the Pirates for right-handed pitcher Bob Purkey. It proved to be an uneven swap. Gross went 6–8 (3.82) in 66 games for the Pirates, while Purkey blossomed into a three-time National League All-Star, winning 103 games for Cincinnati over seven seasons, including a 23–5 (2.81) campaign in 1962.

References

  1. "Don Gross Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  2. "Don Gross Minor Leagues Statistics & History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2016.

External links


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