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Tom Grieve

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For the association footballer, seeTom Grieve (footballer).

Tom Grieve
Outfielder
Born:(1948-03-04)March 4, 1948(age 76)
Pittsfield, Massachusetts,U.S.
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
MLB debut
July 5, 1970, for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
May 1, 1979, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average.249
Home runs65
Runs batted in254
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Thomas Alan Grieve(born March 4, 1948) is anAmericanformer professionalbaseballplayer. He played inMajor League Baseballfrom 1970 to 1979 for theWashington Senators/Texas Rangers,New York MetsandSt. Louis Cardinals.He was nicknamed "TAG", which are his initials, and most notably as "Mr. Ranger",as he was a member of the Texas Rangers’ 1972 inaugural season. In 2010, Grieve was inducted into theTexas Rangers Hall of Fame.[1]

Biography

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Baseball career

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Grieve was drafted by theWashington Senatorsin the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft fromPittsfield High School.[2]Before signing with Washington in the summer of 1966, Grieve played in theCape Cod Baseball League(CCBL) with theChatham Red Sox.He hit.416 in 25 games, and in 2010 was inducted into theCCBL Hall of Fame.[3]

Grieve's best season was 1976 with the Rangers when he hit.255,belted 20home runsand had 81runs batted in.[2]

Grieve was dealt from the Rangers to the Mets in the first four-team blockbuster deal in Major League Baseball history on December 8, 1977 that also involved theAtlanta Braves,Pittsburgh Piratesand a total of eleven players changing teams. The Mets got from the BravesWillie Montañezand also from the RangersKen Hendersonwho was sent to New York to complete the transaction three months later on March 15, 1978. The Rangers receivedAl OliverandNelson Normanfrom the Pirates andJon Matlackfrom the Mets.Adrian Devine,Tommy BoggsandEddie Millerwere traded from the Rangers to the Braves. The Pirates acquiredBert Blylevenfrom the Rangers andJohn Milnerfrom the Mets.[4][5]

Grieve was traded along withKim Seamanfrom the Mets to theSt. Louis CardinalsforPete Falconeat theWinter Meetingson December 5, 1978.[6]Primarily anoutfielderand adesignated hitter,the right-handed batter finished his career with a.249 average, 65 homers and 254 RBIs in 670 games.[2]

In between, Grieve posted five solid seasons in theVenezuelan Winter Leaguewhile playing for theÁguilas del Zulia,Leones del CaracasandTiburones de La Guairaclubs between 1971 and 1979.

According to his own words, he says that any player who skips winter ball does themselves a disservice because they’re too lazy.[7]

General Manager

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After retiring as a player at the end of the 1979 season, Grieve joined the Rangers' front office, and did his first work as a color commentator for Rangers television broadcasts during the 1980 season. In 1984 Grieve becamegeneral managerof the Rangers, and served in that capacity until 1994.[8]In December 1988 Grieve made one of the best trades in team history, acquiringRafael PalmeiroandJamie Moyerfrom theChicago CubsforMitch Williams.That same winter he acquired future batting championJulio Franco.However, he also traded away several future stars, includingSammy Sosain 1989 andRobb Nenin 1993.

Grieve (right) alongside former Rangers commentatorJosh Lewin

Broadcasting career

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Since 1995, Grieve has served as the color commentator for the Texas Rangers, which is the longest tenure of any TV broadcaster in Texas Rangers club history.[8]Since 2017, he has split duties withC.J. Nitkowski.He announced his retirement after the 2022 season.

Legacy

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The Grieves were the first father-and-son combo to be selected in the first round of the MLB draft. Tom was chosen sixth overall by the Senators in 1966 while Ben was the second overall selection by Oakland in 1994.Ben Grieveplayed 976 games for theOakland A's,Tampa Bay Devil Rays,Milwaukee Brewersand theChicago Cubs.

Tom Grieve was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in a ceremony held on July 24, 2010.[9]

References

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  1. ^"Texas Rangers Hall of Fame at MLB.com".mlb.com.RetrievedSeptember 29,2020.
  2. ^abc"Tom Grieve Stats".Baseball Reference.
  3. ^"A look at Cape League Hall's 2010 Class".capecodbaseball.org.RetrievedSeptember 1,2019.
  4. ^Durso, Joseph. "Matlack, Milner Go In Four‐Team Trade,"The New York Times,Friday, December 9, 1977.Retrieved April 30, 2020
  5. ^Durso, Joseph. "Mets Get Ken Henderson, Outfielder, From Rangers,"The New York Times,Thursday, March 16, 1978.Retrieved April 30, 2020
  6. ^"Mets Get Falcone In Cardinal Trade,"The New York Times,Wednesday, December 6, 1978.Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  7. ^"Tom Grieve says any player who skips winter ball" does themselves a disservice because they're too lazy "".The Dallas Morning News.Sports Day DFW. September 29, 2013.RetrievedApril 6,2014.
  8. ^abHunt, Ryan (August 2, 2018)."Arlington Resident & Rangers Great Tom Grieve Living his American Dream".City of Arlington.RetrievedAugust 19,2019.
  9. ^"Tom Grieve selected to Rangers HOF".ESPN.com.ESPNDallas. June 23, 2010.RetrievedApril 6,2014.
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Preceded by Texas RangersGeneral Manager
1984–1994 		Succeeded by
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