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| Burleigh Grimes | |
|---|---|
| Name | Burleigh Grimes |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Birth date | July 18, 1893 |
| Birth place | Emerald, Wisconsin |
| Death date | December 6, 1985 |
| Death place | Beloit, Wisconsin |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | April 15 |
| Debutyear | 1916 |
| Debutteam | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | September 5 |
| Finalyear | 1934 |
| Finalteam | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Stat1label | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value | 270–212 |
| Stat2label | Earned run average |
| Stat2value | 3.53 |
| Stat3label | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value | 1,530 |
| Hofdate | 1964 |
| Hofvote | Veterans Committee |
Burleigh Grimes was an American right-handed pitcher known as the last legal practitioner of the spitball in Major League Baseball. A durable hurler of the 1910s through 1930s, he amassed 270 career wins and became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964. Grimes played for franchises including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Robins, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Dodgers, and later served as a manager and scout.
Born in Emerald, Wisconsin, Grimes grew up in a milieu shaped by Midwestern communities such as Janesville, Wisconsin and county fairs near Rock County, Wisconsin. He played amateur ball for local teams and semi-professional clubs in the Midwest circuit, facing opponents from towns like Madison, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois. Early mentors included regional figures in baseball circuits of the era and managers who had worked with players from institutions such as University of Wisconsin–Madison and summer leagues that fed talent to franchises like the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.
Grimes debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916 and later joined the Brooklyn Robins where he established himself alongside contemporaries such as Dazzy Vance and Zack Wheat. Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, he became a workhorse in seasons that overlapped with legends like Rogers Hornsby and managers such as John McGraw. His tenure with the New York Yankees placed him on rosters featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Later stops included the Chicago Cubs, Boston Braves, and the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he finished his playing career. Grimes led leagues in complete games and innings pitched in years when stars like Walter Johnson, Lefty Grove, and Carl Hubbell were prominent, and he compiled victories against Hall of Famers including Ty Cobb-era veterans and contemporaneous hitters such as Paul Waner and Mel Ott.
Grimes was renowned for his mastery of the spitball, a pitch outlawed in the 1920s but grandfathered for a small group of pitchers, aligning him with practitioners like Jack Quinn and Hod Lisenbee. His delivery and grip drew attention in matchups against sluggers like Hack Wilson and Ripper Collins, and his use of the pitch led to debate among officials from institutions like Major League Baseball and sportswriters from outlets covering teams such as the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. Opposing managers from clubs like the Chicago Cubs and Boston Braves protested at times, prompting discussions in the press alongside commentary from umpires who had worked games featuring pitchers such as Babe Ruth (as a hitter), Eppa Rixey, and Dizzy Dean. The controversy around legal exceptions for spitballers involved broader rule changes contemporaneous with reforms that included equipment and ball specifications used in contests featuring franchises like the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.
After retiring as a player, Grimes managed the Pittsburgh Pirates and scouted for organizations including the Brooklyn Dodgers and other clubs that valued veteran expertise. He coached and mentored pitchers who later became notable figures in baseball history, interacting with systems connected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and minor league structures affiliated with teams like the St. Paul Saints (AA), Minneapolis Millers, and Montreal Royals. His election to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1964 placed him among peers such as Edd Roush and Kiki Cuyler, and historians often compare his longevity to workhorses like Greg Maddux and Pedro Martínez for durability context. Grimes's legacy appears in retrospectives by authors who have chronicled eras covered by writers such as Lawrence Ritter and historians connected to institutions like the Society for American Baseball Research.
Grimes's personal life included roots in Wisconsin communities and later residence in places such as Beloit, Wisconsin. He interacted socially with contemporaries from across baseball, attending events featuring figures from the sports world and broader American public life, including gatherings where legends like Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio were honored. Family connections and local recognition in towns like Janesville, Wisconsin contributed to his regional standing. In later decades he participated in alumni activities organized by franchises such as the Brooklyn Dodgers and events associated with the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Grimes compiled a 270–212 win–loss record, a 3.53 earned run average, and 1,530 strikeouts across a career spanning 1916–1934. He recorded seasons with high innings totals and led categories related to complete games, earning comparisons to contemporaries such as Pete Alexander and Eddie Plank. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1964, his achievements are recorded alongside those of Hall of Famers like Christy Mathewson, Tris Speaker, and Walter Johnson.
Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players Category:St. Louis Cardinals players Category:New York Yankees players