Kevin Gross

Kevin Gross
Name	Kevin Gross
Position	Pitcher
Birth date	July 12, 1961
Birth place	Long Beach, California, U.S.
Bats	Right
Throws	Right
Mlb debut	September 23, 1983
Final game	July 22, 1997
Teams	* Philadelphia Phillies (1983–1990) * San Diego Padres (1991) * Montreal Expos (1992) * Los Angeles Dodgers (1993–1995) * Texas Rangers (1996) * Baltimore Orioles (1996) * Milwaukee Brewers (1997)

Kevin Gross

Kevin Gross (born July 12, 1961) is an American former professional pitcher who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 1997. He is known for throwing two no-hitters, compiling a durable career with several franchises including the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Montreal Expos. Gross later worked in coaching and scouting roles and is remembered for durability, control, and longevity across multiple National League and American League clubs.

Early life and amateur career

Born in Long Beach, California, Gross grew up in Southern California and attended Wilson High School (Long Beach, California), where he played varsity baseball and earned attention from college programs and professional scouts. He continued his amateur career at Long Beach City College and later at the University of California, Irvine before being selected in the Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. During his collegiate and summer league seasons he faced prospects from programs such as UCLA Bruins baseball, USC Trojans baseball, and Arizona State Sun Devils baseball, showcasing a repertoire that attracted interest from the National League scouting departments of multiple teams.

Professional baseball career

Gross made his MLB debut with the Philadelphia Phillies on September 23, 1983, joining a pitching staff that included veterans from earlier Phillies rosters like Steve Carlton and rising talents shaped by the franchise's 1980 World Series legacy. He established himself as a regular starter in the mid-1980s, posting innings and starts against divisional rivals such as the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs in the National League East. In 1988 Gross threw his first no-hitter, a feat that placed him alongside other no-hit pitchers like Tom Browning and Bob Gibson in franchise history. After several seasons in Philadelphia he was traded and signed with the San Diego Padres for 1991, then with the Montreal Expos in 1992, where he recorded a second no-hitter, joining the company of Expos-era luminaries such as Pedro Martínez and Tim Raines who starred for the franchise.

In 1993 Gross signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, contributing to staffs managed by former players who became managers, and he logged quality starts against teams including the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies in the National League West. He later had brief stints with the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring after the 1997 season. Across his MLB tenure Gross accumulated over 2,000 innings pitched and competed in interleague play introduced in the late 1990s era of MLB rule changes and expansion, although his career primarily unfolded before the expansion of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Playing style and achievements

Gross was a right-handed pitcher known for a sinking fastball, a forkball/change of pace offering, and a serviceable curveball that induced ground-ball contact, often working ahead of hitters from lineups featuring stars like Darryl Strawberry, Tony Gwynn, and Ken Griffey Jr. in matchups across rival clubs. He earned reputation for command and ability to pitch deep into games, attributes prized by managers and general managers such as those in the front offices of the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. His two career no-hitters — one for the Phillies and one for the Expos — are highlighted among MLB single-game achievements alongside no-hit performances by pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax. Gross compiled seasons with double-digit wins, strikeouts, and innings that reflected consistency during eras dominated by pitchers such as Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux.

Statistically, Gross registered a career earned run average (ERA) and win–loss totals that placed him among durable mid-rotation starters of the 1980s and 1990s, frequently facing lineups constructed by franchises including the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. His situational pitching and veteran presence made him a resource for pitching coaches and clubhouse leadership during postseason pushes and regular season campaigns.

Post-playing career and personal life

After retiring from MLB, Gross transitioned to roles in coaching, scouting, and player development, working with organizations and personnel in the Major League Baseball scouting community and minor league affiliates aligned with teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. He involved himself in youth baseball clinics and alumni events tied to former franchises, often appearing alongside past teammates and contemporaries from clubs like the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres. Gross has maintained ties to Southern California, participating in community baseball programs and charity exhibitions that feature former professionals from the Major League Baseball Players Association alumni network.

Legacy and honors

Gross's legacy rests on his longevity, two no-hitters, and steady presence across multiple MLB staffs during transitional periods for franchises like the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos. He is frequently mentioned in franchise histories and statistical retrospectives alongside pitchers who achieved single-game milestones for the clubs. Honors include recognition at team alumni ceremonies and inclusion in historical lists compiled by team historians and baseball statisticians affiliated with institutions such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and regional sports halls of fame. His career is a case study in durable starting pitching during the late 20th-century era of Major League Baseball.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Major League Baseball pitchers