Joe Grzenda
Encyclopedia
Joseph Charles Grzenda is a retired Major League baseball
pitcher. He pitched for six different teams in eight seasons during a career that spanned from 1961 to 1972.
Grzenda pitched in 219 Major League games, all but three games as a relief pitcher. His best season statistics-wise was in 1971 for the Washington Senators, when he earned five victories with an excellent 1.92 E.R.A.
. On September 30, 1971, he would become the last pitcher in the team's history, getting two outs in the top of the ninth inning before fans, knowing the team would be leaving for Dallas-Fort Worth
after the season, stormed the RFK Stadium
field, causing a forfeit; 34 years later, when baseball returned to the nation's capital, Grzenda appeared on the field at RFK before the Washington Nationals
's first home game, handing George W. Bush
the ball he would use to throw out the first pitch.
As a fielder he was charged with no errors during his 8-year career for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. In 1969 he made an appearance in the ALCS for the Minnesota Twins
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher. He pitched for six different teams in eight seasons during a career that spanned from 1961 to 1972.
Grzenda pitched in 219 Major League games, all but three games as a relief pitcher. His best season statistics-wise was in 1971 for the Washington Senators, when he earned five victories with an excellent 1.92 E.R.A.
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. On September 30, 1971, he would become the last pitcher in the team's history, getting two outs in the top of the ninth inning before fans, knowing the team would be leaving for Dallas-Fort Worth
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
after the season, stormed the RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
field, causing a forfeit; 34 years later, when baseball returned to the nation's capital, Grzenda appeared on the field at RFK before the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
's first home game, handing George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
the ball he would use to throw out the first pitch.
As a fielder he was charged with no errors during his 8-year career for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. In 1969 he made an appearance in the ALCS for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.