Johnny Grabowski
Encyclopedia
John Patrick Grabowski nicknamed "Nig", was a Major League Baseball
catcher
who played 7 seasons for the Chicago White Sox
(1924-26), New York Yankees
(1927-29) and Detroit Tigers
(1931).
Born in Ware, Massachusetts
to a family of Polish
descent, Grabowski played 296 major league games—282 of them as a catcher
. He broke into organized baseball in 1920 with the Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
and joined the Chicago White Sox
in 1923. He had his best season for the 1927 "Murderer's Row" New York Yankees
, considered by many to be the best baseball team in history. Grabowski shared the catching duty with Pat Collins
and Benny Bengough
in 1927. Grabowski played in 70 games for the 1927 Yankees, scoring 28 runs and 25 RBIs. Grabowski had a .350 on base percentage for the 1927 Yankees. Grabowski won two World Series rings with the Yankees in 1927 and 1928. In 1930, Grabowski was released by the Yankees and played briefly for the Detroit Tigers
in 1931.
He also played with the Montreal Royals
of the International League
from 1932-1934 and later became an umpire in the Canadian-American League
(1937), Eastern League (1938-39), and International League
(1940-41). Grabowski died in Albany, New York
at age 46 from burns suffered when fire destroyed his home in the nearby town of Guilderland, New York
.
In the first half of the 20th Century, before the game was integrated, ball players with a dark complexion were sometimes nicknamed "Nig." http://www.attheyard.com/InRetrospect/printer_699.shtml http://www.rootsweb.com/~txnavarr/biographies/c/clark_jay_justin.htm http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Nig_Cuppy_1869 In addition to Johnny Grabowski, the following other major league players bore the nickname: Johnny Beazley
(1941-49), Joe Berry
(1921-22), Bobby Bragan
(1940-48), Nig Clarke
(1905-20), Nig Cuppy
(1892-1901), Nig Fuller
(1902), Nig Lipscomb
(1937), Charlie Niebergall
(1921-24), Nig Perrine
(1907), and Frank Smith (1904-15).
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who played 7 seasons for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1924-26), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1927-29) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1931).
Born in Ware, Massachusetts
Ware, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
to a family of Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
descent, Grabowski played 296 major league games—282 of them as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He broke into organized baseball in 1920 with the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
and joined the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1923. He had his best season for the 1927 "Murderer's Row" New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, considered by many to be the best baseball team in history. Grabowski shared the catching duty with Pat Collins
Pat Collins
Tharon Leslie "Pat" Collins is a former professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees, and Boston Braves. In his career, he hit 33 home runs and drove in 168 runs.-External links:* at Find a Grave...
and Benny Bengough
Benny Bengough
Bernard Oliver "Benny" Bengough was a major league baseball catcher who played for ten seasons for the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns. He was born in Niagara Falls, New York...
in 1927. Grabowski played in 70 games for the 1927 Yankees, scoring 28 runs and 25 RBIs. Grabowski had a .350 on base percentage for the 1927 Yankees. Grabowski won two World Series rings with the Yankees in 1927 and 1928. In 1930, Grabowski was released by the Yankees and played briefly for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1931.
He also played with the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
from 1932-1934 and later became an umpire in the Canadian-American League
Canadian-American League
This article refers to the original incarnation of the Can-Am League, which operated between 1936 and 1951. For the modern league, see Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball...
(1937), Eastern League (1938-39), and International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
(1940-41). Grabowski died in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
at age 46 from burns suffered when fire destroyed his home in the nearby town of Guilderland, New York
Guilderland, New York
Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2010 census, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands....
.
In the first half of the 20th Century, before the game was integrated, ball players with a dark complexion were sometimes nicknamed "Nig." http://www.attheyard.com/InRetrospect/printer_699.shtml http://www.rootsweb.com/~txnavarr/biographies/c/clark_jay_justin.htm http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Nig_Cuppy_1869 In addition to Johnny Grabowski, the following other major league players bore the nickname: Johnny Beazley
Johnny Beazley
John Andrew Beazley was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves...
(1941-49), Joe Berry
Joe Berry (second baseman)
Joseph Howard Berry, Jr. was a professional baseball second baseman and pinch runner, and an All-American football halfback....
(1921-22), Bobby Bragan
Bobby Bragan
Robert Randall Bragan was a shortstop, catcher, manager, and coach in American Major League Baseball. He also was an influential executive in minor league baseball...
(1940-48), Nig Clarke
Nig Clarke
Jay Justin "Nig" Clarke was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball. He is best known for, in 1902 playing for Texas League's Corsicana Oil Citys, going 8 for 8 with 8 home runs...
(1905-20), Nig Cuppy
Nig Cuppy
George Joseph "Nig" Cuppy was an American baseball pitcher during the 1890s. He spent nine years of his 10-year major league career as the number two starter behind Cy Young....
(1892-1901), Nig Fuller
Nig Fuller
Charles F. Fuller , is a former professional baseball player who played catcher for the Brooklyn Superbas in three games during the 1902 baseball season.-External links:...
(1902), Nig Lipscomb
Nig Lipscomb
Gerard "Nig" Lipscomb was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played with the St. Louis Browns in .-External links:...
(1937), Charlie Niebergall
Charlie Niebergall
Charles Arthur Niebergall was a catcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
(1921-24), Nig Perrine
Nig Perrine
John Grover "Nig" Perrine was an American baseball infielder.Perrine started his professional baseball career in 1902, at the age of 17. In 1906, he hit .308 in the American Association and was purchased by the Washington Senators; however, Perrine was sent back down to the AA after hitting .171...
(1907), and Frank Smith (1904-15).