Johnny Groth
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Groth is a former professional baseball player who played outfield
in the Major Leagues from 1946 to 1960. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He play for the Detroit Tigers
(1946–1952, 1957–1960), St. Louis Browns
(1953), Chicago White Sox
(1954–1955), Washington Senators
(1955), and Kansas City Athletics (1956–1957).
Groth was signed by the Tigers in 1946 as an amateur free agent. He was lauded by the Tigers as "the next DiMaggio" when he arrived on the major league scene in 1946 at age 20. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Johnny_Groth
Groth did not play in more than six games until 1949. In 1948, he hit .340 with 40 home runs for Buffalo in the International League. Time, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Life all tabbed him for superstardom in 1949. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Johnny_Groth_1926
In 1949, Groth hit .293 with a .407 on base percentage, a .451 slugging percentage and 73 RBIs in only 103 games. In 1950, he hit .306 with career-highs in home runs (12), RBIs (85), hits (173), and runs scored (95). At one point during the 1950 season, he had eight consecutive hits.
On April 19, 1949, rookie Groth hit home runs in two of his first three at bats, helping Hal Newhouser
to a 5-1 win.
Groth played 10 more seasons, but never equaled his 1950 totals. In all, he spent 11 of 15 M.L. seasons with Detroit.
On December 4, 1952, the Tigers traded Virgil Trucks
‚ who tossed two no-hitters during the year‚ along with Hal White
and Groth‚ to the Browns in exchange for Owen Friend
‚ Bob Nieman
‚ and Jay Porter
.
Groth bounced from the Browns to the White Sox to the Senators to the A's in the mid-1950s. In 1957, the Tigers bought Groth from the A's, and he finished his career as a backup outfielder with the Tigers from 1957-1960.
Over the course of his career, Groth played in 1,248 games, 964 as a center fielder, 121 as a left fielder, and 83 as a right fielder. He had a career batting average of .279 with a .352 on base percentage, 1,064 hits, 480 runs scored, 486 RBIs, 419 walks, 197 doubles, and 60 home runs.
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
in the Major Leagues from 1946 to 1960. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He play 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...
(1946–1952, 1957–1960), St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1953), 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...
(1954–1955), Washington Senators
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...
(1955), and Kansas City Athletics (1956–1957).
Groth was signed by the Tigers in 1946 as an amateur free agent. He was lauded by the Tigers as "the next DiMaggio" when he arrived on the major league scene in 1946 at age 20. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Johnny_Groth
Groth did not play in more than six games until 1949. In 1948, he hit .340 with 40 home runs for Buffalo in the International League. Time, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Life all tabbed him for superstardom in 1949. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Johnny_Groth_1926
In 1949, Groth hit .293 with a .407 on base percentage, a .451 slugging percentage and 73 RBIs in only 103 games. In 1950, he hit .306 with career-highs in home runs (12), RBIs (85), hits (173), and runs scored (95). At one point during the 1950 season, he had eight consecutive hits.
On April 19, 1949, rookie Groth hit home runs in two of his first three at bats, helping Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
to a 5-1 win.
Groth played 10 more seasons, but never equaled his 1950 totals. In all, he spent 11 of 15 M.L. seasons with Detroit.
On December 4, 1952, the Tigers traded Virgil Trucks
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
‚ who tossed two no-hitters during the year‚ along with Hal White
Hal White
Harold George White was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals...
and Groth‚ to the Browns in exchange for Owen Friend
Owen Friend
Owen Lacey Friend was a Major League Baseball second baseman for five different teams between 1949 and 1956. Listed at 6'1, 180 lb., Friend batted and threw right-handed. Nicknamed "Red," he was born in Granite City, Illinois.Strictly a line drive hitter, Friend entered the majors with the St...
‚ Bob Nieman
Bob Nieman
Robert Charles Nieman was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants...
‚ and Jay Porter
Jay Porter
J. W. "Jay" Porter is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals . Porter played in 229 major league games, 91 as a catcher, 62 as an outfielder, 16 as a first baseman, and 3 at...
.
Groth bounced from the Browns to the White Sox to the Senators to the A's in the mid-1950s. In 1957, the Tigers bought Groth from the A's, and he finished his career as a backup outfielder with the Tigers from 1957-1960.
Over the course of his career, Groth played in 1,248 games, 964 as a center fielder, 121 as a left fielder, and 83 as a right fielder. He had a career batting average of .279 with a .352 on base percentage, 1,064 hits, 480 runs scored, 486 RBIs, 419 walks, 197 doubles, and 60 home runs.