“If Jerry Grote and I were on the same team, I would be playing third base” –Johnny Bench
Possibly Johnny was exaggerating a bit in the above quote, but if so, it wasn’t by much.
As your friendly baseball historian, I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t take a few moments to reflect on the passing this week, aged 81, of a fine ball player who was one of the best defensive catchers of his era, Jerry Grote (October 6, 1942-April 7, 2024).
As a long-time Cub fan, I remember well the role he played for the Mets in upsetting the Cubs on their way to capturing the 1969 National League pennant and World Series championship against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.
Jerry Grote’s Career Stats
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Jerry Grote played sixteen seasons in the major leagues (1963-1981) for the Colt .45s (1963-’64), Mets (1966-’77), Dodgers (1977-’78), Royals (1981), and Dodgers (1981). Over his career, the two-time All-Star appeared in 1421 games, hitting .252, with 39 home runs, and 404 RBIs. Although his offense numbers seem modest, it was his defensive abilities that was his meal ticket to sixteen seasons in the Big Leagues. He compiled a .991 fielding percentage which at the time of his retirement ranked eighth all-time. He also possessed a strong, accurate arm against opposing base stealers, causing Lou Brock to cite Grote as one of the most difficult catchers for him to steal against.
Behind the plate for 113 games for the 1969 “Miracle Mets,” Grote batted .252 with career highs of six home runs and 40 RBIs. But it was on defense where he made his most valuable contributions. He posted a .991 fielding percentage and a 56.3 caught-stealing percentage, good for second-best among National League catchers. Under his guidance, the young Mets pitching staff led the National League in victories and shutouts, while finishing second in earned run average. He also played a pivotal role in the 1969 World Series.
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