Quote:
Originally Posted by bnorth
We are way overdue for a card picture. Anyone know what this Grove card is. It is large and blank back.
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I have always loved that picture of "Old Man Moses" Grove. During his lengthy peak, HE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL. Then after he blew out his arm and couldn't throw his patented heaters anymore, he marvelously reinvented himself with the Red Sox, and manager Joe Cronin gave him plenty of rest. The result were seasons like 1938 & 1939. When he no longer had enough to go with his brilliant smarts, he hung on for dear life 'til he got that 300th victory he wanted so bad. Still, with all he went through and the belated start to his major league career, 300 wins against only 140 losses!!!!!
There will be no end to this hot stove league argument. For certain, Lefty Grove shown like a beacon in the hitter's most dominating era. He had the benefit of Connie Mack's best teams behind him, which were made only that more unbeatable because of the presence of Lefty Grove.
Sandy Koufax pitched in a pitcher's era, that seemed to become more and more a pitcher's era the better and more dominating Sandy became. Even with the usually anemic-hitting Dodgers of those years, their "smallball" offense was enough to back Sandy. Then again, the '62 Dodgers had career years from Tommy Davis and Maury Wills going for them. Frank Howard couldn't seem to get going in the very spacious Dodger Stadium environs. But I loved Hondo, and he became so good and so adored, during his years with the Senators.
All to say, if I was a manager with the likes of Lefty Grove, Sandy Koufax, and Warren Spahn on my staff, my smile would be as big as the 3 of theirs put together!!!
I know, I'm supposed to continue the arguments and isolate the baseball statistic isotope; I'm getting tired of the whole thing. They were all superb; let's go back to collecting their cards and coins! ---Brian Powell