Joe Grzenda

Joe Grzenda
Joe Grzenda
	Pitcher
	Born: June 8, 1937 (age 87); Scranton, Pennsylvania
	Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
	April 26, 1961, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
	September 23, 1972, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	14-13
Earned run average	4.00
Strikeouts	173
	Stats at Baseball Reference
	Managerial record at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Detroit Tigers (1961); Kansas City Athletics (1964, 1966); New York Mets (1967); Minnesota Twins (1969); Washington Senators (1970–1971); St. Louis Cardinals (1972);

Joseph Charles Grzenda (born June 8, 1937) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators, and St. Louis Cardinals.

Grzenda was a sidearm pitcher who 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 earned run average (ERA). Not known for his hitting ability, he once grounded out to third base in RFK stadium and received a standing ovation. On September 30, 1971, he would become the last pitcher in the team's tenure at Washington, D.C., 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 to become the Texas Rangers, 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 (6 putouts, 66 assists). In 1969 he made an appearance in the ALCS for the Minnesota Twins.

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs