Bob Grim – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bob Grim’s baseball career is a tale of dazzling early promise and, honestly, the kind of setbacks that haunt a lot of athletes. Born Robert Anton Grim in Manhattan in 1930, he burst onto the Major League Baseball scene as one of its brightest rookie pitchers. Elbow problems, though, changed everything. Grim officially retired from professional baseball on May 31, 1962, after the Kansas City Athletics released him following his final game on May 24.

Grim pitched his way from Brooklyn sandlots to Yankee Stadium, living out both the highs and lows of pro sports. In 1954, he snagged American League Rookie of the Year honors and became the first Yankees pitcher since 1910 to win 20 games as a rookie. But by 1955, elbow pain started to dog him, and it never really went away through his eight seasons in the majors.

He grew up helping at his dad’s bar and grill in East New York, then found himself pitching in World Series games. Grim suited up for five different teams, picking up both big achievements and the kind of injuries that so many pitchers know all too well.

This look at his life covers his early days, his breakout rookie year, the way his role changed, and what happened when he finally stepped away from the game.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Robert Anton Grim was born on March 8, 1930, in Manhattan’s Yorkville neighborhood. His parents, Robert and Veronika Weinhart Grim, came over from Hungary and were working hard to make a new life in the U.S.

A second son, Anton Robert, arrived in 1933. That same year, the family moved to East New York, Brooklyn, where Bob spent most of his childhood.

His dad ran a bar and grill in the neighborhood, and Bob often pitched in when needed. Robert Sr. actually wanted his son to go into music, not sports.

Musical Training:

• Started accordion lessons at 12
• Studied with a professional teacher for four years
• Played at weddings and parties with his brother
• Eventually gave up music to focus on baseball

The family lived on Hull Street, just a stone’s throw from Our Lady of Lourdes parochial school, where Bob went as a kid. Baseball was everywhere in that area, especially with Dexter Park nearby, home to the Bushwicks semipro team.

High School Baseball Experience

Bob switched to Franklin K. Lane High School for his last two years. Dexter Park was right there, so baseball was part of his daily routine.

He played varsity for two seasons and graduated in 1948. Bob pitched and played right field, showing off his flexibility on the diamond.

High School Pitching Record:

• Junior Year (1947): 2-2
• Senior Year (1948): 4-1
• Combined: 6-3 over two seasons

Coach Bob Berman, who’d caught two games for the 1918 Washington Senators, helped shape Grim as a pitcher. Berman taught him the finer points and encouraged him to chase a pro career.

In a 1954 chat with The Sporting News, Grim joked about his numbers: “On the basis of this six and three record, along with pitching in amateur and semi-pro ranks, I had the nerve to aspire to a baseball career. I don’t know if any pitcher ever had that ambition with less to back him up, arithmetically.”

Signing with the New York Yankees

Grim first met the New York Yankees in 1947 at a tryout at Yankee Stadium. At 17, he didn’t exactly wow the scouts, but the day stuck with him for a different reason.

Movie crews were filming The Babe Ruth Story, and Grim made $20 as a stand-in. Not bad, but he kept his eyes on baseball.

That summer, he tossed a no-hitter in the Queens-Nassau Alliance sandlot league. Rabbit Maranville picked him for the August 13 Hearst Sandlot Classic at the Polo Grounds.

Over 30,000 people showed up for that game. Grim pitched 1⅓ innings for the New York Journal-American All-Stars, getting noticed by pro scouts.

Yankees Scouting Interest:

• Buster Brown followed Grim during his senior year
• Paul Krichell checked him out as a veteran scout
• Harry Hesse ended up signing him

Strikeouts and Key Pitching Stats

During his rookie year, Grim struck out 108 batters over 199 innings and walked 85. He showed solid command for a young pitcher just breaking into the majors.

Over eight seasons, Grim racked up 443 strikeouts, averaging about 55 per year after his rookie campaign. Elbow problems really cut into his ability to keep up those early strikeout numbers.

Key Career Statistics:

• Record: 61-41
• Strikeouts: 443
• Complete Games: 18
• Shutouts: 4
• Saves: 38

Grim’s 1954 rookie season still stands out—he was the last pitcher in baseball history to win at least 20 games as a rookie. That 20-6 record was the peak of his pitching before arm troubles changed everything.

Teams Played For

Bob Grim played for five major league teams in his eight-year career from 1954 to 1962. He spent most of his time with the New York Yankees before bouncing around, including a hectic 1960 season where he suited up for three different clubs.

New York Yankees

Grim started his big league career with the New York Yankees after signing as an amateur free agent in 1948. He debuted in the majors on April 18, 1954, wearing number 55 the whole way with the Yankees.

His rookie season? Spectacular. Grim won 20 games and lost only 6, posting a 3.26 ERA. He was the first Yankees rookie pitcher to reach 20 wins since 1910.

That performance earned him the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1954. Baseball writers gave him 15 out of 24 votes.

Grim pitched in two World Series with the Yankees. In 1955, the team faced the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees also made it to the World Series in 1957 against the Milwaukee Braves.

By 1957, arm troubles forced Grim into a relief role. He led the American League with 19 saves that year, even though no one officially tracked saves at the time.

The Yankees traded Grim on June 15, 1958, sending him and Harry Simpson to the Kansas City Athletics for Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks.

Kansas City Athletics

Grim joined the Kansas City Athletics in June 1958 after the Yankees traded him. He actually had two separate stints with Kansas City.

In his first go-around, Grim went 7-6 in 1958 and 6-10 in 1959. Those numbers showed a drop-off from his Yankees days, probably because of his arm issues.

The Athletics sent Grim to the Cleveland Indians on April 5, 1960, getting Leo Kiely in return. That move kicked off a wild year of team changes for Grim.

He returned to Kansas City for a second stint in 1962. The Athletics picked him up as a free agent on April 9, 1962, after the St. Louis Cardinals released him.

Grim made his final MLB appearance on May 24, 1962, with the Athletics. The team released him just a week later on May 31, and that was it for his professional career.

Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals

Grim played for three different teams in 1960 as his career wound down. That year really showed how tough things can get for aging players.

The Cleveland Indians picked up Grim from Kansas City on April 5, 1960, trading away Leo Kiely. He didn’t stay long—just about six weeks.

On May 18, 1960, the Cincinnati Reds bought his contract from Cleveland. Grim spent around two months with the Reds before moving again.

The St. Louis Cardinals then bought his contract from Cincinnati on July 29, 1960, giving him his third uniform of the season.

Grim spent all of 1961 in Triple-A with the Cardinals’ organization. He didn’t make it back to the majors that year.

The Cardinals released him before the 1962 season started. That opened the door for his final shot with the Kansas City Athletics, where his MLB journey ended.

Retirement and Legacy

Bob Grim’s professional baseball career ended suddenly in 1962 with the Kansas City Athletics. His incredible rookie season in 1954 made him one of the most promising young pitchers in the game, and people still remember him for that, even though injuries cut his career short.

Final MLB Season in 1962

Grim’s last season in the majors was short and, honestly, a bit rough. The St. Louis Cardinals released him before 1962 began, after he’d spent the previous year in Triple-A.

On April 9, 1962, the Kansas City Athletics signed Grim as a free agent, giving him one final shot at the big leagues. But his time with the A’s was really brief.

He played his last MLB game on May 24, 1962. Just a week later, on May 31, the Athletics released him. That marked the end of his eight-year major league career.

At 32, Grim just couldn’t overcome the elbow problems that had been dogging him since 1955.

Career Retrospective and Impact

Grim’s career stats tell a story of what might have been. He finished 61-41 over 268 MLB games. That rookie year—first Yankees pitcher since 1910 to win 20 games as a rookie—still stands out.

The 1954 American League Rookie of the Year award really marked the high point. His 20-6 record and 3.26 ERA that season made him look like a future star.

After 1955, elbow problems really limited what he could do. Even so, he pitched in five World Series games between 1955 and 1959, led the American League in saves once, and made an All-Star appearance.

He played for the Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cleveland Indians. His best years definitely came with the Yankees, during the team’s dominant era under Casey Stengel.

Honors and Recognition After Retirement

Grim’s biggest honor came during his rookie year, when he won the 1954 American League Rookie of the Year award. Both The Sporting News and the Baseball Writers Association of America recognized his debut season by a wide margin.

He made the All-Star team in 1956, which was impressive considering his elbow issues had already started.

That 20-win rookie season still matters—he broke a 44-year Yankees record, beating Russ Ford’s 1910 mark. It really locked in his spot in Yankees history.

He also picked up a 1956 World Series championship with the Yankees. Even with injuries, he contributed during the team’s postseason run.

After retirement, people still linked Grim’s name to one of baseball’s best rookie seasons. His fast rise from the Marines to MLB success in 1954 stands as a pretty remarkable achievement.

Personal Life, Death, and Final Resting Place

Bob Grim died on October 23, 1996, at age 66 in Shawnee, Kansas, after suffering a heart attack while playing with neighborhood kids. The former Yankees pitcher passed away doing something he loved, just having fun and staying active.

Post-Baseball Life

After his last major league appearance in 1962, Grim settled down in Shawnee, Kansas. He became a part of the local community there.

He kept his connection to baseball alive, staying active with young people in his neighborhood.

Grim adapted well to retirement. He enjoyed being outdoors and stayed physically active well into his later years.

His post-baseball life was pretty quiet and focused on the community. He built friendships with neighbors and local families.

Passing and Obituary

Robert Anton Grim died on October 23, 1996, in Shawnee, Kansas. He was 66.

A heart attack took his life while he was throwing snowballs with neighborhood kids.

There’s something touching about the way he went—still playing and connecting with the game in his own way.

He died during winter weather, outside with the local children when the heart attack struck.

Grave and Memorial Information

Find a Grave, which is a well-known online memorial site, lists Bob Grim’s burial information. You can visit his grave and see where the former American League Rookie of the Year rests.

The memorial shares some highlights from his life and what he achieved in baseball. It also gives a quick look at his personal timeline.

You’ll find important details about him on his Find a Grave page. It lists his birth date as March 8, 1930, and his death date as October 23, 1996.

This memorial stands as a tribute to Grim’s baseball career. It keeps his story alive for anyone interested in baseball history.