Charlie Grimm Stats & Facts

Charlie Grimm Essentials

Positions: Firstbase
Bats: L Throws: L
Height: 5-11′ Weight: 173
Born: 8 28, 1898 in St. Louis, MO USA
Died: 11 15 1983 in Scottsdale, AZ USA
Debut: 7/30/1916
Last Game: 9/23/1936
Full Name: Charles John Grimm

Notable Events and Chronology for Career

SearchSearch Events, Dates and More Date (Newest)Title (A - Z)

July 7, 1921

Bambino doesn’t shine in Exhibition games vs Buc’s

October 27, 1924

The Chicago Cubs trade pitcher Vic Aldridge and first basemen George Grantham and Al Niehaus to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 1B Charlie Grimm, SS Rabbit Maranville and P Wilbur Cooper.

July 27, 1930

Ken Ash, throwing just one pitch in relief of Larry Benton, is credited with a full inning of work when he induces Charlie Grimm to hit into a triple play in the Reds’ 6-5 victory over the Cubs at Redland Field. The 28 year-old right-hander from West Virginia, removed in the bottom of the frame for a pinch-hitter, will also be awarded the win as the result of Cincinnati taking the lead for good in that frame.

July 28, 1930

Hack Wilson retrives a lost RBI

July 27, 1935

Reds bat out of order but Cub’s still win

November 8, 1954

Charlie Grimm, who forgot to pack his baseball cap and had to wear a head dress

June 17, 1956

Joe Adcock’s ninth-inning home run off Brooklyn right-hander Ed Roebuck, his second round-tripper of the game, proves to be the game-winner in the Braves’ 5-4 victory over the Dodgers. The blast to left field, which clears an 83-foot wall at the 350-foot mark, is believed to the only homer ever to land on the roof at Ebbets Field.

January 12, 1961

Charlie Grimm and Rube Walker are named to the Chicago Cubs College of Coaches

The Pirates changed regular first baseman almost every year between 1905 and 1919.  When the team hit a Low in 1919 with veterans Fritz Mollwitz (.173) and Vic Saier (.223), the Bucs purchased 21year old Charlie Grimm, who had failed to stick as a teen with the Phillies and Cardinals.  When Grimm hit well in 14 late-season games in 1919, he became the incumbent the following year and his play at first base, both rangy and consistent enough to lead the NL in fielding, impressed enough that he was able to hold his job for 1921 despite hitting just .227.

In ’21, Grimm improved his average to .274, hit seven home runs and drove in 71.  He also connected with Rabbit Maranville, the fun-loving, hard-drinking shortstop…  The two were joined by Cotton Tierney and Possum Whitted in entertaining fans before games with their singing, banjo playing, and comedic antics.  Grimm not only hit and fielded left-handed but played the banjo as a southpaw as well.  His happy-go-lucky nature led him to be called “Jolly Cholly.”

Grimm’s hitting improved in 1922 to .292 and in 1923 he had his best season, hitting a career-high .345 while knocking in 99 runs.  His numbers tailed off in 1924 to .288 with 63 rbi’s although he led first basemen for the third time in five years in fielding.  Interestingly, all three seasons he led the league in fielding, his percentage was .995.  Showing amazing consistency, the two years he didn’t have the highest percentage, Grimm fielded .994.

Barney Dreyfuss shipped Grimm with his friend Maranville and star pitcher Wilbur Cooper to the Cubs for Vic Aldridge, George Grantham and minor leaguer Al Neihaus following the 1924 season.  Only 26-years-old, Grimm continued to play well, hitting over .300 four times and leading the league in fielding four more times while in Chicago.  Jolly Cholly settled down enough to be named the Cubs’ player-manager in August 1932 and led the Cubs to the pennant over the Pirates by four games as the team went 37-18 after he took over.  Grimm also captured a pennant in 1935, and, when he was replaced as manager by Gabby Hartnett in 1938, became a Cubs’ broadcaster.

He returned to manage the Cubs in 1944 and won another pennant in 1945.  Grimm later managed the Braves and returned to lead the Cubs for one last time, although for only 17 games in 1960.  His final records, a .290 batting average as a player and 1,287-1,067 record as a manager have caused some to campaign for him to enter Cooperstown on some type of meritorious service standard.

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