Rest in Peace Johnny Groth

Born:

• July 23rd, 1926 Chicago, Illinois

Died:

• August 7th, 2021 (Age 95) Palm Beach, Florida

Positions:

• Center Field

Batted:

• Right

Threw

• Right

Teams:

• Detroit Tigers (1946-1952, 1957-1960)
• St. Louis Browns (1953)
• Chicago White Sox (1954-1955)
• Kansas City Athletics (1956-1957)

Awards:

Key Notes:

Lauded by the Detroit Tigers as "the next DiMaggio" when he arrived on the major league scene in 1946 at age 20, the popular Johnny Groth spent 11 years with Detroit. Though never coming close to living up to the hype, the slick-fielding Groth showed great promise during his first three full seasons by hitting .300 or slightly less and accumulating a high on-base percentage - twice over 40 percent. 

A graceful and sure-handed flychaser who compiled a solid .279 career batting average, Groth's successful 15-year career in The Bigs favorably compares to contemporary Jimmy Piersall. A line-drive contact hitter, he displayed relatively little power, however, hitting only 60 career homers (11 of them coming during his first full season in 1949) - perhaps explaining why he spent only brief tenures with talent-starved teams (the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics). 

After his playing days, Groth managed the 1961 Decatur Commodores and 1962 Montgomery Rebels. He has continued to reside in his hometown Chicago, IL area. It is noteworthy that Groth scored the last run in St. Louis Browns' history in September, 1953. *From BR Bullpen

Cards:

• Detroit Tigers

                                          

1950 Bowman #243

                                          
  

1951 Bowman #249

1951 Topps Blue Backs #11

1952 Bowman #67

1952 Topps #25

1958 Topps #262

1959 Topps #164

1960 Topps #171

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

• St. Louis Browns

                                                 

1953 Topps #36

                                                  

• Baltimore Orioles (Never Played before being traded to the White Sox)

1954 Bowman #165

• Chicago White Sox

1955 Bowman #117

• Kansas City Athletics

1956 Topps #279

1957 Topps #360