1976 Topps #422 - Johnny Grubb

• Johnny Grubb played major league baseball from 1972-1987. Grubb was drafted by several teams but didn't sign because he was loyal to his junior college coaching staff. After being named to the College World Series all tournament team in 1970 (he played for Florida State University and they were the runners-up) Johnny was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1971. He played in the minors in 1971 and 1972 and batted .333 in 21 at bats for the Padres as a September call-up in 1972.

• San Diego manager Don Zimmer gave Grubb a chance to play regularly in 1973. Johnny batted .311 in 389 at bats and finished 6th in NL Rookie of the Year voting. In 1974 Grubb was the starting center fielder and batted .286 in 140 games. Johnny represented the Padres in the All Star Game in 1974 and popped out to the shortstop in his only at bat.

• Grubb set a team record (since broken) with 36 doubles in 1975. He batted .269 in 144 games. In 1976 Johnny went on the disabled list for 32 days. It was the first of nine career trips to the DL for Grubb. He batted .284 with a .391 on base percentage in 109 games. After the 1976 season Grubb was traded (along with Fred Kendall and Hector Torres) to the Cleveland Indians for George Hendrick.

• Johnny missed most of the 1977 season with injuries. He batted .301 in 34 games. In 1978 Johnny batted .265 in 113 games for the Indians. On August 31 Grubb was traded to the Texas Rangers for Bobby Cuellar and a minor leaguer. He batted .394 in 21 games for the Rangers to finish the 1978 season.

• In 1979 Grubb missed most of August with an injury. In 102 games he batted .273 and had a 21-game hitting streak. Grubb batted .277 in 110 games in 1980. He was used more as a pinch hitter and backup outfielder that year.

• Johnny had a rib removed in 1981 to relieve a circulatory problem in his arm. He had his worst season (except for his final season) as a major leaguer in 1981, batting .231 in 67 games. Grubb batted .279 in 103 games in 1982. During spring training in 1983 Johnny was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Dave Tobik.

• Johnny spent the rest of his career as a DH and backup outfielder. In 1983 he batted .254 in 57 games. Grubb finally made it to the playoffs with the 1984 Tigers. He batted .267 with a .395 on base percentage in 86 games during the 1984 season. Grubb batted .250 (1 for 4) in the ALCS and .333 (1 for 3) as a pinch hitter in the World Series.

• Grubb batted .245 in 78 games in 1985. He had one of his best years in 1986, batting .333 with 13 home runs in 81 games. Grubb batted .202 in 114 at bats in 1987 but batted .571 (4 for 7) in the 1987 ALCS. Johnny was released after the 1987 season. He tried to catch on with Atlanta's AAA Richmond club but didn't do well and retired.
• Grubb was the assistant coach for the Colorado Silver Bullets women's baseball team from 1994-1997. Johnny coached varsity baseball at Meadowbrook High School in his hometown of Richmond, VA for several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Remembering Former Outfielder Johnny Grubb - Baseball Digest December 2006.
• Liked to face: Paul Hartzell (.588 in 17 AB); Juan Marichal (.474 in 19 AB); Dennis Eckersley (.432 in 44 AB)
• Hated to face: Alan Foster/Pete Vuckovich (.000 in 11 AB); Milt Wilcox (.080 in 25 AB)