A left-handed-hitting outfielder, Greg Gross played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues, all in the National League. Ten of those years were with the Phillies, including the 1980 World Series championship club and 1983 NL pennant winners.
“GG” excelled as a pinch-hitter, holding the Phillies career record with 117 hits. On baseball’s all-time list, his 143 pinch-hits rank fifth behind Smoky Burgess (145), Manny Mota (150), Mark Sweeney (175) and Lenny Harris (212). Gross’ 117 walks as a pinch-hitter are a Major League record. His five pinch-hit triples are tied for second all time.
The beginning
Gross was selected in the fourth round by the Houston Astros (1970) out of Red Land High School in Lewisberry, Pa. (York County). He was assigned to the Covington (Ky.) Astros and hit .351 in 54 games (74 hits). Playing for the Triple-A Denver Bears (1973), Gross led the American Association with 174 hits. His Major League debut came that September, with a groundout as a pinch-hitter.
Majors career
In addition to the Astros (1973-76, 1989) and Phillies (1979-1988), GG also played for the Cubs (1977-78). He was named Rookie of the Year (1974) by The Sporting News while finishing second to Bake McBride (Cardinals) in BBWAA voting. Gross was traded to Cubs after 1976 season. His first home run came July 6, 1977, off Don Stanhouse (Expos). He played all three outfield positions, plus first base, and also pitched twice (1986, 1989). GG compiled a .287 average in 1,809 games (1,073 hits). More of a contact hitter than a power hitter (seven homers), he walked 523 times and struck out only 250 times in 4,355 plate appearances. That’s unheard of in today’s game.
Phillies career
Acquired from Cubs in major deal just prior to the start of Spring Training in 1979, Gross -- along with second baseman Manny Trillo and catcher Dave Rader -- came east for catcher Barry Foote, outfielder Jerry Martin, second baseman Ted Sizemore and right-handers Derek Botelho and Henry Mack. GG led or tied for most Phillies pinch-hits for eight seasons. His most in a season, 19, came in 1982, when he led the NL. His 100th career pinch-hit came on May 29, 1986 -- a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to put the winning run on second base. Milt Thompson followed with a walk-off hit vs. the Giants at the Vet. Gross’ 10-year totals: 1,080 games, .279 average, 239 walks, 87 strikeouts and his lone Phillies home run (May 27, 1987, off the Padres’ Lance McCullers -- a two-out, two-run shot in the top of the ninth that provided the decisive margin in a 6-4 win). GG holds the franchise pinch-hitting records for most hits (117), at-bats (461) and walks (82).
Phun Phacts
Sept. 10, 1973, was Gross’ third Major League game. Leading off and playing center field for the Astros, he singled in his first at-bat in San Diego Stadium, a line drive to center against Bill Greif. On May 25, 1987, Gross was a seventh-inning defensive replacement in left. He got hit No. 1,000, a line drive to center off Lance McCullers for a two-out RBI single in Jack Murphy Stadium.
Post-playing days
Gross coached baseball at Malvern Prep School for three years. He was a Minor League coach with the Rockies, Phillies and D-backs, and he also managed in Arizona’s Minor League system (2017-18). His final season in uniform was 2018, managing the Reno Aces to a second-place finish. GG was also the Phillies’ Major League bench coach (2001) and hitting coach (2002-2004, 2010-12).
Gut-wrenching playoffs
He didn’t start any of the five games against the Astros in 1980, but he came off the bench and was a key contributor in each of the three wins: four at-bats, three hits, two runs, one RBI.
Game 1 (Oct. 7, Veterans Stadium)
Pinch-hit for Steve Carlton in the bottom of the seventh. Knocked a two-out RBI single off Ken Forsch to increase the Phillies’ lead from 2-1 to 3-1, the final score.
Game 2 (Oct. 8, Veterans Stadium)
Pinch-hit for Dick Ruthven in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 2. Notched a sacrifice bunt vs. Nolan Ryan and advanced the runners to second and third with one out, but neither scored. The Astros won, 10-7, in 10 innings.
Game 3 (Oct. 10, Astrodome)
Did not play. The Astros won, 1-0, in 10 innings again, and the Phils faced elimination.
Game 4 (Oct. 11, Astrodome)
Pinch-hit for Ron Reed to start the eighth with the Phillies trailing, 2-0. Singled off Vern Ruhle then scored the first of three runs for a 3-2 lead. The Astros tied it in the bottom of the ninth, but the Phillies won, 5-3, with two runs in 10th on two-out doubles by Greg Luzinski and Manny Trillo.
Game 5 (Oct. 12, Astrodome)
Entered in the bottom of the bottom of the seventh in left, batting ninth, with the Phillies trailing, 5-2. Bunted for base hit with two on and no outs in the eighth to load the bases, and the Phils erupted for five runs to take a 7-5 lead. The Astros scored two with two outs in the bottom of the inning to tie it. In the top of the 10th, a two-out double scored the difference-maker for Philadelphia, and in the bottom of the frame, the final out triggered a wild celebration as the Phillies advanced to the World Series with a 8-7 win.