Billy Grabarkewitz--1973
He was an All-Star?
Gazing off into a not so distant past,
Billy Grabarkewitz is lost in his 1973
Topps photo moment, probably
wondering what happened to the
1970 All-Star.
As a rookie, Grabarkewitz would find
himself lined up alongside future Hall
of Famers Hank Aaron, Roberto
Clemente, Bob Gibson and Johnny
Bench in representing the National
League in 1970 Mid-Summer Classic.
On the strength of a .341 average
and nine homers at the break, Mets
manager Gil Hodge's selected the
24-year-old to join his star-studded
collection of players, as Grabarkewitz
was not on the ballot, but was a
popular write-in candidate by the
fans.
With the 1970 All-Star Game being
an extra inning affair, Grabarkewitz
enjoyed three at-bats after taking
over at third base for Cincinnati's
Tony Perez in the top of the seventh
inning.
Hitless in his first two plate
appearances with a flyout off of Jim
Perry and a ground out to short of
Mel Stottlemeyer; Billy G. would follow
Pete Rose's two-out single in the
bottom of the 12th, with a hit of his
own off California southpaw Clyde
Wright; helping to set the stage for
Jim Hickman's single that would send
Rose crashing into Ray Fosse in an
unforgettable All-Star moment as the
NL walked off with the victory.
Unfortunately injuries would rob
Grabarkewitz of a would-be stellar
career. The versatile infielder would
never regain his stroke, finishing a
7-year career with a .236 average in
466 games that took him from the
Dodgers to the Angels, Phillies, Cubs
and Athletics on his downward spiral.
All this leads me to gaze off into
space and wonder about my own life
accomplishments... and then I think
of Billy G.
(7/14/09)
Gazing off into a not so distant past,
Billy Grabarkewitz is lost in his 1973
Topps photo moment, probably
wondering what happened to the
1970 All-Star.
As a rookie, Grabarkewitz would find
himself lined up alongside future Hall
of Famers Hank Aaron, Roberto
Clemente, Bob Gibson and Johnny
Bench in representing the National
League in 1970 Mid-Summer Classic.
On the strength of a .341 average
and nine homers at the break, Mets
manager Gil Hodge's selected the
24-year-old to join his star-studded
collection of players, as Grabarkewitz
was not on the ballot, but was a
popular write-in candidate by the
fans.
With the 1970 All-Star Game being
an extra inning affair, Grabarkewitz
enjoyed three at-bats after taking
over at third base for Cincinnati's
Tony Perez in the top of the seventh
inning.
Hitless in his first two plate
appearances with a flyout off of Jim
Perry and a ground out to short of
Mel Stottlemeyer; Billy G. would follow
Pete Rose's two-out single in the
bottom of the 12th, with a hit of his
own off California southpaw Clyde
Wright; helping to set the stage for
Jim Hickman's single that would send
Rose crashing into Ray Fosse in an
unforgettable All-Star moment as the
NL walked off with the victory.
Unfortunately injuries would rob
Grabarkewitz of a would-be stellar
career. The versatile infielder would
never regain his stroke, finishing a
7-year career with a .236 average in
466 games that took him from the
Dodgers to the Angels, Phillies, Cubs
and Athletics on his downward spiral.
All this leads me to gaze off into
space and wonder about my own life
accomplishments... and then I think
of Billy G.
(7/14/09)
