Alex Grammas

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Alexander Peter Grammas

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Biographical Information[edit]

Alex Grammas came up with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954, where he became the shortstop in the double play combination with second baseman Red Schoendienst. He had 401 at-bats that year but never got as many in any other season in his career.

After playing for a decade in the majors, infielder Grammas was a manager in the Chicago Cubs' organization in 1964 and also a major league coach, as the team was rotating its field staff as part of the College of Coaches experiment. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching staff in 1965 and remained with them through 1969, when he also managed the club for five games at the end of the season. From 1970 to 1975, he was a Cincinnati Reds coach before a two-year stint as skipper of the Milwaukee Brewers.

While with the Brewers, he managed the young shortstop Robin Yount, and home run champion Hank Aaron for his last season. However, the Brewers finished last in both 1976 and 1977, and he was dismissed in favor of George Bamberger, who turned the team around the next season.

He returned to the Reds coaching staff in 1978 before spending 1979 with the Atlanta Braves. From 1980 to 1991, Grammas was a Detroit Tigers coach on Sparky Anderson's staff - the third time he had worked with the Hall of Fame manager.

His brother, Pete Grammas, played in the Chicago White Sox system in 1949 and 1950.


Preceded by
Larry Shepard
Pittsburgh Pirates Manager
1969
Succeeded by
Danny Murtaugh
Preceded by
Harvey Kuenn
Milwaukee Brewers Manager
1976-1977
Succeeded by
George Bamberger

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1964 Fort Worth Cats Texas League 51-89 6th Chicago Cubs
1969 Pittsburgh Pirates National League 4-1 3rd Pittsburgh Pirates replaced Larry Shepard (84-73) on September 26
1976 Milwaukee Brewers American League 66-95 6th Milwaukee Brewers
1977 Milwaukee Brewers American League 67-95 6th Milwaukee Brewers

Further Reading[edit]

  • Maxwell Kates: "Alex Grammas", in Mark Pattison and David Raglin, ed.: Detroit Tigers 1984: What A Start! What A Finish!, SABR Publications, Phoenix, AZ, 2012, pp. 199-203. ISBN 1933599448

Related Sites[edit]