Buddy Gremp

Lewis Edward Gremp

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut September 13, 1940
• Final Game September 26, 1942
• Born August 5, 1919 in Denver, CO USA
• Died January 30, 1995 in Manteca, CA USA

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Biographical Information

". . . he (Mickey Cochrane) says 'Gee, it's going to be awful tough to play ball. You try to play ball this summer, they'll boo you out of every park in the big leagues.' . . . Near the end of the season, I signed up for naval aviation, which took the heat off completely. In November, I got called, and five of us, Johnny Sain and Buddy Gremp of the Braves, Joe Coleman of the Athletics, Johnny Pesky and myself, went to Amherst College for preliminary ground school - navigation, aerodynamics, math, aeronautics, all basic stuff." - Ted Williams, about 1942

Buddy Gremp played first base for the Boston Bees and Boston Braves from 1940 to 1942, in the days when the team was managed by Casey Stengel. Gremp was age 20 when he made his debut. Buddy Hassett was the starting first baseman for the etam in 1940 and 1941, while Max West was the starter in 1942.

He played for the Union Springs Redbirds of the Alabama-Florida League in 1938.

He and Johnny Sain were roommates in the minors and in the majors. In 1942, he, Sain, Johnny Pesky, Ted Williams and Joe Coleman were sent to Amherst College for naval training. In May 1943, the training mates and others played as a team against Harvard University.

Buddy served in the United States Navy during World War II. After baseball he was a self-employed auctioneer for 50 years for a livestock auction. Gremp died from cardiopulmonary arrest on January 30, 1995 at St. Dominic's Hospital in Manteca, CA.