1970–1986 · 2B

Bobby Grich

6' 2", 180 lbs·Lived to 77·Bats R / Throws R

4×Gold GloveSilver SluggerAll-Star

The Almanac's Take

Grich might be the most underappreciated second baseman of his generation, a player whose defensive brilliance and power combination was decades ahead of its time. His 224 career home runs ranked among the highest totals ever for a second baseman when he retired, while his four Gold Gloves barely scratched the surface of his defensive impact.

The 1981 season showcased peak Grich: a .304 average with 22 homers and an OPS+ of 134 that made him one of the game's most valuable players. That campaign perfectly captured his unique skill set — elite defense paired with genuine pop from a premium position.

His career 111 OPS+ tells the story of sustained excellence over 17 seasons, consistently outperforming league average while manning second base at a Hall of Fame level. Modern analytics would have loved Grich's complete game long before WAR became common currency.

Career Highs

.921

Best OPS · 1981

Most HR · 1979

101

Most RBI · 1979

.304

Best AVG · 1981

Career Arc · OPS

17 seasons

Statistical Comps

Pete Alonso

99%

2025 season

ISO .252 · K% 22.8 · BB% 8.6 · HR% 5.4

Aaron Judge

98%

2025 season

ISO .357 · K% 23.6 · BB% 18.3 · HR% 7.8

Nathan Lukes

98%

2025 season

ISO .152 · K% 13.9 · BB% 8.8 · HR% 2.8

Career · Batting

17 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	HR	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1970	BAL	30	95	0	8	.211	.563	79
1971	BAL	7	30	1	6	.300	.800	117
1972	BAL	133	460	12	50	.278	.773	116
1973	BAL	162	581	12	50	.251	.760	108
1974	BAL	160	582	19	82	.263	.807	116
1975	BAL	150	524	13	57	.260	.787	112
1976	BAL	144	518	13	54	.266	.790	116
1977	CAL	52	181	7	23	.243	.762	104
1978	CAL	144	487	6	42	.251	.685	98
1979	CAL	153	534	30	101	.294	.903	124
1980	CAL	150	498	14	62	.271	.785	110
1981	CAL	100	352	22	61	.304	.921	134
1982	CAL	145	506	19	65	.261	.819	115
1983	CAL	120	387	16	62	.292	.874	122
1984	CAL	116	363	18	58	.256	.809	114
1985	CAL	144	479	13	53	.242	.727	102
1986	CAL	98	313	9	30	.268	.766	106
Career		2008	6890	224	864	.266	—	—

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