TTM Stats
- Sent: 9/29/2020 | Received: 10/10/2020 | 11 Days
- ’70 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Billy Grabarkewitz is a former infielder in the major leagues. He mostly played at second and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Oakland Athletics. His seven year career spanned from 1969 to 1975.
Grabarkewitz was born and raised in Texas. He played a bunch of sports in high school and then went to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio for two years. The Dodgers drafted him in the twelfth round of the 1966 MLB Draft. He impressed in the minors and was a very fast player. Then in 1968 he broke his leg in six places in a collision at home plate during a Texas League game. Doctors feared he might not ever play again.
It was only the following season that he came back and made it up to the big ball club, debuting on April 22, 1969. He got a shot at shortstop but he had a rough go of it and the Dodgers got Maury Wills back and Grabarkewitz went back down to the minors.
1970 was probably his best year, but in reality it was the beginning of the year that he was at his best. He played second and then third, and he hit .341 by the All-Star Game and while he was elected, he was chosen as a reserve. It was his single in the bottom of the twelfth that set up the infamous Pete Rose and Ray Fosse collision at the plate. Unfortunately he had a .232 average to end at .289 and wasn’t in contention for the batting title any more.
A trade to the Angels after the 1972 season started a lot of moving around until the end of his career. There would be three other trades to move him around. His play at each place would be eclipsed by other players and teams would move on him. He played his last game on April 25, 1975 for the A’s.
The Score on Billy Grabarkewitz – 6.0
I’m not sure if he does this all the time, or maybe just on cards that don’t have as much room, but I actually love that he just made it “Billy G.” The fact that I had the 1970 card for his only All-Star season was great but even better that he used had the inscription on there as well. Hey, if you only made one you might as well brag about it!
Thanks Mr. Grabarkewitz! I’m giving this a 6 overall.
>>> READ MORE ABOUT MY AUTOGRAPH SCORING SYSTEM <<<
Thanks for visiting BravestarrCards.com: Card Collecting and TTM Autographs.
Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.