Robert Moses Grove was a Major League Baseball player who pitched with the Philadelphia Athletics (1925-1933) and Boston Red Sox (1934-1941). Lefty, his nickname made his big league debut on April 14, 1925 , along with another future hall of fame teammate - do you know who it was? [ Answer ]

Lefty Grove | 2002 Fleer Rival Factions Baseball Card (#30RF) | Baseball Almanac Collection

The back of the baseball card (above) includes the following text:

Lefty Grove : Setting the standard by which all future Philadelphia southpaws would be judged, Grove was a nine-time ERA champ, who also compiled seven strikeout crowns and 2266 K's, 1,523 while in Philly. He retired in 1941 as the greatest left-hander to ever play the game.

Steve Carlton : That distinction now belongs to Carlton , who won four Cy Young Awards and chalked up 329 career wins, second all-time among lefties to Warren Spahn . Steve racked up five strikeout crowns and 4,136 strikeouts, 3031 coming as a Phillie.

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Did you know that Lefty Grove is the first pitcher in Major League history to strike out the side on exactly nine pitches twice during the same season? [ Immaculate Innings ] Let's take a look at some additional numbers of interest for Lefty Grove, who some said, "could throw a lamb chop past a wolf."

2 : Lefty Grove led the American League (AL) in wins, strikeouts, and ERA, in 1930 - winning the Triple Crown . A year later ( 1931 ), he did it again, the first junior circuit pitcher to put together back-to-back Triple Crown seasons!

3 : Lefty Grove led the AL in complete games three times ( 1931 , 1932, 1933), shutouts three times ( 1931 , 1932, 1936), and won 25-or-more games three times (1930, 1931 , 1932).

4 : Lefty Grove led the AL in wins four times (1928, 1930, 1931 , 1933). During that time frame, Lefty had the second most wins (20) in 1927, third most wins (20) in 1929, second most wins (25) in 1932, and the fourth most wins (20) in 1935.

7 : Lefty Grove was not just a seven-time strikeout champion , he did them all in consecutive seasons! The AL strikeout leader from 1925, through 1931, the second longest streak in Major League history! Do you know who had 8-in-a-row? [ Answer ]

9 : Lefty Grove was a nine-time ERA Champion (1926, 1929, 1930, 1931 , 1932, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939), the most times leading any league in earned run average by any pitcher in baseball history!

In 1931 , Lefty Grove dominated the league, finishing with the most wins (31), the most complete games (27), the most shutouts (4), the most strikeouts (175), the best earned run average (2.06 ERA), and the best winning percentage (.886 / he only lost 4 games). The Baseball Writers' Association of America started awarding the Most Valuable Player Award in 1931, and Grove was the first player (pitcher) to receive it in the American League!

Lefty Grove | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1947 ( HOF )