OTD July 7
Grimm managed for 24 seasons (1932-1960) in the Majors and Minors winning 1,884 games and leading the Cubs to 3 NL Pennants during his managerial career.
OTD (On This Day) in 1936, the National League wins it’s first All-Star game under Cubs manager Charlie Grimm. Grimm managed for 24 seasons (1932-1960) in the Majors and Minors winning 1,884 games and leading the Cubs to 3 NL Pennants during his managerial career. Grimm also played baseball for 21 seasons (1916-1936) batting .290 with 2,299 career MLB hits. But before all his accomplishments, Grimm’s baseball career didn’t fully begin until 1917, at age 18, when Grimm spent the season with the Durham Bulls of the NC State League — logging 99 at-bats. By 1920, Grimm was a full-time Major League first baseman. Nicknamed Jolly Cholly during his career, Charlie was an on-field entertainer for the fans, including playing a banjo and singing to the crowd during pre-game warm ups. While a great player and highly accomplished manager, Grimm falls into the Gil Hodges category of being only “great” in two different baseball roles, and not extraordinary enough to earn an induction into the National Baseball HoF.