Grove, Robert Moses

Grove, Robert Moses (Lefty Grove), 1900–1975, American baseball player, b. Lonaconing, Md. A left-handed pitcher, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1925–33) and Boston Red Sox (1934–41). In 1931 his season record of 31 victories against four defeats (including 16 consecutive wins that equaled an American League record) earned him the league's Most Valuable Player award. In his 17 years he won 300 and lost 141 games for a lifetime winning percentage of .680; he led the league in earned run average nine times and in strikeouts seven times. Grove was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.