On this day, 85 years ago, one of MLB’s greatest pitchers of all time earned the final win of his career, doing so in historic fashion.
July 25 is a significant day in sports history, especially for MLB. In 1956, Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit the only walk-off grand slam inside the park. In 1978, Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose set a record by hitting 38 consecutive games.
And on July 25, 1941, Boston Red Sox pitcher Lefty Grove secured final victory of his 17-year MLB career in a 10–6 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park (Boston).
Pitching all nine innings, the 41-year-old Grove recorded six strikeouts and allowed 12 hits, including one home run. Nevertheless, the game resulted in Groves’ 300th career win, making him the 12th MLB pitcher in history to accomplish the feat.
Although it was the final win of his career, it was not Grove’s last game. A 7–1 loss to his former team, the Philadelphia Athletics, occurred on September 28, 1941.
Almost a century later, Lefty Grove was considered the ‘greatest pitcher of all time’
To this day, Grove is still considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. The left-handed pitcher finished his MLB career with a 300–141 record, earning six All-Star nods, two World Series championships, two Triple Crowns, and an AL MVP.
Grove has been consistently listed among the best pitchers of all time, but Bleacher Report It has even been said that he is “the greatest pitcher of all time”.
Grove was considered the best when compared to other pitching greats including Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Satchel Paige and Nolan Ryan.
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