John Grabow

Grabow grew up in Arcadia, California,{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/john-grabow-346848|title=John Grabow Stats, Fantasy & News|website=Major League Baseball}} and was a Dodgers fan, playing first base. Grabow is Jewish, as is his mother, and his Lebanese-Jewish maternal grandmother had the surname Mizrachi and immigrated from Beirut, Lebanon.{{cite web|url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/pittsburghs-jewish-pirates-mots-playingball-in-burghfor-127-years/|title=Pittsburgh's Jewish Pirates MOTs playing ball in 'Burgh for 127 years |newspaper=Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle |author=Lee Chottiner | date=1 April 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/players/john-grabow/|title=John Grabow - Jewish Baseball News|website=www.jewishbaseballnews.com}}{{cite web|last=Rosen |first=Harvey |url=http://www.jewishledger.com/articles/2008/03/05/news/news03.txt |title=Warming up for the Jewish boys of summer |work=The Jewish Ledger |date=March 5, 2008 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715081157/http://www.jewishledger.com/articles/2008/03/05/news/news03.txt |archive-date=July 15, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishsports.com/profiles/johngrabow.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206234012/http://www.jewishsports.com/profiles/johngrabow.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2004 |date=December 6, 2004 |access-date=August 24, 2011|title=John Grabow }} There were 13 Jewish players in the majors in 2008, including Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Braun, Jason Marquis, and Ian Kinsler.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09130/969100-63.stm |title=Kovacevic, Dejan, "On the Pirates: Youth? Not the problem"|work=The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=May 10, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010}} Grabow was one of three Jewish ballplayers on the Team USA 2009 World Baseball Classic team, joining Braun and Youkilis.{{cite web|url=http://www.stljewishlight.com/commentaries/294006036495314.php |title=Editorial: Anti-semitism in Venezuela; There is No Joy in Caracas |work=St. Louis Jewish Light |date=March 19, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331104647/http://www.stljewishlight.com/commentaries/294006036495314.php |archive-date=March 31, 2009 }} His 448 career games pitched through 2010 placed him 3rd on the all-time list for Jewish major league pitchers, three games behind Ken Holtzman.{{cite web|url=http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/crrldrs/crrldrs.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711003607/http://jewishmajorleaguers.org/crrldrs/crrldrs.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 11, 2012|title=Career Pitching Leaders|publisher=Jewishmajorleaguers.org|access-date=February 3, 2011}}

Grabow married Kindra Townsend Grabow in 2016.{{cite web | title=Chicago Cubs Pitcher Marries in Maui | publisher=Tad Craig | date=November 17, 2016 | url=https://tadcraigphotography.com/chicago-cubs-pitcher-marries-maui/ | access-date=November 17, 2016 | archive-date=April 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413153700/https://tadcraigphotography.com/chicago-cubs-pitcher-marries-maui/ | url-status=dead }}

He was a pitcher at San Gabriel High School in California, and was named his league's most valuable player as well as All-California Interscholastic Federation in baseball in his senior year in 1997. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 3rd round of the 1997 amateur draft.

In 1998, Grabow was hit on the ear by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout and spent some time on the disabled list.

In 1999 Grabow led the Hickory Crawdads (A) in victories, starts, and innings pitched, and ranked third in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts with 164, in 156 innings.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=346848&y=1999 |title=John Grabow: Biography and Career Highlights|work=MLB.com |date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=May 3, 2009}}

Grabow matched the Altoona Curve record for career wins, with 24.{{cite web|url=http://www.tribune-democrat.com/prosports/local_story_144000416.html |title=Curve Bounce Baysox |work=Tribune Democrat |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914015609/http://www.tribune-democrat.com/prosports/local_story_144000416.html |archive-date=September 14, 2012 }} Until 2003, he had pitched only 10 times in relief as a pro.{{cite web |last=Rutter |first=Joe |title=Lefties bolster Bucs' bullpen |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_192392.html |date=May 4, 2004 |access-date=July 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817172131/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_192392.html |archive-date=August 17, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} That season Altoona manager Dale Sveum and pitching coach Jeff Andrews asked Grabow to make the switch, suggesting it might be a good career move. "I didn't know if it was a step backwards", Grabow said. But Grabow was then promoted to Class AAA Nashville in July, and pitched exclusively as a relief pitcher there before joining the Pirates for the final weeks of the year.

Through 2003, he averaged 7.6 strikeouts per 9 innings in the minor leagues, striking out 9.5 batters per 9 innings at the AAA level.

In the summer of 2003 he made six appearances with Team USA in the Olympic qualifying team trials.[http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/030926teamusagrabow.html "USA Baseball Adds John Grabow to Roster"], Baseball America, September 30, 2003, accessed July 23, 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006013854/http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/030926teamusagrabow.html |date=October 6, 2012 }}{{cite web|author=Jenifer Langosch |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090325&content_id=4067240&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |title=Grabow welcomed back from Classic | pirates.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |date=March 25, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}

Grabow was called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003, after having spent six years playing in the minor leagues. It was the most memorable moment of his life.{{cite web|last=Eagle |first=Ed |title=Batting Around with John Grabow: Questions and answers with Bucs lefty middle reliever|work= MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060522&content_id=1465940&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|date=May 25, 2006 |access-date=July 18, 2009}}

Grabow appeared in 68 games in his first year with the Pirates, a team record for the number of appearances by a rookie left-hander.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=346848&y=2004 |title=John Grabow: Biography and Career Highlights|work=MLB.com |date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=May 3, 2009}} Used both in short stints and long ones, Grabow said: "That stuff where there are guys in certain roles, yeah, there are some guys who have roles set, but I don't think I'm one of them. I just pitch when they tell me to. Whether it's one or two innings, or to one batter, it doesn't matter to me."

On the light side, for his rookie hazing he had to wear a Tweety Bird backpack during batting practice and carrying all the snacks to the bullpen, go through an airport wearing a cheerleader outfit that was two sizes too small, and serve drinks on the plane.{{cite web |last=Rutter |first=Joe |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_157096.html |title=Notebook: Stairs makes rookies look foolish |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=September 27, 2003 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818014528/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_157096.html |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}

In February 2005 Grabow signed a contract pursuant to which he would make $327,000 in the majors, but $240,000 if he pitched at Class AAA Indianapolis.{{cite web |last=Rutter |first=Joe |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_307947.html |title=Rutter, John, Notebook: Perez cleared to return |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=February 27, 2005 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818014533/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_307947.html |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} He was a workhorse in the Pittsburgh bullpen in 2005, appearing in 63 games in his second full major league season. He held opposing batters to a .186 batting average and a .186 slugging percentage when there were runners in scoring position.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/psplit.cgi?n1=grabojo02&year=2005 |title=John Grabow 2005 Pitching Splits |work=Baseball Reference |access-date=May 3, 2009}} He stranded a major-league best 89.7% of his inherited runners, allowing just 4 of 39 inherited runners to score.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=346848&y=2005 |title=John Grabow: Biography and Career Highlights|work=MLB.com |date=September 14, 2003 |access-date=May 3, 2009}}

In 2006, he appeared in 72 games. He held opposing batters to a .217 batting average when there were runners in scoring position. Grabow stranded 82.5% of the runners he inherited, the best in the National League.{{cite web|author=Eagle, Ed|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061221&content_id=1765800&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |title=Bucs' rotation will be key in '07|work=MLB.com |date=December 21, 2006 |access-date=May 3, 2009}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

In February 2007, Grabow and the Pirates avoided arbitration, and agreed to a 1-year contract for $832,500. Grabow was also in a position to make $10,000 to $70,000 in incentive bonuses if he finished 20–35 games, but was not able to cash in as he only finished 14 games. He was also in a position to make an additional $10,000 to $45,000 in incentive bonuses if he made 75–85 appearances, but again was not able to cash in as he made only 63 appearances.{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20070204054038/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/2007/02/02/3507657-ap.html Canoe.com, 2/2/07]}}

Grabow was 3–2 with the Pirates, with a 4.53 ERA. He had held batters to a .215 batting average and a .231 slugging percentage with runners in scoring position, while leading the team by only allowing 5.3% of batters he faced to get extra base hits.

Grabow initially planned to have minor surgery after the 2007 season to remove bone chips in his left elbow.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07233/810963-63.stm |title=Pirates Notebook: Grabow planning offseason surgery |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=August 21, 2007 |access-date=May 3, 2009| first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic}} But after receiving a cortisone shot in August, he changed his mind. "I've been symptom-free for the past few weeks", Grabow said. "I want to see what my options are. I don't think I'll really need to have surgery. Maybe I can manage it, and pitch through it."{{cite web |url=http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=3785&line=224492&spln=1 |title=Fantasy Baseball Breaking News |work=Rotoworld |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816211750/http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=MLB&id=3785&line=224492&spln=1 |archive-date=August 16, 2009 |url-status=dead }} He had his left elbow examined by Los Angeles Angels orthopedist Lewis Yocum, who suggested that rest would be an effective alternative to arthroscopic surgery.{{cite web|url=http://mets.scout.com/a.z?s=228&p=2&c=688338 |title=MLB Insiders – Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=Mets.scout.com |date=October 8, 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07330/836772-63.stm |title=Grabow, other Pirates healing nicely |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 26, 2007 |access-date=May 21, 2010 | first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic}} Grabow then decided against surgery, and instead followed a program of rest and rehabilitation,{{cite web|url=http://padres.scout.com/a.z?s=315&p=2&c=716132 |title=MLB Insiders—Pittsburgh Pirates |publisher=Padres.scout.com |date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=May 3, 2009}} extending his period of rest from three to eight weeks, and concentrating his workouts more on strengthening his legs and shoulders.{{cite web|author=Todd Krise|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080919&content_id=3509003&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Grabow gaining experience, wisdom: Reliever reaping the rewards of intense preparation|work=Mlb.com |date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}

Grabow earned $1.135 million in 2008. He also had the potential to earn an additional $75,000 based on appearances.{{cite web|author=Langosch, Jenifer|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080118&content_id=2350509&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Notes: Nady, Grabow avoid arbitration|work=MLB.com |access-date=May 3, 2009}}

In 2008, he had the third-lowest ERA of all NL left-handed relievers (2.84), and stranded all but 8 of his 33 inherited runners (76%).{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08274/916097-63.stm |title=Pirates 2008 players' report card, salary status |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=September 30, 2008 |access-date=May 3, 2009 | first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic}} Batters hit only .215 against him (and only .146 with runners in scoring position), and he struck out a team-best 19.3% of all batters he faced, while leading the team by only allowing 5.6% of batters he faced to get extra base hits. He also pitched in 74 games, four short of the record for left-handed pitchers, set by Scott Sauerbeck in 2002.

Grabow edged Minnesota's Craig Breslow for the 2008 Barney Pelty Award for Jewish Pitcher of the Year.{{cite web |url=http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/010109/sptYoukilis.html |title=Youkilis, Grabow, Kapler named best Jewish Major Leaguers |work=New Jersey Jewish News |date=January 1, 2009 |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509170445/http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/010109/sptYoukilis.html |archive-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Grabow agreed to a one-year deal for $2.3 million, with an additional $75,000 possible in incentives, in early January.{{cite web|author=Langosch, Jenifer|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090120&content_id=3751305&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp |title=Bucs avoid arbitration with four players |work=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2009 |access-date=May 3, 2009}} Despite Grabow being eligible to become a free agent at the end of the season, the Pirates did not engage in contract talks beyond 2008.{{cite web|author=Langosch, Jenifer |url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090325&content_id=4067240&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |title=Grabow welcomed back from Classic |work=MLB.com |date=March 25, 2009 |access-date=May 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817115425/http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090325&content_id=4067240&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |archive-date=August 17, 2009 }}

Grabow accepted an invitation to play for Team USA in 2009 in the second World Baseball Classic.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09062/952718-63.stm |title=Grabow gets call from U.S. for Classic |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=March 3, 2009|access-date=May 3, 2009 | first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic}} He was the first member of the Pirates to represent the US in the WBC. "It's just a thrill, a real honor", he said. "When I got the call, I couldn't believe it. Hopefully, I can help them win some games." He tied for the WBC lead in games pitched (with six), and had a 2.08 ERA, helping Team USA reach the semi-finals.{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/stats/index.jsp?team=wbc|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120215235346/http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/stats/index.jsp?team=wbc|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2012|title=World Baseball Classic: Statistics|publisher=Worldbaseballclassic.com|access-date=May 3, 2009|df=mdy-all}}

On July 20 Grabow became the all-time appearances leader at PNC Park with his 189th, and was tied for ninth all-time on the Pirates' appearance list (385) with Rip Sewell.

In July 2009 the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Florida Marlins, and Los Angeles Dodgers had all expressed interest in trading for Grabow.{{cite web|url=http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=12756 |title=Russo, Frank, Rumor Mill: Wang, Halladay, Wells, Cliff Lee, and Others|work=NY Baseball Digest |date=July 16, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}{{cite web|author=Jesse Sanchez |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090723&content_id=6013174&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Roundup: Deals could be on Bucs' horizon |work=Mlb.com |access-date=May 21, 2010}} Asked about the possibility of the Pirates trading him, Grabow, failing to stifle a grin, responded "I'm untouchable, dude. No way they're trading me."{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09186/981888-63.stm |title=On the Pirates: No Avoiding the Middlemen|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=July 5, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010 | first=Dejan | last=Kovacevic}} On July 30, Grabow was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with fellow left-handed pitcher Tom Gorzelanny for right-handed pitchers Kevin Hart and José Ascanio and minor league third baseman Josh Harrison.{{cite news|last=Kovacevic |first=Dejan |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09211/987565-100.stm |title=Grabow, Gorzelanny traded to Cubs|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=July 30, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}

Grabow began his Cubs career with 16 consecutive scoreless appearances (over 13.0 innings), and stranded his first 11 inherited runners.

He pitched 30 games for the Cubs, ending the season with a career-high 75 games pitched.{{cite web|url=http://chicagopressrelease.com/press-releases/chicago-cubs-left-handed-pitcher-john-grabow-agree-to-terms-on-two-year-contract |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330170122/http://chicagopressrelease.com/press-releases/chicago-cubs-left-handed-pitcher-john-grabow-agree-to-terms-on-two-year-contract |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |title="Chicago Cubs, Left-Handed Pitcher John Grabow Agree to Terms on Two-Year Contract", Press Release, November 23, 2009, accessed December 14, 2009 |publisher=Chicagopressrelease.com |access-date=May 21, 2010}}

On November 20, 2009, he signed a two-year extension with the Cubs worth $7.5 million.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/wires/11/20/2010.ap.bbn.cubs.grabow.0083/ | work=CNN | title=Cubs agree with Grabow | date=November 20, 2009 | access-date=May 6, 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} General Manager Jim Hendry said: "It was really imperative we re-sign Grabow, because he's not only our kind of guy and very successful, but has some experience and some savvy to him and can pitch seventh, eighth, ninth, matchups, righties, lefties. It doesn't matter."[http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=342752&src=152 Miles, Bruce, "Williams gets busy at winter meetings"], Chicago Daily Herald, December 9, 2009, accessed December 14, 2009 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320103140/http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=342752&src=152 |date=March 20, 2012 }} Grabow said he had no preference as to how he was used: "If it's the sixth inning or if it's the ninth inning, it doesn't matter. Your job is to go in there and get guys out."[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gpoa-lu0bBtqJXnd2JStwiAEzrcwD9C3F8N80 Gano, Rick, "Grabow gets $7.5 million, 2-year deal from Cubs"], Associated Press, November 20, 2009, accessed December 14, 2009{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He became a free agent following the 2011 season.

On December 19, 2011, Grabow signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He opted out of his contract on March 26, 2012 and became a free agent.

Grabow had a 94 mph fastball that runs inside on left-handed hitters, a sharp, hard, late-breaking slider, "one of the best changeups in the game", "the bottom falling out of it", which confounds right-handers,{{cite web|url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090129/BASEBALL04/301299882/-1/SPORTS19 |title=Pirates' Grabow learns about Erie winters |publisher=GoErie.com |date=January 29, 2009|access-date=May 3, 2009}}{{cite web |last=Rutter |first=Joe |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_463407.html |title=Grabow bright spot in bullpen |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=July 26, 2006 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818014541/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_463407.html |archive-date=August 18, 2009 |df=mdy-all }} and was equally adept at getting both right and left-handed batters out.

• List of Jewish Major League Baseball players

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Baseballstats | mlb=346848| espn=5864|br=g/grabojo02|fangraphs=1848|brm=grabow001joh}}

{{United States roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grabow, John}}

Category:1978 births

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Category:Baseball players from Arcadia, California

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