In a land that is flat and a sky that is wide there rests a small town called Elba, Nebraska. Here, in a log cabin built by his father, a boy named Grover Cleveland Alexander was born on February 26, 1887. Raised in a farming family, Grover was one of thirteen children born to William and Martha Alexander. Only eight of those siblings survived to adulthood. Grover’s father was a Democrat through and through, and he named his son after President Grover Cleveland, a fellow Democrat in office at the time.
Grover went to school in Elba, where he graduated from St. Paul High School. Not long after he was out of the classroom, he was in the fields digging postholes for the Howard County Telephone Company. When not working, Grover played semi-pro ball, where he was a natural. He signed his first professional contract at the tender age of 20, earning just $50 a month.
He first played professionally for the Galesburg Boosters in the Class D League. But, it wasn’t all sunshine and roses. One day, while baserunning, he was hit by a thrown ball, almost ending his career.
In the subsequent season of 1910, he finished 29–11 for the Syracuse Stars of the Class B New York State League. It was at this time that Grover caught the eye the Philadelphia Phillies who bought him for a cool $750.
Grover made a stunning debut for the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching a five-inning no-hit, no-run game against the Athletics in the 1911 pre-season City Series, followed by his official Major League debut in April.
It was the beginning of an extraordinary career for the young pitcher. That same year, he was joined on the Phillies by catcher Bill Killefer, who would become Grover’s favorite battery mate, catching an impressive 250 of his games.
In his rookie season, Grover proved his talent, leading the league in several categories, including wins, complete games, innings pitched, and shutouts. He finished second in strikeouts and fourth in ERA. He quickly established himself as one of the best in the league, dominating from 1912 to 1921. During that time, Grover led the league in ERA four times and wins five times.
However, along the way, there began a struggle with alcohol, a battle that would follow him for the rest of his life. Yet, despite such struggle he was instrumental in leading the Phillies to their first pennant in 1915, pitching a record five one-hitters and winning the pitching Major League triple crown.
With a pitch that could sing like a siren and a control that seemed preternatural, he dominated the diamond, with some saying he was the BEST pitcher in all of baseball at that time. From 1914 to 1917, he had 30 wins, a 1.74 ERA, and 206 strikeouts every season. Even Cubs superstar Johnny Evers was not immune to his magic, once lamenting, “He made me want to throw my bat away. He could throw into a tin can all day long.”
After the 1917 season, the Phillies decided to trade Grover along with his favorite battery mate, Bill Killefer, to the Cubs for a catcher named Pickles Dillhoefer, pitcher Mike Prendergast, and a whopping $60,000. The Phillies’ owner, William Baker, later admitted that he just needed the money, and the trade didn’t do much for the Phillies in the long run.
Before he could ever don that Cubs uniform, Grover was drafted into the Army during World War I. A month before shipping out, he got himself hitched to a lady named Amy Marie Arrants in a courthouse ceremony in Manhattan, Kansas.
Grover spent most of the 1918 season in France as a sergeant with the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, 89th Division. But things weren’t easy for him over there. Like many of his comrades, he came back from the trenches with shell shock. It has been said that he couldn’t shake the memories of the mustard gas attacks and the sound of the bombs exploding around him. One shell exploded so close to him that it caused partial hearing loss and triggered the onset of epilepsy. After returning to the States in April 1919, Grover would carry the weight of his wartime experiences with him forever. Sadly, many people often mistook his bouts with seizures for drunkenness.
Amidst all the chaos of his personal life, Grover continued to display immense talent on the baseball field, leading the Cubs to several successful years and earning another pitching triple crown in 1920.
Still his increasing drunkenness and insubordination had become a point of contention for the Cubs. In the middle of the 1926 season, they sold him to the Cardinals for waiver price.
Despite the Cubs’ concerns, Grover proved to be an invaluable addition to the Cardinals lineup. In the fall of 1926, the Cardinals found themselves facing the mighty New York Yankees in the World Series. The series was tightly contested, with each team trading victories, but Grover proved to be the true difference-maker. In Game 2, he pitched a complete game victory, leading the Cardinals to a 6-2 win. But it was in Game 6 where Alexander truly cemented his place in baseball history.
After leading the Yankees 3-2 in the series, the Cardinals were determined to seal their victory on their home turf. However, when their starter, Jesse Haines, developed a blister, the team was left scrambling for a reliever. In stepped Grover Cleveland Alexander, Old Pete, nursing the effects of a previous night of heavy drinking.
Despite his condition, Grover was determined to help the Cardinals secure their first championship. Facing the mighty Tony Lazzeri, Grover struck him out, and then proceeded to hold the Yankees scoreless for two more innings. In the end, the heroics paid off as Grover secured the final out of the game when Babe Ruth was caught trying to steal second base, securing the Cardinals’ championship.
Grover’s triumphant performance in Game 6 would become the stuff of legends. It would stand as testament to his courage and determination in the face of adversity. Despite the personal demons that plagued him, he was a true hero on the diamond, a master of his craft who rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
The grandeur of Grover’ accomplishments on the mound are undeniable and despite his struggles with alcoholism and epilepsy, he managed to secure one last 20-win season with the Cardinals in 1927. His career was cut short by his continued drinking, though he made a brief return to the Phillies in 1930, before bidding farewell to the major leagues. The great Rogers Hornsby, who was a teammate and manager of Grover said “I’d rather him pitch a crucial game for me drunk, than anyone I’ve ever known sober. He was that good.”
Even with his truncated career, Grover’s achievements are legendary. His 90 shutouts remain a National League record, and he shares the top spot in the National League record book for wins with the esteemed Christy Mathewson at 373, which ranks third all-time in wins. Remembered as a consummate pitcher he still also holds second place for shutouts, and a remarkable lifetime winning percentage of .642. Despite never throwing a no-hitter, Grover’s pitching prowess secured his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
By 1931 Alexander had reached the age of 44 and no teams in major league baseball thought he had any worth left in that arm. It was at this point that Alexander was approached by members of the House of David baseball team, a barnstorming team made up of players who were also members of a religious sect known for their long beards and hair. The House of David team was well known for their unique look and for playing exhibition games against other teams around the country.
Alexander saw this as an opportunity to continue playing baseball and make some much-needed money. His time with the House of David was short-lived, but it was memorable. He played in a few exhibition games with the team and also served as a coach.
“Old Pete” would always struggle to make a living the rest of his life. He took on various odd jobs, relying on his fame to get by. When he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1938, Alexander was honored but still struggled to make ends meet. “The Hall of Fame is fine,” he said, “but it doesn’t mean bread and butter.”
“I doubt that I felt sorrier for any man who ever worked for me than I did for Alexander,” baseball executive Branch Rickey once said. Nevertheless, the man could pitch a ball like nobody’s business, he just couldn’t keep his life together. His marriage was rocky, and he had financial troubles that just wouldn’t go away. At one point, he had to sell his World Series ring just to pay the bills.
It’s a tragedy. A real heartbreaker. But despite it all, Grover remained a beloved figure in the baseball community. He died on November 4th 1950.
Prior to his death, film producer Harry Rapf acquired the rights to Alexander’s life story. Rapf enlisted the services of director Lewis Seiler to develop a script on Alexander’s life. To play the lead role of Grover Cleveland Alexander, popular actor and future president Ronald Reagan was chosen while Doris Day plays Alexander’s wife, Aimee. The film was released two years after Alexander’s death, and has been criticized for taking liberties with the facts in this baseball biography.
Further reading:
May 9, 1919: Pete Alexander’s return from World War I spoiled by Ray Fisher, Reds
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