Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz was born on January 18th, 1946 in Lockhart Texas. He is the second child of Adolph Charlie and Helen Grabarkewitz. Lockhart, for those of you not familiar with the Lone Star state, is about 30 miles south of Austin. He was of Irish descent on his mother’s side. His paternal grandparents were Polish immigrants who came to central Texas in the last half of the 19th century. As a child, Billy’s dad worked as a grocery delivery boy to help during the Great Depression. Years later he worked in sales and tended bar.
He was also a huge baseball fan. One of Billy’s fondest memories was watching the televised broadcast of the 1956 World Series. His favorite player was Pee Wee Reese. In 1969 Billy would become the first player since Pee Wee to wear #1. The following year, Don Newcombe compared Billy’s aggressive style to that of Pee Wee. At some point in his youth, the family relocated to San Antonio.
Billy went to Alamo Heights High School in the incorporated city of the same name. He was an outstanding athlete lettering in baseball, football, basketball, golf, and track. Following graduation in 1964, he went to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, where he played 3rd base for the Rattlers. Two years later he was selected by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the June amateur draft between Ted Sizemore and future All-Star, Bill Russell.
He was sent to Tri-City Atoms, (Pasco Washington), where his first manager was another boyhood hero, Duke Snider. His transition to short-season baseball was seamless as he helped the Atoms to a first-place finish with league-leading marks in runs scored, 62, stolen bases, 21, walks, 87, and OBP, .449. He finished tied for third in homers with 11.
In 67 he was sent to Santa Barbara. He continued his hot hitting. Again he led the league in the same categories he had at Tri-Citys. And he finished 3rd in homers with 24. 14 of his homers came on a Sunday, hence the nickname Billy Sunday when he got to the majors three years later. That winter he would play in the Arizona Instructional League.
In 1968 he was promoted to AA Albuquerque. A broken finger did little to slow his progress, but a broken wrist sent him to the sidelines for five weeks. He had a 3 homer game against the Amarillo Giants after his return. With the Dodgers getting little offense from weak-hitting Zoilo Versailles, it looked like Grabby was set to make his debut when they expanded the rosters, but in August, he broke his ankle in four places when his spikes caught on catcher Hal King’s shin guards. The Dodgers protected him in the expansion draft. They then anointed him as the team’s starting SS in 1969.
He went to spring training but had a limp that was noticeable. So the team sent him to Spokane, their AAA affiliate. He hit .432 in his first 9 games. He was recalled when John Purdin went on the DL. He made his MLB debut on April 22. He went 0-4. The next day he got his first MLB hit, an infield single off of Wayne Granger. He also tied an MLB record by playing an entire game at SS with no fielding chances.
The addition of Grabarkewitz to the Dodgers’ stable of rookies that included, Sizemore, Russell, Alan Foster, Bill Sudakis, and Willie Crawford prompted countless jokes about the group’s ability to get into the movies at half price. Dubbed, ” The Mod Squad” after the popular TV series of the same name, the nickname seemed more appropriate due to the flashy clothes they would wear. Grabby’s time with the Squad was short-lived. He struggled and then after being relegated to pinch-hitting duties, he was sent back to Spokane after the club traded for Maury Wills on June 11. Another childhood hero of Bill’s.
He returned a month later when Lefebvre left to fulfill his Army reserve commitment. But although he was with the team the rest of the year, he did not play much. In 1970, even with a strong spring training, he was knocked off of the team by Steve Garvey. He returned to the team five games into the season when Sizemore went down and made the most of the opportunity. He finished the month with a .429 average. He was selected to the All-Star squad by manager Gil Hodges. He had a single in the 12th inning that set up the famous Rose-Fosse collision.
In the first half of 1970, he was chasing the NL batting title. The Dodgers then tried to tweak his swing and get him to hit to right field, thus lessening his aggressive approach that led to a high number of K’s. But although the K’s decreased, so did the hitting, he hit only .173 in August. Although he had been moved to third because of Garvey’s fielding woes there, he went to the Arizona League that fall to learn second base. Ted Sizemore had been traded to the Cardinals.
Every winter since he had arrived in the Dodger organization, teams were trying to pry him away from the Dodgers in trades. When LA had tried to trade for a veteran reliever, Hoyt Wilhelm in 1969, the O’s asked for Grabarkewitz and the Dodgers walked away. On the second day of spring training in 1971, Al Campanis asked Billy and another infielder, Marv Galliher, to return to the field for double-play practice. The additional session lasted over an hour and strained both players’ arms. By the end of the year, both players had to have surgery.
1971 was a lost season. Because of an injury to his shoulder, and a generally bad start to the season he would manage only 71 at-bats. In 1972 he was battling Garvey and a young Ron Cey for the third base job. It was the first year the team put the players’ names on the back of their uniforms. Billy joked about it saying “If they went to the expense of putting my name on my uniform, I feel pretty safe that I won’t be traded”. Injuries and bad luck plagued him. On August 20, returning to the lineup after a broken finger, he was hit in the head by the Cubs, Rick Reuschel, and was out for 14 more games.
That winter he was playing for Lasorda’s Licey team in winter ball when he was traded with Frank Robinson, Bobby Valentine, Bill Singer, and Mike Strahler for Andy Messersmith and Ken McMullen. He had a short leash with the Angels. Expected to compete with Valentine for the SS job, they both lost out to Rudy Meoli. He played sparingly and in August he was shipped to the Phillies in a waiver deal.
Seeking help from any quarter, the Phils put Billy at second base. He responded by slashing .288/.397/.409 in 66 at-bats. With the possibility of winning the second base job from the incumbent, Denny Doyle, a rejuvenated career beckoned to Billy in the “City of Brotherly Love”. ” I found a nice part of Philadelphia to live in” he claimed, “It’s called New Jersey”. But his chances were dashed when the Phils traded for Dave Cash. He spent the first third of the season either pinch-hitting or pinch-running. On July 10th, he was purchased by the last-place Cubs, The Cubs had a couple of 24-year-olds who had combined for a .198-0-21 line for the year. Billy brought stability to the situation. And except for one game against St. Louis where he made 3 errors, he was pretty solid at second for the Cubs.
But once again a winter trade would derail his chance at the starting job. The Cubs traded for Manny Trillo and the following spring Billy was released. He signed with the A’s. On April 25th he made his sixth appearance of the season and only his second at-bat, pinch-hitting for Phil Garner. He struck out swinging. It would prove to be his last at-bat in the majors. Three days later he was sent to the Tucson Toros in the PCL to make room for Matt Alexander whom the A’s had acquired from the Cubs. As a five-year player, he could not be reassigned without written permission. He filed a grievance with the players union, but nothing came of it. He played out the year in Tucson and then retired.
Billy had married Mary Ann Kennedy in Texas in 1967. They had two sons. Referring to his many stops along his seven-year major league career, he once sent Mary a postcard from Chicago that said” By the time you know where I am, I probably won’t be there.” They divorced in 1976, and nearly 20 years later he married again, this time to Laurie Morazzano. This union would produce a daughter. He had a successful insurance business in Tarrant County Texas at the time.
Billy was beloved by his teammates because of his wit. In the early 70’s he joined fellow teammates, Jeff Torborg and Claude Osteen as youth instructors at baseball camps at the University of Redlands. 10 years later, he was inducted into the St. Mary’s University Athletic Hall of Fame. Most of the memories about Grabarkewitz stem from his nickname, Gabby. He surfaced just five years after the notable Free Speech Movement and seems to have taken the movement’s mantra to heart. Ready with a quote or a quick crack, he was a favorite of sportswriters and the rubber chicken circuit. In the spring of 1973, Angels skipper, Bobby Winkles joked that “Don Sutton warned me I would have to keep Billy in the shade or his tongue would get sunburned”. Taking the jest in stride, Billy retorted, “I was so tired last night, I fell asleep in mid-sentence”.
Alluding to the many injuries he had sustained in his career, Billy said” I have been X-rayed so much I glow in the dark“. Jokes aside, it was injuries that derailed his once bright potential. He slashed .236/.351/.364 with 28 homers with 141 RBIs in 1116 at-bats. He will always be one of those players who you look back on their career and wonder what if?
Billy Grabarkewitz – I remember him well. He was an All-Star his first season, hitting .289 with 17 HR and 84 RBI. It turned out that those HR and RBI would be over half of what he would hit for his entire career. He ended his career with 28 HR and 141 RBI. Wow! Just Wow! I always thought he would be better than that!
He spent some time with the Santa Barbara Dodgers in 67. My old hometown! That’s the year I moved there from New Jersey. I think that was the final year for minor league baseball in SB. And I loved the line about Philly! My birthplace. Thanks again Bear
It took me a while to even be able to pronounce his name correctly.
Pretty cool that you got to spend some time in Santa Barbara. Great place. How long did you live there?
It’s a beautiful place to live and raise a family. Lived there for 40 years till I retired last year. We all wanted a change so ended up in Charleston. Too expensive for my kids to make a go of it in SB
I’m in that same boat. Outta here when I retire or sooner.
Great write-up OldBear. I love to see those guys with last names that barely fit on the back of the uniform. Those old Angles uni’s with the waistband bring back some memories.
With the off-day today, it’s a good time to do a little bragging about our boys in blue…
12 games in and we’re alone in first place
Best record in all of baseball
Best run differential in all of baseball
Series win against the defending champs
Number 1 in the NL in runs scored
Only the Angles have more runs scored in all of baseball, they played one more game than us
Second in the league in ERA and Ave Against, best WHIP
Who would have thunk?
Our best hitters have been our backup catcher, Barnes; our two worst hitters from last year, Lux and Belli; and our new superstar acquisition, Freddie.
Our best starting pitchers have been a reclamation project, Heaney; and a 9th round closer/outfielder in college, Catman Gonsolin.
We would have let one great old closer walk and pickup another great old closer right before the start of the season, who is a perfect 3-0 in save opportunities.
It’s still very early and we’re starting to get bit by the injury bug. Lux – back, Heaney – shoulder “discomfort”, and Treinen – arm “barking”. Lux and Treinen are supposed to be back in time for the next series against the Padres and Heaney is only supposed to miss one start. Keeping my fingers crossed.
We’ve had some pretty good teams over the last decade. I think this one is the best.
More on Lux…
More walks than K’s
Leads team in Runs Scored, OBP, Exit Velocity
Second in walks
3rd in SLG
2 stolen bases
0 errors
Top 2% in MLB Hard hit %
Top 7% in MLB Exit Velo and BB%
Remember that he was the 2019 MILB Player of the Year
He can still be the next great home grown Dodgers Superstar!
I just have one question in regards to Belli and Lux…What does crow taste like?
Nice analysis and recap of the season to date.
I have a feeling you last paragraph was primarily meant for me so I will bite…..
I would hold off on anointing Lux as having made it. All he has to do is go 0-4 next game and his BA is .242 and sinking fast (was .400 a week or so ago). After all, he only has 29 ABs. As for his slugging %….he has 1 double, 1 triple, and 1 HR. It’s not like he has been mashing the ball on a consistent basis. But yes, I am impressed with his eyes- 7 walks is very impressive.
And honestly, Cody is only batting .279 with 4 RBIs. He is batting .200 (2-10) against lefties with 5 Ks. I really need to see more consistency (keeping average above .280 for an extended period of time with RBIs rising) before I start eating crow. But I will give you this- I’ve been impressed so far with what I’ve seen, except against southpaws.
Lastly….like several other guys here, I too am patiently waiting for the great Mookie Betts to start playing like he is great. All of last year, he was just okay. And of course this year he is off to a very slow start with extenuating circumstances, I understand. Mookie….it’s about time to be the Mookie we saw when you worse a Boston jersey.
TM
“It’s not like he has been mashing the ball on a consistent basis.” These two stats contradict your statement.
Top 2% in MLB Hard hit %
Top 7% in MLB Exit Velo
Okay, so the crow is on the plate before you. When are you going to take your fist bite, May 1?
I told you I would give Cody a 25 game audition before I make my evaluation. We are about half way home, right? So far, I’m happy and impressed….but no where ready to eat crow.
As for Lux, apparently he is mashing the ball, but obviously right at somebody, right? I mean if he only has 3 extra base hits. Maybe next year when there is no shift allowed he will do better. And except for 4 ABs, he only plays against right handed pitchers. But like Cody, so far I’m very pleased and impressed with him….just no where near crow eating time. As I recall, didn’t he start out hot last year only to sink faster than the Titanic?
TM
Bellinger is still striking out at much too prodigious rate of 31%; much more than his 16% strikeout rate of 2019. His .385 BABIP also suggests his BA is going to regress. His current home run rate projects to around 25 or so. Not bad, but more in line with his 2018 season, which itself was a comedown from his rookie year.
I think you should hold off on the crow eating talk until he actually proves something. He’s off to a promising start, don’t get me wrong, but he’s not there yet.
Dodgers have started off well, but there are quite a few in this vaunted lineup who are slumping hard, and this is some cause for concern. Is Mookie going to be this year’s Bellinger?
Exactly!
Hey Patch, not sure if you’ve noticed, but if you look at team stats over the last 7 days you’ll notice these K/AB numbers…
Cody 7/22
Freddie 5/22
Eddie 5/12
Trea 8/22
Betts 5/17
Taylor 5/15
I think you’re nitpicking strikeouts and fail to consider that a lopsided portion of this K’s (6) came in the first 4 games when he was still in a funk in order to discredit how well he’s been hitting the ball.
I agree that “he’s not there yet”, because I think there’s more to come. But, he isn’t going back to last year’s form without another injury either.
Your crow is getting cold. I think you’ll like it better hot.
You and TM and others just want to complain. Now you’re digging your heels in. Great fans with Giant envy and no confidence in our own guys.
Another example “Is Mookie going to be this year’s Bellinger?” – Nope!
And don’t get me started with BABIP. Trea’s BABIP was 361 last year. That’s what happens when you crush liners and are fast enough to put pressure on the defense.
BP,
You are one of the big reasons I love coming here to read comments. You make me laugh with your sarcasm, wit, and label of us unbelievers…..but unlike me, you always impress me with numbers. I’m more of an eyeball guy, less with numbers. Keep up the good work here…you are “good tv.”
TM
Thanks TM – I appreciate.
Aaaah! So, to counter my small sample size argument you resort to an even smaller, miniscule sample size as evidence. Ok! Maybe next time you can pick out a single at-bat where he got a hit an use that as evidence. “Hey look!! Bellinger’s batting a thousand!! Eat crow, suckas!!”
TT has always had a high BABIP. Bellinger’s has historically been closer to league the league average .300.
Haven’t tried that Old Crow BBQ place in Pacific City. It must be really good if you’re so insistent. There used to be a place in CDM called Crow Bar. They made french fries fried in duck fat. Not bad.
Mookie is done.
Bauer in limbo again. the 29th.
Why do the Rockies keep winning?
The entire season is a small sample size so far.
It seems like you pull stats out of your arse to prove a point without knowing the meaning of the stat or how they’re calculated. Of course Belli is historically going to have a lower BABIP than Trea because he hits a ton of homers (an outcome that is out of play).
The fact that you state Trea’s BABIP is always high, means that it isn’t a predictor of luckiness like you originally stated.
Cody is in the top 40 players in all of baseball in barrel %. That implies that his BABIP isn’t because he’s lucky.
Old Crow is a step below Dickies – the fast food of BBQ places. I hate that place. Been there twice and it sucked both times. Hambones on Brookhurst and Adams is legit! I want those french fries fried in duck fat!
I hate Manfred.
The Rockies aren’t as bad as people think they are, but aren’t this good either. I love CJ Cron, KB and Grichuk in CO.
Yes, the entire season is a small sample size, which is why I’m not ready to declare Bellinger is back and that somehow anyone should be eating crow.
Read a bunch of mixed reviews of that Crow place. If I want some legit BBQ I’ll pass. I kind of enjoy Left Coast Brewery. Has a nice vibe, and the loaded fries are over-the-top. Pacific City seems too trendy HB.
Thank You Bear
I really enjoy these profiles of past Dodgers. You do a great job.
Thank you Bob, working on a Podres for you.
Dodger’s Nation has a good article about 5 hot hitting prospects– https://www.dodgersnation.com/category/prospects/
Very good article on the top 5.
We need to really thank Arte Moreno for throwing a tantrum and nixing the Joc trade in 2020. I completely forgot that Andy Pages was a throw in chip in that one.
Fun spot Bear on Billy G. I watched him play for the 1967 Tri-City Atoms managed by The Duke, at Sanders Field in Kennewick Wa (it wasn’t Pasco) He quickly became a fan favorite. The old stadium announcer, Tommy Jacobs, would make a huge production out of his announcing his name………”now batting, number 1, the second baseman…..Bileeee Ga-BARK-awitz”. Heavy on the BARK. One of the best baseball names ever to fire up the crowd.
Was Pasco in the bio. Blame them! LOL.
I’m not blaming anybody. I played in the area. I wasn’t nit-picking your piece.
Sarcasm Phil, no sweat.
Always liked Grabarkewitz. How much of it was the name? Does anybody think a guy named Smith or Jones would have been as much fun?
Pet theory: If Alfred Nobel had been named Alfred Lipschitz, would we really care so much about the Lipschitz laureates?
Koufax, Drysdale, Valenzuela–those are cool names. Sutton and Hershiser not so much. Messersmith evokes the dreaded Luftwaffe. Perranoski sounds surgical to me. Or maybe dental.
But I digress…
In 2022 baseball news, I am not surprised to see that the Dodgers have the best record in the MLB.
The shocker is that No.1 in AL is ….the Angels!?!
I loved that name. I always wanted a kid named Steckenschnider, who was in the farm system to make it. Would have been a record for letters in a name on the back of the jersey.
Great article. My first memories of the Dodgers were from the early 80s. It’s great to hear about the players people loved to watch who don’t get their own retrospective or much mention in the sports media today. Thanks Bear.
Trevor Bauer’s leave has once again been extended. That leave for him runs through April 29th, so another week for the Dodgers hurler. And at this point, there is no telling how long this could go on. We’re approaching one year since he was initially placed on leave, and the league is showing no signs of coming to a decision.
Totally disagree Andrew.
I think the fact that this last extension ends on the day of the NFL draft has all the hallmarks of MLB planning to announce the suspension during the draft (and during high NBA playoff drama) so the story is buried.
On the one hand I agree that PR optics are going to and have been always a big part of this fiasco. I don’t agree, now that we understand this will be a PR decision, that they decide to give him a lengthy suspension. Manfred has to understand that once a Bauer suspension has been issued, and if it’s particularly lengthy, Bauer will unleash the mother-of-all-PR-headaches., which is what you’re arguing baseball is desperately trying to avoid.
That’s not really a thing, is it? Now our government would never do anything like that!
I remember Grabarkewitz being called Billy G-whiz because when they shortened his last name to fit in a box score, that’s sort of what it looked like.
I remember being really hopeful that Grabarkewitz and Bill (Sudsy) Sudakis would be mainstays in the Dodger infield for a long time. I remember a Jim Murray column about Sudakis saying that he would be the Dodgers’ long term answer at 3B. Until the famous Dodger Infield finally came together in 1973, it seemed that there was a revolving door in the infield, especially at 3B.
My comment is in jail
I think I released it, Patch.
If anyone thinks Manfred is planning on suspending Bauer and will do so on a day when other news obfuscates the suspension, they are not paying attention. If Bauer is suspended his Legal and PR Machine will go into action and they will Release the Mother of all Krakens. This could be the undoing of Manfred IF he does this. Even I do not believe he is that stupid.
I think it is all calculated for MLB to say “We did an intense and deep investigation and found there was nothing to suspend him for.”