Grover Hartley
PositionCatcher
BatsRight
ThrowsRight
Birth dateJuly 2, 1888
Birth placeOsgood, Indiana, U.S.[1]
Death dateOctober 19, 1964 (aged 76)
Death placeDaytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
DebutleagueMLB
DebutdateMay 13
Debutyear1911
DebutteamNew York Giants
FinalleagueMLB
FinaldateSeptember 30
Finalyear1934
FinalteamSt. Louis Browns
StatleagueMLB
Stat1labelBatting average
Stat1value.268
Stat2labelHome runs
Stat2value3
Stat3labelRuns batted in
Stat3value144
Teams

Grover Allen Hartley (July 2, 1888 – October 19, 1964) was an American backup catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1911 through 1934, he played for the New York Giants (1911–13, 1924–26), St. Louis Terriers (1914–15), St. Louis Browns (1916–17, 1934), Boston Red Sox (1927) and Cleveland Indians (1930). Hartley batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Osgood, Indiana.

In a 14-season career, Hartley was a .268 hitter with three home runs and 144 RBI in 569 games played.

Hartley was a catcher with good defensive skills as he took responsibility for getting the most out of his pitchers, and worked hard at ensuring their success. He debuted with the New York Giants in 1911, appearing in part of three seasons. In 1914 he jumped to the outlaw Federal League, becoming a regular with the St. Louis Terriers for the next two years, and later shared catching tenures for the St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and new stints with the Giants and Browns, retiring at the end of the 1934 season. Between his stints with the Browns and Giants, he spent seven years in the minor leagues with the Columbus Senators.

In 1935 Hartley became an American League umpire. He also managed in the minors and coached for the Giants, Browns, Pirates and Indians.

Hartley died in Daytona Beach, Florida, at the age of 76.

Notes

  1. ^ Pete Cava (22 September 2015). Indiana-Born Major League Baseball Players: A Biographical Dictionary, 1871-2014. McFarland. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7864-9901-4.