Eli Grba

Eli Grba (August 9, 1934 – January 14, 2019) was an American professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for the New York Yankees in 1959 and 1960 and for the Los Angeles Angels from 1961 through 1963.

Grba began his professional baseball career in the Boston Red Sox' organization, and was traded to the Yankees in 1957. After two years in the United States Army, Grba made his major league debut on July 10, 1959. He was the first selection of the 1960 MLB expansion draft by the Los Angeles Angels, and started their first game in 1961. He last pitched in MLB in 1963, and worked in Minor League Baseball as a coach, scout, and manager from 1969 through 1971 and from 1982 through 1997.

Early life Grba was born to Joseph and Eva Grba, Serbian immigrants who lived in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up on Chicago's South Side.

Career After he graduated from Bowen in 1952, Grba signed a professional baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent the 1954 season with the Corning Red Sox of the Class D Pennsylvania – Ontario – New York League (PONY League), and was again named an All-Star. He led all pitchers in the PONY League in strikeouts, games started, and innings pitched. The Red Sox promoted Grba to the San Jose Red Sox of the Class C California League for the 1955 season, and then to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in 1956. Manager Eddie Joost began to use Grba as a relief pitcher in deference to more veteran pitchers on the San Francisco pitching staff.

Grba began the 1959 season with the Richmond Virginians of the Class AAA International League, and made his major league debut for the Yankees on July 10, 1959. He had an 11–13 win–loss record in 1961, and an 8–9 win–loss record and a 4.54 ERA in 1962. Grba attempted to make a return to the major leagues in 1967 with the Chicago White Sox. and retired after the 1967 season. Grba returned to baseball in 1982 as a pitching coach in minor league baseball for the Vancouver Canadians in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. Grba then joined the Philadelphia Phillies organization as a manager and pitching coach in the minor leagues and became a scout for five years, until retiring in 1997. Grba and his first wife, Bonnie, had two children. He met his third wife while he worked in Vancouver.