Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove

Born in Lonaconing in 1900, "Lefty' went on to carve a baseball Hall Of Fame career with the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Red Sox. In seventeen seasons spent entirely in the American League, he won 300 games while losing but 144, and his success put him in that hallowed Hall in 1947, in his first year of eligibility.
He threw a lot of rocks as a youngster, building arm strength in the process. But he played no baseball at all until age 17, and when he did, it was as a first baseman for a semi-pro team in Midland, Maryland. He worked in the mines, the silk mill, a glass factory and the B & O Railroad while he perfected his craft, and began pitching soon after. Lean and lanky at six feet three and 170 pounds, he was known for his temper as much as for his skill.
Signed by Martinsburg of the Blue Ridge League in 1920, he rode his bicycle from 'Coney to report for his first professional job. Impressing scouts quickly, he was bought by the Baltimore Orioles of the International League for just over $3,000 - because Martinsburg needed the money to complete their ball field.
His Minor League stint was impressive as well; known as the "wild Oriole" because of the number of walks he issued in his first couple of seasons, he compiled a 111-39 record before being sold to the Philadelphia Athletics in October of 1924 for $100,600. It was the highest price ever paid, to that time, for a minor leaguer. He went 10-12 that first big-league season, and led the league in shutouts and walks. He hit the 20 win mark in 1927; it was the beginning of a seven year run with at least 20 wins, capped by a 31-4 record in 1931.
"Lefty" went to the Red Sox in 1933, part of a $125,000 multi-player deal. His last season with the Red Sox brought a 7-7 record, and he announced his retirement after the completion of the '41 campaign.
"Grove could throw a lamb chop past a wolf" was the tribute from sportswriter Westbrook Pegler. But his temperament was well known; opposing fans would flock to the ballparks to boo and curse him. Few historians of the time cared to tell about his great pitching efforts. According to the book "The Baseball Library", Grove led the American League in shredded uniforms, kicked buckets, ripped apart lockers and alienated teammates. The ravaged clubhouse in St. Louis lived after him; his quiet acts of goodness were interred with his moans.
He retired to Lonaconing and operated a bowling alley and pool hall there before moving to Norwalk, Ohio, and he passed away there on May 22, 1975. Rick Schramm remembers fishing with his uncle John and Lefty in the Georges Creek area; he's in ownership of many mementos handed him by Grove, but Rick remembers the legendary Hall of Famer as "just a friend."
Lea and Mike McCagh are in possession of a Brunswick pool table purchased at an auction in 1980 after Lefty's death; it's in normal use in their family room.
Ron Windle's aunt was a nurse who cared for Grove during a hospital stay, and she was rewarded for her tenderness with an autographed baseball. Having no children of her own, she gave it to a young Ronnie, who promptly gave it a good cleaning - until he saw the signature had been removed. He stopped, but it was too late.The ball still carries the statistics of the game: the date, the score, and the runs, hits and errors.