Providence
In August 1879,Gross made his major league debut with the 1879 Providence Grays,compiled a .348 batting average,and appeared in 30 games as catcher in the last part of the season. [1] The 1879 Providence team won the National League pennant with a 59-25 record and featured Hall of Fame shortstop-manager George Wright and Hall of Fame pitcher Monte Ward who won 49 games in 1879. Gross replaced the Gray's number one catcher,Lew Brown,late in the season. [3]
In 1880,Gross became the Gray's number one catcher and led the National League's catchers in games played (87),putouts (429),assists (126),errors (86),and passed balls (73). [1] His 87 games as catcher in 1880 established a major league record that stood until 1886 when Doc Bushong appeared in 106 games as catcher. [4] Gross also had a 3.0 wins above replacement rating for the 1880 season, [1] one of the highest for to a catcher in the 1870s or 1880s.
At the time of the 1880 U.S. Census,in June 1880,Gray registered as a boarder at 150 Broad Street in Providence,the same address registered for teammates Mike McGeary,George Bradley,Jack Farrell,Joe Start,Paul Hines,and John Peters. [5]
Gross returned to Providence in 1881 and was the team's catcher in 50 games. He compiled a .307 batting average and a 1.1 wins above replacement rating. His 37 errors as catcher ranked as the third highest in the National League. [1]
At the end of the 1881 season,Gross was placed on the National League's blacklist upon charges of "general dissipation and insubordination." [6] [7]
Philadelphia and after
In 1883,after one year out of baseball,Gross was reinstated from the blacklist and joined the Philadelphia Quakers. He appeared in 55 games as catcher for Philadelphia and compiled a .307 batting average and .489 slugging percentage. However,he led the National League with 74 errors in his 55 games as catcher and also gave up 67 passed balls. [1]
Gross concluded his major league career in 1884 playing for the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies of the Union Association. Gross hit .358 with a .589 slugging percentage in 23 games in the Union Association. [1] He also played during the 1884 season for Springfield in the Ohio State League and Oil City in the Iron &Oil Association. [2]
When Gross's name was offered as a possible outfielder in 1885,a St. Louis correspondent wrote:"Great Scot! He couldn't judge a flour barrel twenty feet in the air." [8]
