7, 2021 at his oceanfront condominium in Palm
Beach Florida that he shared with his wife of 72
years, Betty Stoll Groth. He was 95 years old. One
of three children, born July 23, 1926 to German
immigrants, Johnny grew up a couple blocks from
Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. He and other athletic
neighborhood kids played exhibition football
games during halftime at Chicago Bears NFL games,
which were played at Wrigley Field.
His natural athletic talent was recognized by a
former All American who provided Groth a scholarship
to the prestigious Chicago Latin School. As the football team quarterback,
Johnny led the Latin School to win the Illinois Prep School Title
game. Upon graduation from the Latin School, Johnny was offered many
college scholarships, including offers from Notre Dame, Yale and all of the
Big 9 (now Big 10) teams to play football or basketball. Several MLB teams
also drafted him.
But in 1944 our nation was at war, and 18 year old Johnny Groth was eligible
for the draft, so he enlisted in the US Navy. To improve morale of the
recruits, the Navy held many athletic events; the most popular of which was
baseball. Groth’s athletic prowess caught the eye of MLB Pitcher Bob Feller,
who was in charge of Navy baseball operations. He joined the squad that
included MLB greats Pinky Higgins, Walter Cooper and Ken Keltner among
others. Groth was chosen for the team despite being the only non-MLB player.
He had a .341 batting average that season while in the Navy and attracted
baseball scouts from several MLB teams. Johnny spent many hours under
the tutelage of Bob Feller who taught him the fi ner points of major league
baseball. Feller’s mentoring helped Groth become a career MLB player. After
he was discharged from the service, Groth received offers from several MLB
teams, the best of which came from the Cleveland Indians (n/k/a Guardians)
and the Detroit Tigers. Late in the 1946 MLB season, Johnny signed a deal
with Walter O Briggs, owner of the Detroit Tigers.
Groth began his 15 year Major League Baseball career with the Tigers. He
played for the Tigers AAA International League team where he excelled. In
1992, Groth was inducted into the Buffalo Bison AAA Baseball Hall Of Fame.
Once in the big leagues, Groth was the Tiger’s center fi elder. The 1950
Detroit Tigers made a run for the AL pennant, fi nishing just a few games
behind the 1st place NY Yankees. It was the best year for Johnny as an MLB
player. He started all 159 games that year, hit .306, scored 95 Runs and hit
85 RBI’s; striking out only two times.
Traded to the St Louis Browns in a 7 player deal in 1952, he went on to
play for the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics
and then back with the Detroit Tigers, retiring in 1960.
After retirement from Major League Baseball, Groth managed the Detroit
Tigers single A farm club team in Decatur Illinois for two seasons. Milwaukee
Braves team owner Bill Bartholomay relocated the Braves to Atlanta Georgia
in 1966. John Groth was hired by the Atlanta Braves and spent several
decades as a Braves MLB scout. Among the amateur players he discovered
and recruited was Mickey Rivers out of Dade Community College, who
went on to play centerfi eld for the Braves, Rangers and Yankees over a 14
year MLB career. During his baseball career, Johnny played on teams that
included Tommy Lasorda, Billy Martin and Minnie Minoso, among many
others. He hit 2 homers over the green monster at Fenway Park. Groth’s career
stats include a lifetime batting avg of .279 and a fi elding avg of .987. In
1960, Johnny’s wife Betty bought a big house on the ocean block of Queens
Lane in the north end of Palm Beach, where she raised her 9 girls and 2
boys. John Groth is remembered by his children growing up with regular
one man band performances, family sing-alongs, daily Jack La Lane exercises
and his Mustang convertibles. He was a member of St Edward parish and
the Sailfish Club of Florida.
He is survived by his family: wife Betty Stoll Groth, and 11 children:
Betty Ann Dortch; Susan Neilson (Kim d. 2019); Peggy Rafferty (Michael);
Ginger Carlisle (Allan); Janet Geary (Frank); Winnie Azqueta (Jesse); Kathy
Bronstien (Jim); John T. Groth, Jr (Sue); Nancy Tucker (Alan); Mary Jacobs
(Scott) and Michael Groth (Gretchen).
Extended family includes 29 grandchildren (Dorian, Barney, Michelle, John,
Patrick, Allan, Kayleigh, Byrne, Emily, Jesse, Christopher, Maryena, Dana,
Amy, Jodi, Spencer, Sierra, Sydney, Stanley, Michael, Becca, Jake, Theresa,
Scottie, Jennifer, Liam, Delaney, Bailey, John Jameson) and 9 great grandchildren
(Jason, Caroline, Cameron, Harper, Holden, Ollie, Trip, Gabi and
Beau.)
The family thanks Maggie Eveque, Nicole Hilaire, December Rodriguez
and Vickie La Guerre for the kind care they provided to Mr Groth, especially
over the last year. There will be a private family service.
In lieu of fl owers the family asks to send donations to:
Phipps Park Baseball P.O.6336 West Palm Beach Fl 33405
FAMILIA
He is survived by his wife of 72 years,Betty Stoll Groth, and 11 children: Betty Ann Dortch; Susan Neilson (Kim d. 2019); Peggy Rafferty (Michael); Ginger Carlisle (Allan); Janet Geary (Frank); Winnie Azqueta (Jesse); Kathy Bronstien (Jim); John T. Groth, Jr (Sue); Nancy Tucker (Alan); Mary Jacobs (Scott) and Michael Groth (Gretchen). Extended family includes 29 grandchildren: Dorian, Barney, Michelle, John, Patrick, Allan, Kayleigh, Byrne, Emily, Jesse, Christopher, Maryena, Dana, Amy, Jodi, Spencer, Sierra, Sydney, Stanley, Michael, Becca, Jake, Theresa, Scottie, Jennifer, Liam, Delaney, Bailey, John Jameson and 9 great grandchildren: Jason, Caroline, Cameron, Harper, Holden, Ollie, Trip, Gabi and Beau.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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