Greg Gross #21

**COACHING CAREER** ? Named the Phillies hitting coach on 7/23/10; his 2nd stint as a major league coach with the Phillies (2001-04) and as the hitting coach (2002-04) ? After taking over as hitting coach in mid-2010, the Phillies improved their AVG (.269 from .254), OBP (.345 from .322), SLG % (.417 from .411) and runs/game (5.0 from 4.6) ? Spent the previous 6 seasons (2005-10) as a hitting coach in the Phillies' player development system with Batavia (A) in 2005, Clearwater (A) in 2006, Reading (AA) in 2007 and Lehigh Valley (AAA) from 2008-10 ? In his 1st season as a major league hitting coach (2002), got the team to cut down on their strikeouts and increase their walk total from the previous season ? Served as Larry Bowa's bench coach during the 2001 season, his first as a major league coach after joining the Phillies on 11/7/00 ? Coached for 6 years in the Rockies organization, first as hitting coach for New Haven (AA), 1995-96, then as roving hitting instructor, 1997-2000 ? Began his coaching career at Malvern Preparatory School (1992-94). **PLAYING CAREER** ? Played 20 years of pro baseball with 17 years in the majors with the Astros (1973-76, 1989), Cubs (1977-78) and Phillies (1979-88) ? Houston's 4th round selection in June 1970 draft ? Named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1974, hitting .314 with a career-high 185 hits for the Astros (finished 2nd to Bake McBride in BBWAA voting) ? Member of Phillies 1980 World Champions and 1983 NL Champions ? Picked up career hit #1,000 on 5/25/87 at SD (Lance McCullers) ? Has 143 career pinch-hits, ranking 5th all-time, behind Lenny Harris (212), Mark Sweeney (175), Manny Mota (150) and Smoky Burgess (145) ? Still holds Phillies record for career pinch hits (117); led club in pinch hits 8 times in his 10 years with the Phillies ? Appeared as a pitcher in one game, 6/8/86 at MTL (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO). **PERSONAL** Gregory Eugene Gross... Married Konnie Crawford (9/23/10); two children, Megan Nicole (11/14/76) and Michael Gregory (10/30/79)... 1970 graduate of Red Lands High School (Etters, PA), where he lettered in baseball, basketball and football... Played American Legion baseball... Received the 1984 Good Guy Award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association... Hobby: Golf