1988 Grand Slam Card Company #16 Midland AngelsDan Grunhard went to Northwestern University as a pre-med biology major, but found that "...athletics was a great outlet during my college career to get away from the books."
Grunhard, who was Joe Girardi’s roommate at Northwestern University, was named All Big Ten in 1985 and Academic All Big Ten in 1984 and 1985. He set the university’s second highest career batting average. He also had the second highest single season average in school history at .451.
After being drafted by the California Angels in 1985, he started his career in 1986 in Single-A with the Quad Cities Angels. The following year saw him with the Palm Springs Angels, again in A-ball. The Double-A Midland Angels had him for the season1988 and 1989 seasons, then he earned a spot on the AAA Edmonton Trappers roster for 1990 and 1991. Dan was signed into the Oakland organization where he finished out his career in 1992. Grunhard played seven seasons total with the Angels and Oakland A’s, spending three full seasons in Triple-A.
In the Angels system Grunhard played in 602 games and hit .285, with 113 doubles and 275 RBI. Nice numbers.
1991 Line Drive AAA #165 Edmonton Trappers
I asked Dan a couple of simple questions such as what was his first/favorite glove and how did you treat it?
"1st base glove my Uncle gave to me."
And would he describe his first hit or first win?
"Pitched No Hitter, Little League, Age 7"
He's funny, that Dan Grunhard.
Dan now serves as the hitting coach for the Joliet Slammers of the Frontier League.
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