Kip Gross
Encyclopedia
Kip Lee Gross is a former Major League Baseball
and Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher
.
Gross played for four different ballclubs during his career: the Cincinnati Reds
(1990–1991), Los Angeles Dodgers
(1992–1993), Boston Red Sox
(1999), and Houston Astros
(2000). He made his Major League Baseball
debut on April 21, 1990, and played his final game on May 29, 2000.
On May 10, 1994, Gross was purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers
by the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League
. This explains his absence from Major League Baseball
from 1994-1998. He was highly successful in Japan
, leading the league in wins from 1995-1996. He returned to the United States
in 1998 to undergo surgery. He is remembered as one of the finest non-Japanese players to have played for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Gross played for four different ballclubs during his career: the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1990–1991), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1992–1993), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1999), and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(2000). He made his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on April 21, 1990, and played his final game on May 29, 2000.
On May 10, 1994, Gross was purchased from the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
by the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
. This explains his absence from Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1994-1998. He was highly successful in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, leading the league in wins from 1995-1996. He returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1998 to undergo surgery. He is remembered as one of the finest non-Japanese players to have played for the Nippon Ham Fighters.