Groth, John T.

John T. Groth died on August 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. Born July 23, 1926 to German immigrants, Johnny grew up a couple of blocks from Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. He and other athletic neighborhood kids please 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. Graduation from Latin led to multiple college scholarship offers (including Notre Dame and Yale) but it was 1944 and our nation was at war. So 18 year old Johnny enlisted in the US Navy. While in the Navy, Groth met MLB star Bob Feller. After he was discharged from the service, Groth received several MLB teams. 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 started with 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 fielder. The 1950 Detroit Tigers made a run for the AL pennant, finishing just a few games behind the 1st place NY Yankees. It was the best year Johnny as an MLB player. He started in all 159 games that year, hit .306, scored 95 Runs and hit 85 RBIs; 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. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta, GA in 1966. John Groth was hired as a scout by the Atlanta Braves. He spent the next several decades as a Braves MLB scout. During his baseball career, Johnny played on teams that included players 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 fielding avg of .987. In 1960, Betty and John bought a big house on the ocean block of Queens Lane in the north end of Palm Beach, where they raised 9 girls and 2 boys. 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). There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers the family asks to send donations to: Phipps Park Baseball P.O. 6336 West Palm Beach, FL 33405 phippsparkbaseball@gmail.com Sign Guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries