View source for Grover Cleveland Alexander

{{short description|American baseball player (1887–1950)}}
{{For|the U.S. president|Grover Cleveland}}
{{Redirect|Pete Alexander|other people with similar names|Peter Alexander (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Grover Cleveland Alexander
|image=Grover Cleveland Alexander by Conlon, 1915-crop.jpg
|caption=Alexander in 1915
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|mf=yes|1887|2|26}}
|birth_place=[[Elba, Nebraska]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1950|11|4|1887|2|26}}
|death_place=[[St. Paul, Nebraska]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 15
|debutyear=1911
|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 28
|finalyear=1930
|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=373–208 
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=2.56
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,198
|teams=
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{baseball year|1911}}–{{baseball year|1917}})
*[[Chicago Cubs]] ({{baseball year|1918}}–{{baseball year|1926}})
*[[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{baseball year|1926}}–{{baseball year|1929}})
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{baseball year|1930}})
|highlights=
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1926}})
* 3× [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] (1915, 1916, 1920)
* 6× [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|NL wins leader]] (1911, 1914–1917, 1920)
* 4× [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|NL ERA leader]] (1915, 1916, 1919, 1920)
* 6× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|NL strikeout leader]] (1912, 1914–1917, 1920)
* [[Philadelphia Phillies#Retired numbers|Philadelphia Phillies jersey]] retired
* [[Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame|Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame]]
* [[Chicago Cubs#Cubs Hall of Fame|Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1938 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1938]]
|hofvote=80.9% (third ballot)
}}
'''Grover Cleveland Alexander''' (February 26, 1887 – November 4, 1950), nicknamed "'''Old Pete'''" and "'''Alexander the Great'''", was an American [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He played from 1911 through 1930 for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Chicago Cubs]], and [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. In [[1938 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1938]], Alexander was elected into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Alexander, Grover Cleveland | website=Baseball Hall of Fame | url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/alexander-grover-cleveland | access-date=2025-10-07}}</ref>

==Early life==
Alexander was born in [[Elba, Nebraska]],<ref name="greatath">{{cite book |last1=Fiero |first1=John W |editor1-first=Dawn P |editor1-last=Dawson |title=Great Athletes |edition=Revised |volume=1 |year=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=Salem Press |isbn=1-58765-008-8 |pages=32–34 |url=https://archive.org/details/greatathletes0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref> one of eight children born to William Alexander and Martha "Maggie" Cootey.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 9, 1932 |title=Mrs. Alexander Passes to Her Reward |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117122173/alexander/ |work=The Phonograph |location=St. Paul, NE |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117122261/alexander/ 3] |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His father was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], and Alexander was born during the first term of President [[Grover Cleveland]], a Democrat, so his parents named him for Cleveland.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 26, 1916 |title=Learns St. Paul, Neb., Owes Name to Father |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117122776/st-paul/ |work=[[Omaha World-Herald]] |location=Omaha, NE |page=2 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Alexander attended the schools of Elba and [[St. Paul, Nebraska|St. Paul]], and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1909.<ref>{{cite book |last=Porter |first=David L. |date=2000 |title=Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: A-F |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AUFUw01sIWYC&pg=PA11 |location=Westport, CT |publisher=Greenwood Publishing |page=11 |isbn=978-0-3133-1174-1 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> After completing his education, Alexander was employed digging postholes for the [[Howard County, Nebraska|Howard County]] Telephone Company.<ref>{{cite book |last=Skipper |first=John C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JcTer1aDMkIC&pg=PA12 |title=Wicked Curve: The Life and Troubled Times of Grover Cleveland Alexander |date=2006 |publisher=McFarland & Co. |isbn=978-0-7864-8178-1 |location=Jefferson, NC |page=12 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

Alexander played [[semi-professional]] baseball in his youth, signing his first professional contract at age 20 in 1907 for $50 per month (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50|1907}}}} in current dollar terms). In 1909, he played for the [[Galesburg Boosters]] in the Class D [[Illinois–Missouri League]] and went 15–8 that year with a 1.36 ERA. His career was almost ended when he was struck by a thrown ball while baserunning.<ref name="greatath"/> Although this ended his 1909 season, he recovered by 1910 to become a star pitcher again, finishing with a 29–11 record for the [[Syracuse Stars (minor league baseball)|Syracuse Stars]] in the Class B [[New York State League (1885–1917)|New York State League]], before being sold to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for $750 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|750|1911}}}} in current dollar terms).<ref name="baseball-reference.com">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexape01.shtml Pete Alexander Statistics and History] ''Baseball-Reference.com''</ref> He had been recommended to the Phillies by future scout [[Patsy O'Rourke]], who would be rewarded by the team with a $100 bonus and two tickets to the 1915 World Series.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ralph |last=Cirpriano |date=June 29, 1990|title=Joseph O'Rourke, ex-Baseball Scout|url= |work=Philadelphia Inquirer|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page=47}}</ref>

==Major League Baseball career==
=== Philadelphia Phillies ===
[[File:Grover Cleveland Alexander.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Alexander with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 1915]]
[[File:Grover Cleveland Alexander throwing BBHOF.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Alexander with the [[Chicago Cubs]] in 1921]]
Alexander made his [[Philadelphia Phillies]] debut during the pre-season [[1911 Philadelphia Phillies season|1911]] [[City Series (Philadelphia)|City Series]], pitching five innings of no-hit, no-run baseball against the [[Philadelphia Athletics|Athletics]]. He made his official Major League debut on April 15.<ref>{{cite book |title=Deadball stars of the National League|editor=Thomas P. Simon |year=2004 |publisher=Brassey's |isbn= 9781574888607|page=209 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yZXvz5-QjqAC&q=%22Philadelphia+Phillies%22+%22City+Series%22&pg=PA209|access-date=2009-06-01 }}</ref> He was joined on the Phillies that year by [[catcher]] [[Bill Killefer]], who went on to become Alexander's favorite battery mate, catching 250 of his games.<ref name="Bill Killefer at The Baseball Biography Project">{{cite web |last=Weatherby |first=Charlie |title=The Baseball Biography Project: Bill Killefer |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-killefer/ |access-date=July 17, 2010 |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=gEHVs0v0eIkC&dq=bill+killefer&pg=PA215 ''Deadball stars of the National League''], Thomas P. Simon, Brassey's, 2004, {{ISBN|1-57488-860-9}}, {{ISBN|978-1-57488-860-7}}</ref>

In his rookie year, Alexander led the league with 28 wins (a modern-day rookie record), 31 complete games, 367 innings pitched, and seven shutouts, while finishing second in strikeouts and fourth in ERA.<ref name="greatath"/> From 1912 to 1921, Alexander led the league in ERA four times (1915–16, 1919, and 1920), wins five times (1914–17, 1920), innings six times (1912, 1914–17, 1920), strikeouts six times (1912, 1914–1917, 1920), complete games five times (1914–1917, 1920), and shutouts five times (1915, 1916 [a single-season record 16], 1917, 1919, 1921).<ref name="greatath"/> He won the National League pitching [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] in 1915, 1916, and 1920, and is sometimes<ref name="greatath"/> credited with a fourth in 1917. In 1915, he was instrumental in leading the Phillies to their first pennant,<ref name="greatath"/> pitching a record five one-hitters and winning his only Major League triple crown. Along the way, Alexander began to have problems with alcohol, a struggle that would plague him the rest of his life. In 1915, he won his first World Series game (the opening game of that series), for the Phillies. It would be 65 years before the Phillies won another World Series game.

=== Chicago Cubs ===
After the [[1917 Philadelphia Phillies season|1917]] season, the Phillies traded Alexander and catcher Bill Killefer to the Cubs for catcher [[Pickles Dillhoefer]], pitcher [[Mike Prendergast (baseball)|Mike Prendergast]], and $55,000.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rainey |first=Chris |title=Pickles Dillhoefer |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Pickles-Dillhoefer/ |access-date=December 14, 2018 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref> Phillies owner [[William Baker (baseball)|William Baker]] later admitted, "I needed the money."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hZ4NBAAAQBAJ&q=grover+cleveland+alexander+WILLIAM+BAKER+%22i+NEEDED+THE+MONEY%22&pg=PA164|title=The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly: Philadelphia Phillies: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Phillies History|first=Todd|last=Zolecki|date=February 1, 2010|publisher=Triumph Books|isbn=9781600781643|access-date=December 14, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>

After the [[United States in World War I|United States entered World War I]], Alexander was [[Selective Service Act of 1917|drafted into the Army]], and one month before shipping out, he married Aimee Marie Arrant on May 31 in a courthouse ceremony in [[Manhattan, Kansas]] (the couple divorced in 1929, remarried in 1931, and divorced again in 1941).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Alexander__Grover_Cleveland.html |title=Pennsylvania Author<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=April 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515185042/http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Alexander__Grover_Cleveland.html |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Grover Cleveland Alexander |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Grover_Cleveland_Alexander.aspx |website=Encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

Alexander spent most of the {{Baseball year|1918}} season in France as a sergeant with the 342nd Field Artillery Regiment, [[89th Infantry Division (United States)|89th Division]]. While he was serving in France, he was exposed to German [[mustard gas]] and a shell exploded near him, causing partial hearing loss and triggering the onset of [[epilepsy]]. Alexander returned to the United States in April 1919 on the [[SS Rochambeau]].<ref>
{{cite news |last= |first= |date= April 4, 1919|title=Alex Due April 14, May Pitch Opener|url= |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|page=16}}</ref> Following his return from the war, Alexander suffered from [[shell shock]] and was plagued with epileptic seizures, which people often misinterpreted as a sign of drunkenness; this only exacerbated his drinking problem.

===St. Louis Cardinals===
In spite of all this, Alexander gave Chicago several successful years and won another pitching triple crown in [[1920 Chicago Cubs season|1920]]. Tiring of his increasing drunkenness and insubordination that was often directly related to his epilepsy, the Cubs sold him to the Cardinals in the middle of the [[1926 St. Louis Cardinals season|1926]] season for the [[Major League Baseball transactions#Waivers|waiver]] price.<ref name="greatath"/> The Cubs manager, [[Joe McCarthy (manager)|Joe McCarthy]], supposedly said that even with Alexander, the Cubs had finished last the previous season, "...and if they finished last again, I'd rather it was without him."

The Cardinals won the National League pennant that year and met the [[1926 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] in the [[1926 World Series|World Series]], where Alexander pitched complete game victories in Games 2 and 6. According to teammate [[Bob O'Farrell]] in ''[[The Glory of Their Times]]'', after the game six victory, Alexander got drunk that night and was still feeling the effects when he was sent out to pitch the next day in Game 7.<ref name="glory">{{cite book |author=Ritter |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Ritter |url=https://archive.org/details/gloryoftheirtime00ritt/page/236 |title=The Glory of Their Times |date=March 19, 1992 |publisher=Collier Books |isbn=0-688-11273-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/gloryoftheirtime00ritt/page/236 236]}}</ref> Alexander came into the game in the seventh inning after starter [[Jesse Haines]] developed a blister, with the Cardinals ahead 3–2, the bases loaded and two out. Facing Yankee slugger [[Tony Lazzeri]], Alexander struck him out and then held the Yankees scoreless for two more innings to preserve the win and give St. Louis the championship. The final out of the 7th game was made when [[Babe Ruth]] tried to steal second base.<ref>Smelser, Marshall (1975). The Life That Ruth Built: A Biography. The New York Times Book Company.(p340)</ref>

===Return to Phillies===
He had one last 20-win season for the Cardinals in 1927, but his continued drinking ended his career. After a brief return to the Phillies in 1930, he left the major leagues.<ref name="ogden1940">[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1Wcncq5-bHdYjQwMWExNzctMzViMi00MTk2LTg5Y2EtYWM2NDEwYzc3Mzhi&hl=en_US "Satchel Paige to Take Slab Monday Against Ogden Club"] ''Ogden Standard-Examiner'', Ogden, Utah, August 18, 1940, Page 7, Column 1, 2, 4 and 5</ref>

Alexander's 90 shutouts are a National League record and his 373 wins are tied with [[Christy Mathewson]] for first in the National League record book. He is also tied for third all time in wins, tenth in innings pitched (5190), second in shutouts, and eighth in hits allowed (4868). At the time of Alexander's final victory in August 1929, the news media reported that he had broken Mathewson's career victories record of 372. In the 1940s, Mathewson was discovered to have qualified for an additional victory (May 21, 1912) and his total was officially upped to 373 and into a tie with Alexander. Alexander posted a lifetime winning percentage of {{Winning percentage|373|208}}, compared to Mathewson's .665.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christy Mathewson Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mathech01.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]]}}</ref> Alexander has the most career wins of any pitcher who never threw a no-hitter.

Alexander was a good fielding pitcher for his era, committing only 25 [[error (baseball)|errors]] in 1,633 [[total chances]] for a career .985 [[fielding percentage]]. As a hitter, he accumulated 378 hits in 1,810 at-bats for a .209 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] with 11 [[home runs]], 163 [[runs batted in]], 154 [[run (baseball)|runs]] and 77 [[bases on balls]] in a 20-year career. He recorded 10 or more RBIs in a season nine times.<ref name="baseball-reference.com" />

==Later life and legacy==
{{MLBBioHon
|Image = PhilsAlexander.png
|Name  = Grover Cleveland Alexander
|Team  = Philadelphia Phillies
|Year  = 2001
|}}
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Alexander continued to play baseball, touring as a player-coach for the [[House of David (commune)|Grover Cleveland Alexander's House of David Team]].<ref name="ogden1940" /> The team's tour was managed by [[J. L. Wilkinson]] and often played against the [[Kansas City Monarchs]]. Alexander played with and against many of the Negro league stars of the day, including [[Satchel Paige]],<ref name="ogden1940" /> [[John Donaldson (pitcher)|John Donaldson]], [[Newt Joseph]],<ref name="ogden1940" /> [[Chet Brewer]], and [[Andy Cooper]].{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} 

Playing with the House of David baseball team, Alexander would return to Philadelphia and the Phillies' [[Baker Bowl|National League Park]] on July 25, 1932 in a game against a team of Philadelphia All-Stars and was cheered warmly when he came to bat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baumgartner |first=Stan |date=July 26, 1932 |title=Alexander Hurls Well As Whiskers Beat All-Stars |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |page=14 |quote=As a spectacle the game was a distinct success. The lighting was excellent and the fans had no trouble at all in following the ball, even flies that were hit high in the air.}}</ref> 

After the end of [[Prohibition in the United States|prohibition]], Alexander operated a tavern in St. Louis with [[Hughie Miller]] as his partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/573348025/?terms=%22hughie%20miller%22&match=1 |title=1 Oct 1936, 11|work=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription |date=October 1, 1936 |access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref>

Alexander was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1938, the third year of the Hall. Alexander was the only player elected that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseballhall.org/hall-famers/members/bios?lname=&cat=All&negro=All&pos=All&team=&state=All&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Byear%5D=1938&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Bmonth%5D=0&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Bday%5D=0&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Bhour%5D=0&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Bminute%5D=0&class%5Bvalue%5D%5Bsecond%5D=0|title=The Hall of Fame members|website=Baseball Hall of Fame}}</ref>

Alexander attended Game 3 of the [[1950 World Series]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], where he saw the Phillies lose to the Yankees.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Alexander Ignored At Yankee Stadium Where He Beat Great Bronx Bombers |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=1950-10-07 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/888364132.html?dids=888364132:888364132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+07%2C+1950&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Alexander+Ignored+At+Yankee+Stadium+Where+He+Beat+Great+Bronx+Bombers&pqatl=google |page=12 |access-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023100609/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/888364132.html?dids=888364132:888364132&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+07,+1950&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Alexander+Ignored+At+Yankee+Stadium+Where+He+Beat+Great+Bronx+Bombers&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref> He died less than a month later, on November 4 in [[St. Paul, Nebraska]], at the age of 63.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sport: Old Pete |newspaper=Time |date=1950-11-13 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,821384,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131102933/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,821384,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2011 }}</ref> He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in St Paul.<ref>Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson</ref>

Alexander was the subject of the 1952 biographical film ''[[The Winning Team]]'', portrayed by [[Ronald Reagan]], giving Alexander the unique distinction of being named for one U.S. president and being portrayed by another. The film earned an estimated $1.7 million at the North American box office in 1952.<ref>'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', ''Variety'', January 7, 1953</ref>

In 1999, he ranked number 12 on [[Sporting News#1998|''The Sporting News'']] list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml Baseball's 100 Greatest Players] ([[Sporting News#1998|''The Sporting News'']]). Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2011-08-25.</ref> and was a nominee for the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]]. Since he played before the Phillies adopted uniform numbers, the block-letter "P" from the 1915 season uniforms was retired by the team in 2001 to honor his career with them.

Alexander is the first player mentioned in the poem ''[[Line-Up for Yesterday]]'' by [[Ogden Nash]]:
{{quote box |width= 18em |border= 2px |align= center |bgcolor= #c6dbf7 |qalign= center | title=''Line-Up for Yesterday''|quote=''A is for Alex''<br/>''The great Alexander;''<br/>''More Goose eggs he pitched''<br/>''Than a popular gander.''
|source= —[[Ogden Nash]], [[Sport (US magazine)|''Sport'' magazine]] (January 1949)<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball Almanac|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_line.shtml|access-date=2008-01-23 }}</ref> }}

==Nicknames==
Newspapers often mentioned Alexander's full name when writing about him, in addition to just "Grover". He was also sometimes called "Alec", and on occasions when he succeeded in grand fashion (as with the [[1926 World Series]]), they would call him "[[Alexander the Great]]". He was so dominant during the 1910s that many players and writers of his era referred to him as "the best pitcher to ever put on a pair of shoes".<ref>{{cite book|title=Racing Redbirds: A Video History of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1882 to Present|year=1983}}</ref>

The nickname of "Old Pete" began as "Alkali Pete", which was in itself a [[pastiche]], based on a series of early silent film westerns based on characters named [[Alkali Ike]] and Mustang Pete. While on a hunting trip with [[Bill Killefer]] in Texas, Alexander's dusty appearance prompted Killefer to name him "Alkali Pete" and it stuck. Before going to war, he was given a watch engraved with the nickname, dating its origin to no later than 1918. By the late 1920s, it had morphed into "Old Pete."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cardinals Encyclopedia|year=1999|publisher=Temple University Press|page=125|author= Mike Eisenbath}} {{ISBN|1-56639-703-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=DiFranza |first=Lenny |title="Old Pete:" How Grover Cleveland Alexander Got His Nickname |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/short-stops/old-pete-origin |access-date=2019-08-10 |website=[[Baseball Hall of Fame]]}}</ref>

It is uncertain how frequently Alexander was publicly called by that nickname during his playing days. When he won his 373rd game on August 10, 1929, one newspaper had called him "old Pete", indicating that the nickname was in public circulation.<ref>{{cite book |author=Deutsch |first=Jordan A. |url=https://archive.org/details/scrapbookhistory00deut |title=The Scrapbook History of Baseball |author2=Cohen |first2=Richard M. |last3=Johnson |first3=Ronald T. |last4=Neft |first4=David S. |publisher=Bobbs-Merrill |year=1975 |isbn=9780672520280 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scrapbookhistory00deut/page/131 131] |url-access=registration}} {{ISBN|0-672-52028-1}}</ref> On his 1940 Playball baseball card he was referred to as "Ol' Pete." In ''The World Series and Highlights of Baseball'', by Lamont Buchanan, published in 1951, the year after Alexander died, on pages 106–107 the author refers to "Pete Alexander" and "Ol' Pete" in a matter-of-fact way, suggesting the nickname was well known.

The [[Baseball-Reference.com]] website lists him as Grover Alexander with a name note and an AKA as Pete Alexander.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexape01.shtml|title=Pete Alexander|website=baseball-reference.com|access-date=2021-01-25}}</ref>

His nickname among family friends in Nebraska was "Dode".<ref>{{cite news|title=Grover Alexander and Bride Visit Home Folks|newspaper=St. Paul Phonograph, St. Paul, Neb.|date=April 24, 1919}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
* [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Major League Baseball Triple Crown]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career ERA leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career FIP leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=110127|espn=17591|br=a/alexape01|fangraphs=1000128|brm=alexan001gro|retro=A/Palexg102}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|alexander-grover}}
*{{Sabrbio|79e6a2a7}}
*{{Find a Grave|1812}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Grover Cleveland}}
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