Zack Greinke
| Birthdate | 10/21/1983 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 2004 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Angels, Astros, Brewers, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Royals |
| Positions | Agent, Pitcher |
A former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, Zack Greinke has won the Cy Young, Gold Glove, and Silver Slugger awards.
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Zack Greinke was the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year before becoming a Major Leaguer
Zack Greinke was the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year before becoming a Major Leaguer
When Zack Greinke signed the document shown here, he was a high school sophomore trying out for a collegiate showcase. Just three weeks past his 16th birthday, Greinke signed up for the prestigious Team One Florida showcase.
Among the pitchers to play for Team One Florida are Cy Young Award winners Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, Justin Verlander. Position players include Mark Teixeira, Troy Tulowitzki, and David Wright.
The young Greinke lists his primary position as shortstop and his secondary position as catcher. Interestingly the two-time Silver Slugger also writes that he hits both right and left.
The 16-year old Greinke penned his signature toward the bottom of the document.
Two years later Greinke was voted the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year. Gary Sheffield (1986), Alex Rodriguez (1996), and Clayton Kershaw (2006) also received the honor.
Three weeks after his 16th birthday Zack Greinke couldn't have known the baseball success he'd have
Three weeks after his 16th birthday Zack Greinke couldn't have known the baseball success he'd have
Zack Greinke filled out the tryout form and signed the bottom three weeks after his 16th birthday. Shown here is a closeup of Gerinke’s signature as a sophomore in high school. He signed this three weeks after his 16th birthday.
Because Greinke was underage, his father Don also had to sign the form. The elder Greinke signed his name just below his son.
It’s difficult to imagine any baseball-related signature from earlier in Greinke’s life. It’s likely that the pitcher will someday have a plaque in Cooperstown.
With more than 200 wins to his credit, a Cy Young Award, six Gold Gloves, and two Silver Sluggers, Greinke may have already punched his ticket.
ESPN SportsTicker questionnaire filled out by an 18-year old Zack Greinke two years before MLB debut
ESPN SportsTicker questionnaire filled out by an 18-year old Zack Greinke two years before MLB debut
In the collection is this ESPN SportsTicker questionnaire filled out entirely by Zack Greinke on August 3, 2002. Greinke was just two months removed from his senior year in high school and still two years away from his Major League debut with the Royals.
Though he would win the 2009 Cy Young Award for Kansas City, his finest season came in 2015 with the Dodgers. That year Greinke led the league in ERA (1.66), WHIP (0.844), and Winning Percentage (19-3 .864) while earning the second of three consecutive Gold Gloves. Over the off season Greinke signed a gargantuan 6-year contract valued at $206.5 million.
Greinke has quietly built a resumé that includes All Star appearances, Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger and that Cy Young hardware. In 2023 Greinke went 2-15 with a 5.06 ERA to end his career with a 225-156 record, 2,979 strikeouts, a 121 ERA+, and 77.5 WAR. An appointment at Cooperstown is likely.
ESPN SportsTicker employed CooperstownExpert's Jim Smiley as their Dodger reporter for 18 years
ESPN SportsTicker employed CooperstownExpert's Jim Smiley as their Dodger reporter for 18 years
Everything on this website is in the private collection of CooperstownExpert.com’s Jim Smiley. The collection is the fruit of a 30-year labor of love.
Smiley was hired by SportsTicker – the same company for which Greinke filled out the publicity questionnaire – in 1992. Smiley covered the Dodgers, Angels, the Winter Meetings, and the World Baseball Classic for most of the next three decades.
Shown here is a business card of Smiley from his time in the employ of ESPN.
