Ernest W. Groth came to Oakland at the age of 28 from the American Association, where he piled up a 12-9 record pitching 162 innings for Kansas City in 1949. Filling out Manager Charlie Dressen's bench in 1950, he pitched 161 innings with a record of 7-11 and an ERA of 5.09 for the Oaks.

(Query: Was Ernest John Groth, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs in 1904 his father?)