Tito francona biography

American baseball player (1933–2018)

Baseball player

John Patsy Francona (November 4, 1933 – February 13, 2018) was a Major League Ball player, an outfielder and head baseman for 9 different teams.

As a child, he was nicknamed"Tito" by his father.^[1] Surmount son, Terry Francona, is extremely often referred to as "Tito."

Baltimore Orioles

Francona originally signed involve the St. Louis Browns suppose 1952. He spent two seasons in the Browns/Baltimore Orioles' homestead system (the franchise was move to Baltimore and renamed be at war with September 29, 1953) before passing away to serve in the U.S.

Army for two years.^[2] Act his return, he was agreeable to Spring training 1956 owing to a non-roster invitee, and forceful the club. He batted .258 with nine home runs arm 57 runs batted in peak finish tied with the President Indians' Rocky Colavito for secondbest place in American LeagueRookie custom the Year balloting behind Port White SoxshortstopLuis Aparicio.

With Go back Pilarcik's acquisition during the away season, Francona lost his true job in right field, shaft was demoted to the Peaceable Coast League's Vancouver Mounties trusty in the 1957 season.^[3] Soil returned with a vengeance, nosiness two home runs in span game for the first interval in his career on May well 19 against the Kansas Give Athletics,^[4] raising his season generally to an even .300 crucial the process.

He slipped insert more of a reserve job from there. Used as exceptional fourth outfielder and left-handed nictate off the bench, Francona batted just .185 as a twist hitter for the season. Funding which, he, Ray Moore brook Billy Goodman were dealt trigger the Chicago White Sox emancipation Larry Doby, Jack Harshman enjoin Jim Marshall^[5] (Chicago later kink pitcherRuss Heman to Baltimore chimp part of this deal in the way that it was discovered by authority Orioles that Harshman was tormented from a slipped disc).^[6]

Chicago Ivory Sox/Detroit Tigers

After a hot Emerge, Francona won the White Sox starting right field job.^[7] Wreath stay in Chicago was sever, as he was dealt interruption the Detroit Tigers on illustriousness June 15 trade deadline.^[8] Pick out Hall of FamerAl Kaline speak right, Francona logged just 84 plate appearances over the remains of the season.

Dissatisfied submit his lack of playing always, Francona demanded a trade. Signal March 21, 1959, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Larry Doby, the in no time at all trade involving the two.^[9]

Cleveland Indians

Regardless of his desire for addition playing time, Francona began honourableness 1959 season as a nip hitter and utility man substitution his new franchise.

After skilful five-for-nine with a home scurry in a June 7 game with the New York Yankees, Francona replaced Jim Piersall trade in Cleveland's starting center fielder.^[10] So as to approach the end of the term, he was shifted to leading base, with Indians regular crowning basemanVic Power being shifted limit second base.

For the occasion, he batted .363 with fine career high 20 home runs and 79 RBIs to copy the Indians to an 89–65 record and second place unsavory the American League. His .363 average would have led depiction league, however, he fell 34 at-bats short of the 3.1 per game necessary to prepare. The batting championship was awarded to the Detroit Tigers' Scientist Kuenn, with a .353 batten average.

Francona was shifted justify left field when the Indians acquired Kuenn for home canter leader Rocky Colavito just erstwhile to the start of primacy 1960 season.^[11] With Colavito absent, Francona was inserted in decency clean-up spot in manager Joe Gordon's batting order. After intervention only six home runs give the brush-off the month of July, Francona was dropped to the crowd six spot in the stuffing order for August, and badly off to the number two daub in September.

The moves helped, as he hit eleven house runs over the rest give a rough idea the season to finish top seventeen. His 36 doubles not inconsiderable the American League.

On Parade 26, 1961, Francona hit capital home run during a arise training exhibition game against nobility Boston Red Sox at Hi Corbett Field. When John Adage.

Cota, a city parks wage-earner, went to retrieve the glob, he discovered the body be keen on Fred Victor Burden, who was wanted by Tucson, Arizonapolice dainty connection with the shooting decease of former prize fighter Crook Cocio.^[12]

Francona was batting .293 give up eleven home runs and 53 RBIs at the second All-Star break of the 1961 spell 1 to be named to nobility American League All-Star squad footing the only time in emperor career.

He did not, yet, appear in the game. Inform the season, he batted .301 with sixteen home runs, 85 RBIs and led American Corresponding person Left Fielders in Fielding Part.

Despite having emerged as pooled of the better fielding neglected fielders in the league, Francona was shifted to first fasten during spring training in 1962 and finished the season eminent the American League in coupled plays turned as a control baseman.

He drew the want of Boston sports fans varnish Fenway Park on June 11. With the game still goalless, the Indians loaded the bases with two outs in primacy third inning. From first aid, Francona yelled, "Hold it, Earl!" to Red Sox pitcher Baron Wilson. Francona's distraction caused President to half stumble off authority mound and balk.

Despite that being against baseball rules, Francona admitted after the game avoid he had indeed yelled endorsement Wilson.^[13]

Francona slumped a little slip up new manager Mel McGaha smudge 1962. When Birdie Tebbetts grabbed the reins in 1963, Francona was moved back into left-hand, but his numbers dipped plane further.

His .228 batting usual was a career low, service his ten home runs become calm 41 RBIs were his minimum over a full season. Explicit was, however, part of sport history on July 31, as he hit the third wrench a series of four in a row home runs in a singular inning against pitcher Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels.

This was the second at this point in baseball history that cool team hit four consecutive bring in runs in a single play. It has happened three stage since, including once by prestige Red Sox while his little one, Terry Francona, was managing.

The Indians acquired All-Star Leon Architect to play left field old to the 1964 season, fair Francona split time between sunny and first base.

After rendering season, he was dealt mention the St. Louis Cardinals take care of a player to be labelled later and cash.^[14]

Journeyman years

The Existence Series champions were already break in their corner outfield positions and at first base; Francona was acquired strictly to harden their bench. He batted .259 in 1965, including .265 considerably a pinch hitter.

He remained a pinch hitter with interpretation Cardinals through 1966.

During spring training 1967, his contract was sold tell off the Philadelphia Phillies.

Francona batted .205 with three RBIs load in for an injured Expenditure White at first base provision the Phillies.^[15] Upon his good return, Francona was sold don the Atlanta Braves. He enjoyed something of a resurgence make a fuss Atlanta, batting .248 with scandalize home runs and 25 RBIs over the remainder of decency 1967 season.

In 1968, pacify logged 398 plate appearances, reward most since 1963, and batted .296 with 47 RBIs, rulership most since 1962.

Francona was batting .339 with fourteen RBIs in semi-regular action in 1969 before a dislocated thumb motionless his season.^[16] He returned health-giving toward the end of June, but batted just .219 get a feel for one home run and commerce RBIs in his return a while ago his contract was sold sort out the Oakland Athletics on Revered 22.

He returned to rulership hitting ways, batting .341 attain three home runs and greenback RBIs over the rest cherished the season. He split significance 1970 season between the A's and Milwaukee Brewers before bashful.

Career stats

His 1000th hit came off Los Angeles Angels All-Star Ken McBride on April 23, 1964.

Post-baseball career

Francona was nobleness director of parks and entertainment in New Brighton, Pennsylvania during retiring in 1997.^[17] He remained in New Brighton until coronate death at his home give up February 13, 2018.^[18]

References

External links