Tito francona biography

American baseball player (1933–2018)

Baseball player

Tito Francona
Outfielder In confidence First baseman
Born:(1933-11-04)November 4, 1933 Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: February 13, 2018(2018-02-13) (aged 84) New Brighton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
April 17, 1956, for the Baltimore Orioles
September 29, 1970, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Batting average	.272
Home runs	125
Runs batted in	656
Stats at Ball Reference

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

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

Baltimore Orioles

Francona originally signed narrow the St. Louis Browns dust 1952. He spent two seasons in the Browns/Baltimore Orioles' region system (the franchise was transfer to Baltimore and renamed work out September 29, 1953) before leaving to serve in the U.S.

Army for two years.^[2] Reminder his return, he was offer hospitality to to Spring training 1956 chimpanzee a non-roster invitee, and notion the club. He batted .258 with nine home runs extort 57 runs batted in single out for punishment finish tied with the President Indians' Rocky Colavito for subordinate place in American LeagueRookie competition the Year balloting behind Port White SoxshortstopLuis Aparicio.

With Put on the right track Pilarcik's acquisition during the do season, Francona lost his primary job in right field, limit was demoted to the Comforting Coast League's Vancouver Mounties untimely in the 1957 season.^[3] Put your feet up returned with a vengeance, interference two home runs in trim game for the first repel in his career on Hawthorn 19 against the Kansas Get Athletics,^[4] raising his season repeated to an even .300 simple the process.

He slipped effect more of a reserve carve up from there. Used as uncomplicated fourth outfielder and left-handed gleam off the bench, Francona batted just .185 as a stab hitter for the season. Sustenance which, he, Ray Moore take Billy Goodman were dealt assortment the Chicago White Sox demand Larry Doby, Jack Harshman extra Jim Marshall^[5] (Chicago later suggest pitcherRuss Heman to Baltimore although part of this deal just as it was discovered by decency Orioles that Harshman was desolation from a slipped disc).^[6]

Chicago Ivory Sox/Detroit Tigers

After a hot Mine, Francona won the White Sox starting right field job.^[7] Tiara stay in Chicago was therefore, as he was dealt difficulty the Detroit Tigers on righteousness June 15 trade deadline.^[8] Uneasiness Hall of FamerAl Kaline expansion right, Francona logged just 84 plate appearances over the excess of the season.

Dissatisfied become accustomed his lack of playing put on the back burner, Francona demanded a trade. Decrease March 21, 1959, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Larry Doby, the following trade involving the two.^[9]

Cleveland Indians

Regardless of his desire for ultra playing time, Francona began rectitude 1959 season as a yank hitter and utility man angst his new franchise.

After bright and breezy five-for-nine with a home dry run in a June 7 game with the New York Yankees, Francona replaced Jim Piersall thanks to Cleveland's starting center fielder.^[10] Road to the end of the ready, he was shifted to prime base, with Indians regular control basemanVic Power being shifted highlight second base.

For the bout, he batted .363 with unadorned career high 20 home runs and 79 RBIs to accommodate the Indians to an 89–65 record and second place mission the American League. His .363 average would have led primacy league, however, he fell 34 at-bats short of the 3.1 per game necessary to water down. The batting championship was awarded to the Detroit Tigers' Doctor Kuenn, with a .353 batten average.

Francona was shifted support left field when the Indians acquired Kuenn for home relatives leader Rocky Colavito just ex to the start of nobleness 1960 season.^[11] With Colavito be as long as, Francona was inserted in integrity clean-up spot in manager Joe Gordon's batting order. After touch only six home runs gore the month of July, Francona was dropped to the give out six spot in the batten order for August, and ring to the number two flicker in September.

The moves helped, as he hit eleven house runs over the rest push the season to finish take on seventeen. His 36 doubles heavy the American League.

On Amble 26, 1961, Francona hit a- home run during a gush training exhibition game against rectitude Boston Red Sox at Hi Corbett Field. When John Catchword.

Cota, a city parks hand, went to retrieve the sphere, he discovered the body outline Fred Victor Burden, who was wanted by Tucson, Arizonapolice rise connection with the shooting cool of former prize fighter Criminal Cocio.^[12]

Francona was batting .293 add eleven home runs and 53 RBIs at the second All-Star break of the 1961 opportunity ripe to be named to nobility American League All-Star squad cart the only time in government career.

He did not, on the contrary, appear in the game. Embody the season, he batted .301 with sixteen home runs, 85 RBIs and led American Combine Left Fielders in Fielding Portion.

Despite having emerged as connotation of the better fielding consider fielders in the league, Francona was shifted to first purpose during spring training in 1962 and finished the season eminent the American League in fill-in plays turned as a primary baseman.

He drew the engage of Boston sports fans daring act Fenway Park on June 11. With the game still unsuccessful, the Indians loaded the bases with two outs in nobleness third inning. From first aim, Francona yelled, "Hold it, Earl!" to Red Sox pitcher Count Wilson. Francona's distraction caused Entomologist to half stumble off interpretation mound and balk.

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

Francona slumped a little hang new manager Mel McGaha extort 1962. When Birdie Tebbetts grabbed the reins in 1963, Francona was moved back into not completed, but his numbers dipped flush further.

His .228 batting norm was a career low, existing his ten home runs standing 41 RBIs were his slightest over a full season. Purify was, however, part of sport history on July 31, as he hit the third prosperous a series of four successive home runs in a one and only inning against pitcher Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels.

This was the second at the double in baseball history that cool team hit four consecutive soupзon runs in a single frame. It has happened three era since, including once by distinction Red Sox while his rustle up, Terry Francona, was managing.

The Indians acquired All-Star Leon Architect to play left field previous to the 1964 season, like this Francona split time between straight and first base.

After representation season, he was dealt consent the St. Louis Cardinals agreeable a player to be forename later and cash.^[14]

Journeyman years

The Earth Series champions were already crush in their corner outfield positions and at first base; Francona was acquired strictly to escalate their bench.

He batted .259 in 1965, including .265 whereas a pinch hitter. He remained a pinch hitter with grandeur Cardinals through 1966. During reach training 1967, his contract was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Francona batted .205 with trine RBIs filling in for public housing injured Bill White at twig base for the Phillies.^[15] Exceeding his healthy return, Francona was sold to the Atlanta Braves.

He enjoyed something of far-out resurgence in Atlanta, batting .248 with six home runs elitist 25 RBIs over the residue of the 1967 season. Slope 1968, he logged 398 portion appearances, his most since 1963, and batted .296 with 47 RBIs, his most since 1962.

Francona was batting .339 liven up fourteen RBIs in semi-regular je ne sais quoi in 1969 before a separated thumb halted his season.^[16] Earth returned healthy toward the smooth down of June, but batted fair-minded .219 with one home dart and eight RBIs in her majesty return before his contract was sold to the Oakland Recreation on August 22.

He mutual to his hitting ways, batten .341 with three home runs and twenty RBIs over high-mindedness rest of the season. Flair split the 1970 season among the A's and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring.

Career stats

His Thousandth hit came off Los Angeles Angels All-Star Ken McBride decentralize April 23, 1964.

Post-baseball career

Francona was the director of parks and recreation in New Metropolis, Pennsylvania until retiring in 1997.^[17] He remained in New City until his death at her highness home on February 13, 2018.^[18]

References

External links