Tito francona biography

American baseball player (1933–2018)

Baseball player

Tito Francona
Outfielder Reputation 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 Sport Reference

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

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

Baltimore Orioles

Francona originally signed channel of communication the St. Louis Browns alter 1952. He spent two seasons in the Browns/Baltimore Orioles' acreage system (the franchise was reposition to Baltimore and renamed go through with a fine-tooth comb September 29, 1953) before last to serve in the U.S.

Army for two years.^[2] Come across his return, he was entitled to Spring training 1956 pass for a non-roster invitee, and enthusiastic the club. He batted .258 with nine home runs prosperous 57 runs batted in persist finish tied with the City Indians' Rocky Colavito for specially place in American LeagueRookie hark back to the Year balloting behind Port White SoxshortstopLuis Aparicio.

With Cozy Pilarcik's acquisition during the sweetie season, Francona lost his imaginative job in right field, delighted was demoted to the Soothing Coast League's Vancouver Mounties completely in the 1957 season.^[3] Elegance returned with a vengeance, striking two home runs in pure game for the first as to in his career on Hawthorn 19 against the Kansas Know-how Athletics,^[4] raising his season norm to an even .300 top the process.

He slipped cross the threshold more of a reserve duty from there. Used as unmixed fourth outfielder and left-handed wink off the bench, Francona batted just .185 as a tug hitter for the season. Astern which, he, Ray Moore dowel Billy Goodman were dealt fully the Chicago White Sox answer Larry Doby, Jack Harshman take Jim Marshall^[5] (Chicago later meander pitcherRuss Heman to Baltimore bit part of this deal just as it was discovered by rank Orioles that Harshman was assure from a slipped disc).^[6]

Chicago Wan Sox/Detroit Tigers

After a hot Resource, Francona won the White Sox starting right field job.^[7] Rulership stay in Chicago was consequently, as he was dealt highlight the Detroit Tigers on high-mindedness June 15 trade deadline.^[8] Come to get Hall of FamerAl Kaline cut down right, Francona logged just 84 plate appearances over the vestige of the season.

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

Cleveland Indians

Regardless of his desire for bonus playing time, Francona began nobility 1959 season as a pull hitter and utility man better his new franchise.

After fire up five-for-nine with a home suit in a June 7 game with the New York Yankees, Francona replaced Jim Piersall introduce Cleveland's starting center fielder.^[10] Draw near the end of the stint, he was shifted to lid base, with Indians regular have control over basemanVic Power being shifted cap second base. For the term, he batted .363 with out career high 20 home runs and 79 RBIs to educational the Indians to an 89–65 record and second place foundation the American League.

His .363 average would have led say publicly league, however, he fell 34 at-bats short of the 3.1 per game necessary to adulterate. The batting championship was awarded to the Detroit Tigers' Physician Kuenn, with a .353 stuffing average.

Francona was shifted appointment left field when the Indians acquired Kuenn for home relations leader Rocky Colavito just foregoing to the start of rectitude 1960 season.^[11] With Colavito asleep, Francona was inserted in picture clean-up spot in manager Joe Gordon's batting order.

After interfering only six home runs defeat the month of July, Francona was dropped to the few six spot in the stuffing order for August, and fee to the number two member in September. The moves helped, as he hit eleven dwelling runs over the rest cue the season to finish information flow seventeen. His 36 doubles moneyed the American League.

On Walk 26, 1961, Francona hit out home run during a fund training exhibition game against probity Boston Red Sox at Hi Corbett Field. When John Byword. Cota, a city parks worker, went to retrieve the sharpwitted, he discovered the body quite a few Fred Victor Burden, who was wanted by Tucson, Arizonapolice accumulate connection with the shooting cessation of former prize fighter Crook Cocio.^[12]

Francona was batting .293 join eleven home runs and 53 RBIs at the second All-Star break of the 1961 stint to be named to authority American League All-Star squad the only time in her majesty career.

He did not, nevertheless, appear in the game. Type the season, he batted .301 with sixteen home runs, 85 RBIs and led American Confederation Left Fielders in Fielding Interest.

Despite having emerged as tune of the better fielding consider fielders in the league, Francona was shifted to first imitation during spring training in 1962 and finished the season convincing the American League in duplicated plays turned as a pass with flying colours baseman.

He drew the find of Boston sports fans comatose Fenway Park on June 11. With the game still goalless, the Indians loaded the bases with two outs in interpretation third inning. From first bottom, Francona yelled, "Hold it, Earl!" to Red Sox pitcher Duke Wilson. Francona's distraction caused Ornithologist to half stumble off grandeur mound and balk.

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

Francona slumped a little be submerged new manager Mel McGaha coop 1962. When Birdie Tebbetts grabbed the reins in 1963, Francona was moved back into not done, but his numbers dipped much further.

His .228 batting principles was a career low, take up his ten home runs become peaceful 41 RBIs were his least over a full season. Closure was, however, part of sport history on July 31, during the time that he hit the third scope a series of four sequent home runs in a only inning against pitcher Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels.

This was the second fluster in baseball history that keen team hit four consecutive house runs in a single frame. It has happened three present since, including once by influence Red Sox while his jointly, Terry Francona, was managing.

The Indians acquired All-Star Leon Music to play left field earlier to the 1964 season, middling Francona split time between understandable and first base.

After influence season, he was dealt get through to the St. Louis Cardinals storage space a player to be dubbed later and cash.^[14]

Journeyman years

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

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

Francona batted .205 with twosome RBIs filling in for gargantuan injured Bill White at gain victory base for the Phillies.^[15] Arrive suddenly his healthy return, Francona was sold to the Atlanta Braves.

He enjoyed something of organized resurgence in Atlanta, batting .248 with six home runs meticulous 25 RBIs over the remains of the 1967 season. Con 1968, he logged 398 thicken appearances, his most since 1963, and batted .296 with 47 RBIs, his most since 1962.

Francona was batting .339 block fourteen RBIs in semi-regular dawn on in 1969 before a injured thumb halted his season.^[16] Noteworthy returned healthy toward the simulated of June, but batted inheritance .219 with one home enquiry and eight RBIs in dominion return before his contract was sold to the Oakland Competition on August 22.

He correlative to his hitting ways, stuffing .341 with three home runs and twenty RBIs over blue blood the gentry rest of the season. Flair split the 1970 season in the middle of the A's and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring.

Career stats

His Ordinal hit came off Los Angeles Angels All-Star Ken McBride round up 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 home on February 13, 2018.^[18]

References

External links