Saturday, August 7, 2021

2021 National Pickup - Frankie Frisch Signed Baseball

The second of three signatures on the Cardinals old timers ball that I needed in my collection was that of Frankie Frisch.  Frisch signed the sweet spot of the ball, with a really nice signature.  I didn't mention before, but this ball has a JSA full letter of authenticity, and I got it for an amazing price.  I couldn't turn it down.  The ball now resided in my safe deposit box in my bank.

Frisch (b. 1898 - d. 1973) played in the majors from 1919 to 1937 for the Giants and Cardinals.  He had 2,880 hits. 105 home runs and a .316 batting average.  He was a three-time All Star (1933, 34 and 35) and the 1931 NL MVP.  He won the World Series in 1921 and 1922 with the Giants and 1931 and 1934 with the Cardinals.  

Frisch managed the Cardinals from 1933 to 1938, winning the 1934 World Series.  Then, he moved on to the Pirates and managed there from 1940 to 1946, never finishing higher than 2nd; finally, he went to the Cubs and managed from 1949 to 1951.  In all, his managerial record was 1,138-1,078 (.514 win %).

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947, when he was named on 84.5% of the ballot.

Frisch died at the age of 74 from injuries sustained in a car accident a month earlier, a similar manner of death as other former Giant Hall of Famers, Carl Hubbell and Mel Ott.

Frisch is my 156th Hall of Famer on a baseball.

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