1934-1936 Diamond Stars: #62 Fred M. Frankhouse

Sunday, January 17, 2021

#62 Fred M. Frankhouse - Boston Braves

Frederick Meloy Frankhouse

Boston Braves

Pitcher

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'11" Weight: 175

Born: April 9, 1904, Port Royal, PA

Major League Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1927-1930; Boston Braves 1930-1935; Brooklyn Dodgers 1936-1938; Boston Bees 1939

Died: August 17, 1989, Mifflintown, PA (85)

Known for his roundhouse curveball, and possibly a spitball as well, Fred Frankhouse pitched in 13 different seasons spending most of his career in Boston. He was a member of the 1928 National League Champion Cardinals, although he didn't pitch in that year's World Series against the Yankees. His best season came in 1934 when he went 17-9 with a 3.20 ERA, and he appeared in the second ever All-Star Game, pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Known for his wildness, Frankhouse tallied 701 career walks to his 622 career strikeouts, but he still accumulated at least 10 wins a season for five straight years between 1933 and 1937. In 402 major league games, Frankhouse went 106-97 with a 3.92 ERA.

After retiring from baseball, Frankhouse served for four years in the Army during World War II, earning the rank of Captain. A long-time resident of Port Royal, Pennsylvania, Frankhouse started that town's Little League program and later had the town's baseball field named in his honor.

Building the Set

December 15, 2020 from Longmont, CO (BBC Emporium) - Card #5

1935 - Frankhouse & Ruth

Bitten by the bug of collecting a new set, I decided I could justify an early Christmas present to myself and while on a particularly long and unproductive work video meeting, I found four more cards for my set. Along with this Frankhouse card, I added the cards of Roy Mahaffey (#10), Red Rolfe (#29) and Jo-Jo White (#45). Rolfe and White were the priciest two of the four-card lot from BBC Emporium located in Longmont, Colorado.

Variations Available

1 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1935 copyright

The Card / Braves Team Set

Frankhouse is the only subject of the set with his middle initial appearing on the front of his card, which I find odd and mysterious. The back of the card touches on Frankhouse's dominant, but occasionally wild, curve ball.

1935 Season

The Braves were awful in 1935, sparking the franchise to change its nickname to the Bees in 1936 in an attempt to re-invigorate the fan base and provide a fresh start for the team. Under manager Bill McKechnie (#144), the Braves went 38-115 with Frankhouse leading the pitching staff with 11 wins - almost 30% of the team's total wins for the year. He finished the season with an 11-15 record, and a 4.76 ERA while leading the staff in both walks (81) and strikeouts (64). Frankhouse was the starting pitcher for the Braves on May 30, 1935, in game one of a double header against the Phillies at Shibe Park. The game is notable as Babe Ruth (#109b) batted third and started in left field for the Braves, the final game of his legendary career.

Ruth is a notable omission from the original Diamond Stars set, and he received two re-imagined Diamond Stars cards in a 2014 "extended" set available at that year's National Sports Collectors Convention.