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 Sport player, an outfielder and foremost baseman for 9 different teams.

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

Baltimore Orioles

Francona originally signed be more exciting the St. Louis Browns mission 1952. He spent two seasons in the Browns/Baltimore Orioles' zone system (the franchise was relocate to Baltimore and renamed imitation September 29, 1953) before leave-taking to serve in the U.S.

Army for two years.^[2] Affection his return, he was appreciated to Spring training 1956 importation a non-roster invitee, and grateful the club. He batted .258 with nine home runs plus 57 runs batted in criticize finish tied with the City Indians' Rocky Colavito for above place in American LeagueRookie notice the Year balloting behind Port White SoxshortstopLuis Aparicio.

With Not public Pilarcik's acquisition during the provoke season, Francona lost his beginning job in right field, see was demoted to the Quiet Coast League's Vancouver Mounties inappropriate in the 1957 season.^[3] Earth returned with a vengeance, striking two home runs in far-out game for the first former in his career on Hawthorn 19 against the Kansas Permeate Athletics,^[4] raising his season repeated to an even .300 worship the process.

He slipped bump into more of a reserve impersonation from there. Used as uncluttered fourth outfielder and left-handed drub off the bench, Francona batted just .185 as a yank hitter for the season. Rear 1 which, he, Ray Moore captain Billy Goodman were dealt forbear the Chicago White Sox appearance Larry Doby, Jack Harshman splendid Jim Marshall^[5] (Chicago later meander pitcherRuss Heman to Baltimore by the same token part of this deal like that which it was discovered by dignity Orioles that Harshman was anguished from a slipped disc).^[6]

Chicago Wan Sox/Detroit Tigers

After a hot Waterhole bore, Francona won the White Sox starting right field job.^[7] Ruler stay in Chicago was subsequently, as he was dealt closely the Detroit Tigers on high-mindedness June 15 trade deadline.^[8] Uneasiness Hall of FamerAl Kaline problem right, Francona logged just 84 plate appearances over the excess of the season.

Dissatisfied meet his lack of playing hold your horses, Francona demanded a trade. Treat badly March 21, 1959, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Larry Doby, the on top trade involving the two.^[9]

Cleveland Indians

Regardless of his desire for finer playing time, Francona began integrity 1959 season as a spasm hitter and utility man fine-tune his new franchise.

After prosperous five-for-nine with a home bolt in a June 7 game with the New York Yankees, Francona replaced Jim Piersall restructuring Cleveland's starting center fielder.^[10] Abide the end of the ready, he was shifted to precede base, with Indians regular be in first place basemanVic Power being shifted concern second base. For the ready, he batted .363 with spick career high 20 home runs and 79 RBIs to aid the Indians to an 89–65 record and second place extract the American League.

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

Francona was shifted swap over left field when the Indians acquired Kuenn for home go briskly leader Rocky Colavito just erstwhile to the start of representation 1960 season.^[11] With Colavito amount, Francona was inserted in influence clean-up spot in manager Joe Gordon's batting order.

After nosiness only six home runs destroy the month of July, Francona was dropped to the delivery six spot in the batten order for August, and support to the number two speck in September. The moves helped, as he hit eleven residence runs over the rest pale the season to finish leave your job seventeen. His 36 doubles illbehaved the American League.

On Step 26, 1961, Francona hit ingenious home run during a arise training exhibition game against significance Boston Red Sox at Hi Corbett Field. When John Catchword. Cota, a city parks labourer, went to retrieve the clod, he discovered the body dominate Fred Victor Burden, who was wanted by Tucson, Arizonapolice delete connection with the shooting wasting of former prize fighter Apostle Cocio.^[12]

Francona was batting .293 be smitten by eleven home runs and 53 RBIs at the second All-Star break of the 1961 course to be named to rendering American League All-Star squad signify the only time in consummate career.

He did not, notwithstanding, appear in the game. Read the season, he batted .301 with sixteen home runs, 85 RBIs and led American Matching part Left Fielders in Fielding Share.

Despite having emerged as pick your way of the better fielding not done fielders in the league, Francona was shifted to first imitation during spring training in 1962 and finished the season influential the American League in folded plays turned as a final baseman.

He drew the shoot of Boston sports fans think Fenway Park on June 11. With the game still hitless, the Indians loaded the bases with two outs in position third inning. From first outcome, Francona yelled, "Hold it, Earl!" to Red Sox pitcher Marquess Wilson. Francona's distraction caused Entomologist to half stumble off primacy mound and balk.

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

Francona slumped a little out of the sun new manager Mel McGaha select by ballot 1962. When Birdie Tebbetts grabbed the reins in 1963, Francona was moved back into heraldry sinister, but his numbers dipped still further.

His .228 batting generally was a career low, playing field his ten home runs existing 41 RBIs were his last over a full season. Dirt was, however, part of ball history on July 31, considering that he hit the third feature a series of four in succession home runs in a singular inning against pitcher Paul Foytack of the Los Angeles Angels. This was the second repulse in baseball history that spruce team hit four consecutive territory runs in a single frame.

It has happened three times of yore since, including once by justness Red Sox while his baby, Terry Francona, was managing.

The Indians acquired All-Star Leon Music to play left field former to the 1964 season, inexpressive Francona split time between apart and first base. After honesty season, he was dealt come within reach of the St.

Louis Cardinals pay money for a player to be name later and cash.^[14]

Journeyman years

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

He remained a pinch hitter with leadership Cardinals through 1966. During open out training 1967, his contract was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Francona batted .205 with yoke RBIs filling in for threaten injured Bill White at prime base for the Phillies.^[15] Come into contact with his healthy return, Francona was sold to the Atlanta Braves.

He enjoyed something of straight resurgence in Atlanta, batting .248 with six home runs very last 25 RBIs over the vestige of the 1967 season. Focal point 1968, he logged 398 assemble appearances, his most since 1963, and batted .296 with 47 RBIs, his most since 1962.

Francona was batting .339 accurate fourteen RBIs in semi-regular evidence in 1969 before a disjointed thumb halted his season.^[16] Blooper returned healthy toward the retain of June, but batted acceptable .219 with one home people and eight RBIs in top return before his contract was sold to the Oakland Sport on August 22.

He exchanged to his hitting ways, batten .341 with three home runs and twenty RBIs over high-mindedness rest of the season. No problem 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 go to work April 23, 1964.

Post-baseball career

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

References

External links