Frankie Frisch

1. Overview

Frank Francis Frisch (September 9, 1897 - March 12, 1973), famously known by his nicknames "the Fordham Flash" and "the Old Flash", was a prominent American professional baseball second baseman and manager. Frisch played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 seasons, primarily with the New York Giants (1919-1926) and the St. Louis Cardinals (1927-1937). His career achievements include leading the "Gashouse Gang" Cardinals to two World Series championships in 1931 and 1934 (the latter as a player-manager). He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 1947 and is also a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum. Frisch holds the record for most World Series hits (58) for a player who never played for the New York Yankees, a total only surpassed by Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle, and is tied with Berra for the most World Series doubles (10).

2. Early Life

Frank Frisch's formative years were characterized by his birth in New York City and his exceptional athletic talent, which earned him a distinctive nickname during his college years.

3. Playing Career

Frank Frisch's professional baseball career was marked by his immediate impact in the major leagues without any minor league experience, his leadership on two different teams, and his consistent offensive and defensive prowess.

3.1. New York Giants (1919-1926)

In 1919, Frisch left Fordham University to sign directly with the New York Giants of the National League, bypassing the minor leagues entirely. He made an immediate impression, finishing third in the National League in stolen bases and seventh in RBI in his first full season in 1920. Giants manager John McGraw was highly impressed by Frisch's abilities, quickly naming him team captain and providing guidance on base-running and hitting. Early in his career, Frisch played both third base and second base, but by 1923, he became the team's full-time second baseman.

Frisch consistently batted over .300 in his final six seasons with the Giants. He was also recognized as an expert fielder and a highly skilled base-runner. In 1921, he led the National League with 48 stolen bases. He also led the league in hits in 1923 and in runs in 1924. Frisch's intense competitiveness was a significant factor in the Giants' success, as they won the World Series in both 1921 and 1922, and secured the National League pennant in the subsequent two seasons (1923 and 1924) as well. On September 10, 1924, Frisch had an exceptional performance, going 6-for-7 in a 22-1 victory against the Boston Braves at the Polo Grounds. He is tied with Pablo Sandoval for the Giants' franchise record of 15 multi-hit games in the postseason.

3.2. St. Louis Cardinals (1927-1937)

Following the 1926 season, Frisch was traded, along with pitcher Jimmy Ring, to the St. Louis Cardinals in a notable exchange for star player Rogers Hornsby. This trade occurred after a dispute with manager John McGraw in August 1926, where McGraw publicly reprimanded Frisch for missing a sign, leading Frisch to temporarily leave the team and effectively ending their close relationship.

On June 2, 1930, Frisch was spiked during the 7th inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, an injury that sidelined him for several weeks. He returned to play on June 20, facing the same Phillies team.

As the second baseman for the Cardinals, Frisch participated in four additional World Series (1928, 1930-31, 1934), bringing his career total to eight appearances. He became the driving force behind the "Gashouse Gang", the nickname given to the Cardinals teams of the early 1930s. These teams were characterized by their aggressive and competitive approach, largely influenced by Frisch's style. Before Frisch joined the team, the Cardinals had only won one pennant; in contrast, the Giants would win the pennant only once during Frisch's nine seasons as the Cardinals' regular second baseman, highlighting his immediate impact on St. Louis. In 1927, he recorded 208 hits and a .337 batting average, claiming his second stolen base title. That year, he also excelled defensively, leading the league in assists and double plays for second basemen. His 641 assists recorded in 1927 stood as the Major League record for a second baseman in a single season.

In 1931, Frisch was voted the Most Valuable Player in the National League. That season, he batted .311, hit 4 home runs, drove in 82 RBI, and led the league with 28 stolen bases. The 1931 Cardinals went on to win the World Series, defeating Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics (who were defending two-time champions) in seven games. Frisch began serving as a player-manager for the Cardinals in 1933 and was selected to the National League's inaugural three All-Star teams from 1933 to 1935. In 1934, he led the Cardinals to another seven-game World Series victory, this time against the Detroit Tigers.

4. Managerial Career

Frank Frisch transitioned from a decorated player to a manager, leading multiple Major League teams, most notably the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Series title.

5. Post-Baseball Career

After his playing and managerial careers concluded, Frank Frisch remained involved in baseball through broadcasting and, significantly, through his role on the Baseball Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee.

6. Later Life and Death

Frank Frisch's later life saw him transition into retirement, focusing on personal interests before his health declined, culminating in his passing due to injuries from a car accident.

6.2. Health and Demise

Frisch experienced health issues in his later life, including a heart attack in 1956. He died on March 12, 1973, in Wilmington, Delaware, at the age of 75. His death resulted from injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred near Elkton, Maryland, approximately a month earlier. Frisch had been returning to Rhode Island from a meeting of the Veterans Committee in Florida when he lost control of his vehicle. Notably, Frisch's death by car accident mirrored the fates of other New York Giants Hall of Famers, Mel Ott (1958) and Carl Hubbell (1988). He is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City.

7. Awards and Honors

Frank Frisch received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished playing and managerial career, recognizing his exceptional contributions to baseball.

• National Baseball Hall of Fame:** Inducted in 1947. He was among the first four players selected after new rules were implemented, limiting eligibility to those who retired after 1921, following a period where no players had been elected by writers for two consecutive years.
• St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum:** Inducted in 2014 as part of the inaugural class.
• National League Most Valuable Player Award:** 1931.
• National League Stolen Base Leader:** 1921, 1927, 1931.
• World Series Champion (Player):** 1921, 1922 (with New York Giants), 1931 (with St. Louis Cardinals).
• World Series Champion (Player-Manager):** 1934 (with St. Louis Cardinals).
• Major League Baseball All-Star:** Selected for the first three All-Star Games from 1933 to 1935.
• World Series Records:** Tied for most career World Series doubles (10) with Yogi Berra. Holds the record for most career World Series hits (58) for a player who never played for the New York Yankees.
• Single-Season Records:** Set the Major League record for most assists by a second baseman in a single season (641) in 1927.

8. Legacy and Memorials

Frank Frisch's impact on baseball is enduring, reflected in his historical standing and various commemorations.

In 1999, he was ranked number 88 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was nominated for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. His legacy is also honored through direct memorials; in 1948, the Mosholu Baseball Field in Bedford Park, Bronx, was officially renamed Frank Frisch Field. Frisch is also remembered in popular culture, notably through his mention in the poem "Line-Up for Yesterday" by Ogden Nash:

F is for Fordham
And Frankie and Frisch;
I wish he were back
With the Giants, I wish.

- Ogden Nash, Sport magazine (January 1949)

Years later, Nash added a footnote to this stanza: "p.s. Thanks to Durocher, now everything's kosher."

9. See Also

• List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
• List of Major League Baseball player-managers
• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career wins
• List of St. Louis Cardinals team records
• List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders