Buck Frierson
Encyclopedia
Robert Lawrence "Buck" Frierson (July 29, 1917 - June 26, 1996) was an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
for the Cleveland Indians
. He is most famous for his minor league performance in 1947, when he hit 58 home run
s with 197 runs batted in
. Frierson stood at 6' 3" and weighed 195 lbs.
. He started his professional baseball
career in 1937, with the Texarkana Liners of the East Texas League
. In 1938, he had his breakout season, batting
.342 with 15 home runs. However, his hitting declined the following season. He rebounded by hitting .335 in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in 1940. Frierson then moved up to the Class A Eastern League in 1941. After batting .310 for the Wilkes-Barre Barons
, he was called up to the Cleveland Indians late in the season. In his five major league games, he batted .273 with 2 runs batted in. That would be the only chance he would ever get in the majors.
Frierson spent 1942 back in Wilkes-Barre before leaving professional baseball for the next three seasons due to World War II
. He returned in 1946 with the Sherman Twins. Despite playing in only 84 games, he made an immediate impact, batting .391 with 25 home runs. Frierson had his best year in 1947. That season, he slugged a career-high 58 homers and drove in 197 runs for Sherman-Denison, leading the Big State League in both categories. He batted .379 and also led the league in games played
, hits
, and total bases. The 197 RBI is the fifth highest total in minor league baseball
history.
Frierson was batting .367 in 1948 when he moved up to the Dallas Eagles
of the Class AA Texas League
. He spent 1948 to 1951 in the Texas League. In 1952, Frierson returned to the Big State League with the Paris Indians. He had another good season, batting .376 with 24 home runs. He topped the circuit in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, and double
s.
Frierson retired from professional baseball in 1953. He died in 1996, at the age of 78.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He is most famous for his minor league performance in 1947, when he hit 58 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s with 197 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. Frierson stood at 6' 3" and weighed 195 lbs.
Career
Frierson was born in Chicota, TexasChicota, Texas
Chicota is an unincorporated community in Lamar County, Texas, United States.-External links:...
. He started his professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
career in 1937, with the Texarkana Liners of the East Texas League
East Texas League
The East Texas League was a Texas-based league in minor league baseball that existed on-and-off from 1916 to 1950.-1916:In 1916, the first East Texas League began play. A Class-D league, it folded on July 19 of that season. The "league champions," by default, were the Palestine Athletics and Lufkin...
. In 1938, he had his breakout season, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.342 with 15 home runs. However, his hitting declined the following season. He rebounded by hitting .335 in the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in 1940. Frierson then moved up to the Class A Eastern League in 1941. After batting .310 for the Wilkes-Barre Barons
Wilkes-Barre Barons
The Wilkes-Barre Barons were a legendary basketball team from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.The Barons played between 1933 and 1972 in different American leagues. The team won 11 titles during this time, and the most memorable are those were won while playing in the American Basketball League and the...
, he was called up to the Cleveland Indians late in the season. In his five major league games, he batted .273 with 2 runs batted in. That would be the only chance he would ever get in the majors.
Frierson spent 1942 back in Wilkes-Barre before leaving professional baseball for the next three seasons due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He returned in 1946 with the Sherman Twins. Despite playing in only 84 games, he made an immediate impact, batting .391 with 25 home runs. Frierson had his best year in 1947. That season, he slugged a career-high 58 homers and drove in 197 runs for Sherman-Denison, leading the Big State League in both categories. He batted .379 and also led the league in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, and total bases. The 197 RBI is the fifth highest total in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
history.
Frierson was batting .367 in 1948 when he moved up to the Dallas Eagles
Dallas Rangers
The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas, from 1958-64. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958-59 and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960-63...
of the Class AA Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. He spent 1948 to 1951 in the Texas League. In 1952, Frierson returned to the Big State League with the Paris Indians. He had another good season, batting .376 with 24 home runs. He topped the circuit in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, and double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s.
Frierson retired from professional baseball in 1953. He died in 1996, at the age of 78.