Frank Bates
Encyclopedia
Creed Napoleon "Frank" Bates (September 28, 1876 – after 1918) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
from 1898 to 1899. He played for the Cleveland Spiders
and St. Louis Perfectos
. Bates was 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 156 pounds (70.8 kg).
, in 1876. He started his professional baseball career in 1896 with the Columbus Babies and Mobile Blackbirds of the Southern Association. He had a combined win–loss record of 2-10 for the two clubs. The following year, he went 3-8 for the Southeastern League's Chattanooga Blues. However, in 1898, Bates started the season with the Interstate League
's Dayton Old Soldiers and posted a winning record of 23-18. He then joined the major league Cleveland Spiders and went 2-1 with a 3.10 earned run average
in four late-season starts.
, which meant that a single group could own more than one team. The Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos were both owned by Frank
and Stanley Robison
, and in March 1899, Bates was "assigned" to St. Louis. He finished two games for the Perfectos early in the season, allowing one earned run in 8.2 innings pitched
. On June 5, however, he was sent back to the Spiders, who were in last place. He made his debut for the 1899 Spiders on June 11, and, apparently "sulking" over his transfer from team to team, pitched poorly and lost the game, 10-1.
Bates lost his first four decisions with Cleveland. He then defeated the Boston Beaneaters
on July 1, pitching a 17-hit complete game
; that turned out to be the only time he won in 1899. The Cleveland Spiders had transferred their best players to St. Louis and were on their way to a 20-134 campaign, which set a record for the lowest winning percentage
in Major League Baseball history. Bates, pitching the third-most innings for this team, went 1-18 with a 7.24 ERA, while making "a circus-like assortment of pitching mistakes."
The Cleveland Press
noted in July that "although [Bates] succeeds in turning almost every game into which he participates into a howling farce, he is sent into the box in his turn, only to bring ridicule upon his unfortunate associates." The New York Times
wrote that he had "very poor command of the ball." On August 17, after a game in which Bates walked nine Brooklyn Superbas
batters (one with the bases loaded), the Cleveland Plain Dealer observed:
Bates was released from the team in September, having lost each of his last 14 starts. He never pitched in the majors again.
's Meridian Ribboners.
In September 1918, Bates was living in Cincinnati, Ohio
, and working as a laborer for H. E. Culberson in Mingo Junction, Ohio
.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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...
from 1898 to 1899. He played for the Cleveland Spiders
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
and St. Louis Perfectos
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Bates was 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall and weighed 156 pounds (70.8 kg).
Early career
Bates was born in Cleveland, TennesseeCleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
, in 1876. He started his professional baseball career in 1896 with the Columbus Babies and Mobile Blackbirds of the Southern Association. He had a combined win–loss record of 2-10 for the two clubs. The following year, he went 3-8 for the Southeastern League's Chattanooga Blues. However, in 1898, Bates started the season with the Interstate League
Interstate League
The Interstate League was the name of five different American minor baseball leagues that played intermittently from 1896 through 1952. The longest tenured of these was the last incarnation, which played in the Middle Atlantic States from 1939 through 1952, and was one of the few mid-level minor...
's Dayton Old Soldiers and posted a winning record of 23-18. He then joined the major league Cleveland Spiders and went 2-1 with a 3.10 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in four late-season starts.
1899
In 1899, "syndicate baseball" was allowed in the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, which meant that a single group could own more than one team. The Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Perfectos were both owned by Frank
Frank Robison
Frank DeHass Robison was an American businessman, best known as a baseball executive. He was the organizer of the Cleveland Spiders franchise, and owned or part-owned the club throughout its existence, from its founding in as the Cleveland Blues until...
and Stanley Robison
Stanley Robison
Martin Stanford "Stanley" Robison was an American owner and manager in Major League Baseball. Robison was the owner of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1899 to 1911, along with his brother Frank. He was also part-owner of the Cleveland Spiders for most of their existence, from 1887 to 1899...
, and in March 1899, Bates was "assigned" to St. Louis. He finished two games for the Perfectos early in the season, allowing one earned run in 8.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. On June 5, however, he was sent back to the Spiders, who were in last place. He made his debut for the 1899 Spiders on June 11, and, apparently "sulking" over his transfer from team to team, pitched poorly and lost the game, 10-1.
Bates lost his first four decisions with Cleveland. He then defeated the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on July 1, pitching a 17-hit complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
; that turned out to be the only time he won in 1899. The Cleveland Spiders had transferred their best players to St. Louis and were on their way to a 20-134 campaign, which set a record for the lowest winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
in Major League Baseball history. Bates, pitching the third-most innings for this team, went 1-18 with a 7.24 ERA, while making "a circus-like assortment of pitching mistakes."
The Cleveland Press
Cleveland Press
The Cleveland Press was a daily American newspaper published in Cleveland, Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982. From 1928 to 1966, the paper's editor was Louis Seltzer....
noted in July that "although [Bates] succeeds in turning almost every game into which he participates into a howling farce, he is sent into the box in his turn, only to bring ridicule upon his unfortunate associates." The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that he had "very poor command of the ball." On August 17, after a game in which Bates walked nine Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
batters (one with the bases loaded), the Cleveland Plain Dealer observed:
Of course, the Clevelands did not win the game, and it is hard to see when they will win a game so long as they persist in playing Bates ... He had little speed today, was quite as wild as usual, and the Brooklyns had little or no trouble in making runs and plenty of them.
Bates was released from the team in September, having lost each of his last 14 starts. He never pitched in the majors again.
Later career
Bates returned to the Interstate League in 1900, and he went 6-13. In 1908, he finished his professional baseball career with the Cotton States LeagueCotton States League
The Cotton States League name was used five different times in baseball history. The first Cotton States League ran from 1902 through 1908 as a class D league. After the league shut down, another Cotton States League was reformulated in 1910, with three of the six '08 members returning for the new...
's Meridian Ribboners.
In September 1918, Bates was living in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and working as a laborer for H. E. Culberson in Mingo Junction, Ohio
Mingo Junction, Ohio
Mingo Junction is a village in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,631 at the 2000 census. In 1900, its only manufacturing plant was a steel mill owned by Carnegie Steel Company...
.