Frank Bolling
Encyclopedia
Frank Elmore Bolling is a former second baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Detroit Tigers
(1954, 1956–1960) and with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves
(1961–66). Bolling batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of shortstop
Milt Bolling
.
In a 12-season career, Bolling was a .254 hitter
with 106 home run
s and 556 RBI
in 1540 games played
.
Bolling reached the Majors in with the Detroit Tigers, playing during six seasons with them before moving to the Milwaukee Braves in 1961. He was on the Braves roster when the team moved to Atlanta in .
A fine defensive second baseman, Bolling also averaged 14 home runs from 1957–59, with a career-high 15 in . His most productive season came in 1958, when he posted career numbers in hits
(164), doubles
(27), runs
and RBIs (75), and won the Gold Glove Award after lead the American League
second basemen in fielding percentage
. When his brother Milt was traded to Detroit during the same season, the Bollings became one of only four brother combinations in Major League history to play second base / shortstop on the same club. The others are Garvin
and Granny Hamner
, for the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1945; the twins Eddie
and Johnny O'Brien
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the mid-1950s, and Cal
and Billy Ripken
for the Baltimore Orioles
during the 1980s.
Traded to the Braves for Bill Bruton
after the season, Bolling led the National League
second basemen in fielding in , and . He made the National League All-Star team in 1961 and 1962, and also was named on The Sporting News NL All-Star Team
in 1961. Bolling never played an inning at any position other than second base, ending with a career fielding mark of .982.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
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...
who played from through for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1954, 1956–1960) and with the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves
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....
(1961–66). Bolling batted and threw right-handed. He is the younger brother of shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Milt Bolling
Milt Bolling
Milton Joseph Bolling is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers . Bolling batted and threw right-handed...
.
In a 12-season career, Bolling was a .254 hitter
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 :...
with 106 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 and 556 RBI
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...
in 1540 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,...
.
Bolling reached the Majors in with the Detroit Tigers, playing during six seasons with them before moving to the Milwaukee Braves in 1961. He was on the Braves roster when the team moved to Atlanta in .
A fine defensive second baseman, Bolling also averaged 14 home runs from 1957–59, with a career-high 15 in . His most productive season came in 1958, when he posted career numbers in 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....
(164), doubles
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....
(27), runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and RBIs (75), and won the Gold Glove Award after lead the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
second basemen in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. When his brother Milt was traded to Detroit during the same season, the Bollings became one of only four brother combinations in Major League history to play second base / shortstop on the same club. The others are Garvin
Garvin Hamner
Wesley Garvin Hamner was an American professional baseball player. A second baseman and shortstop, he appeared in one season for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball...
and Granny Hamner
Granny Hamner
Granville Wilbur Hamner was an American shortstop and second baseman in Major League Baseball. Hamner was one of the key players on the "Whiz Kids", the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies...
, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1945; the twins Eddie
Eddie O'Brien (baseball)
Edward Joseph O'Brien is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop, outfielder and pitcher. He played his entire five-year baseball career for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
and Johnny O'Brien
Johnny O'Brien
John Thomas O'Brien is a former backup second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves . O'Brien batted and threw right-handed...
with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in the mid-1950s, and Cal
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
and Billy Ripken
Billy Ripken
William Oliver Ripken is an American radio personality for XM Satellite Radio, a studio analyst for MLB Network's "MLB Tonight," and is a former infielder in Major League Baseball from –...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
during the 1980s.
Traded to the Braves for Bill Bruton
Bill Bruton
William Havon Bruton was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 through 1960, and for the Detroit Tigers in 1961 through 64. Bruton batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
after the season, Bolling led the National League
National 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...
second basemen in fielding in , and . He made the National League All-Star team in 1961 and 1962, and also was named on The Sporting News NL All-Star Team
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
in 1961. Bolling never played an inning at any position other than second base, ending with a career fielding mark of .982.
Highlights
- Four times collected four hits or two home runs in a single game
- Hit a grand slamGrand slam (baseball)In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Sandy KoufaxSandy KoufaxSanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
on September 22, 1965