Frank Tepedino
Encyclopedia
Frank Ronald Tepedino is a former left-handed Major League Baseball
player. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He played for the New York Yankees
(–) and the Atlanta Braves
(–) professional baseball teams in Major League Baseball during his career. Tepedino was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
were playing against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
with 22,300 people attending the game. Tepedino was called to pinch hit for Whitey Ford
batting ninth at the bottom of the third inning
. He had one at-bat, hitting the ball to shortstop
for a flyout. At the top of the fourth inning, Jim Bouton
was called to replace Frank Tepedino pitching
and batting ninth. At the end of the game, the New York Yankees had a frustrating loss against the Baltimore Orioles with the score at 14–0.
On June 8, 1965, Tepedino was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the third round during the 1965 amateur draft
. On November 28, 1966, Tepedino was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Baltimore Orioles during the 1966 first-year draft. On June 7, 1971, he was traded by the New York Yankees along with Bobby Mitchell
to the Milwaukee Brewers
for Danny Walton
. On March 31, 1972, he was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Milwaukee Brewers. On June 7, 1973, Tepedino was traded by the New York Yankees with players along with Wayne Nordhagen
to the Atlanta Braves for Pat Dobson
. In order to fully complete the trade, the New York Yankees sent Dave Cheadle
(August 15, 1973) and Al Closter
(September 5, 1973) to the Atlanta Braves.
. During the September 11 attacks, Tepedino's son called him and asked if he had heard a plane hit the World Trade Center
. Tepedino had no knowledge of the event. He later realized it was a terrorist attack when the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Tepedino, along with three others, drove to the World Trade Center. When they got there, the World Trade Center had already collapsed. During an assembly at Rocky Point High School
six years after the September 11 attacks, Tepedino said, "I lost 343 friends on September 11, 2001," referring to his colleagues in the New York Fire Department who died during the terrorists attacks. "I didn't know them all personally, but they were all my friends." On October 11, 2001, one month after the attacks, Tepedino threw out the first pitch at Game Two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.
which educates youth about the dangers of alcohol and drugs and promotes youth athletics.
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...
player. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(–) and the 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....
(–) professional baseball teams in Major League Baseball during his career. Tepedino was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Career
Frank Tepedino made his major league debut on May 12, 1967 with the New York Yankees. During that day, the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
were playing against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
with 22,300 people attending the game. Tepedino was called to pinch hit for Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
batting ninth at the bottom of the third inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. He had one at-bat, hitting the ball to 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...
for a flyout. At the top of the fourth inning, Jim Bouton
Jim Bouton
James Alan "Jim" Bouton is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is also the author of the controversial baseball book Ball Four, which was a combination diary of his season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.-Amateur and college...
was called to replace Frank Tepedino pitching
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...
and batting ninth. At the end of the game, the New York Yankees had a frustrating loss against the Baltimore Orioles with the score at 14–0.
On June 8, 1965, Tepedino was drafted by 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...
in the third round during the 1965 amateur draft
1965 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1965 Major League Baseball Draft is the first year in which a draft took place for Major League Baseball.In Major League Baseball's first Free Agent Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Athletics selected Arizona State sophomore Rick Monday as the number one pick...
. On November 28, 1966, Tepedino was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Baltimore Orioles during the 1966 first-year draft. On June 7, 1971, he was traded by the New York Yankees along with Bobby Mitchell
Bobby Mitchell (1970s outfielder)
Robert Vance Mitchell, better known as Bobby Mitchell is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born on October 22, 1943 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1965. Mitchell played for the New York Yankees in 1970 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1971-1975...
to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Danny Walton
Danny Walton
Daniel James Walton is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Houston Astros , Seattle Pilots , Milwaukee Brewers , New York Yankees , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Taiyo Whales , and Texas Rangers...
. On March 31, 1972, he was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Milwaukee Brewers. On June 7, 1973, Tepedino was traded by the New York Yankees with players along with Wayne Nordhagen
Wayne Nordhagen
Wayne Oren Nordhagen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He played eight seasons in the majors for the Chicago White Sox , Toronto Blue Jays , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs .Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1968, Nordhagen played in 502 games in his eight...
to the Atlanta Braves for Pat Dobson
Pat Dobson
Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians...
. In order to fully complete the trade, the New York Yankees sent Dave Cheadle
Dave Cheadle
David Baird Cheadle is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and attended high school in Asheville, North Carolina...
(August 15, 1973) and Al Closter
Al Closter
Alan Edward Closter is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1966 and 1973, pitching in a total of 21 games....
(September 5, 1973) to the Atlanta Braves.
September 11 attacks
After retiring from Major League Baseball, Tepedino served as a firefighter for the New York City Fire DepartmentNew York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
. During the September 11 attacks, Tepedino's son called him and asked if he had heard a plane hit the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. Tepedino had no knowledge of the event. He later realized it was a terrorist attack when the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Tepedino, along with three others, drove to the World Trade Center. When they got there, the World Trade Center had already collapsed. During an assembly at Rocky Point High School
Rocky Point High School
Rocky Point High School is a public school of the Rocky Point Union Free School District along the north shore of Long Island, located in Rocky Point, New York. It is the only high school in the district and serves grades 9-12...
six years after the September 11 attacks, Tepedino said, "I lost 343 friends on September 11, 2001," referring to his colleagues in the New York Fire Department who died during the terrorists attacks. "I didn't know them all personally, but they were all my friends." On October 11, 2001, one month after the attacks, Tepedino threw out the first pitch at Game Two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.
Alcoholism and beyond
Tepedino is a recovering alcoholic. He became addicted to alcohol at age 19 and as of 2011 has given an estimated 60,000 speeches for the Long Island, New York based Winning for Winning co founded by a former Yankee teammate Rusty TorresRusty Torres
Rosando "Rusty" Torres Hernández is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine season in Major League Baseball for five different teams...
which educates youth about the dangers of alcohol and drugs and promotes youth athletics.