Frank Madden (baseball)

Frank A. Madden (October 17, 1892 – April 30, 1952)[a] was an American professional baseball catcher.

Frank Madden
Catcher
Born: (1892-10-17)October 17, 1892
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: April 30, 1952(1952-04-30) (aged 59)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Batted: Unknown
Threw: Unknown
MLB debut
July 4, 1914, for the Pittsburgh Rebels
Last MLB appearance
August 5, 1914, for the Pittsburgh Rebels
MLB statistics
Games played2
Batting average.500 (1-for-2)
Runs batted in1
Teams

Biography

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Nicknamed "Red",[5] Madden played in two games for the major-league Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League in 1914; on July 4 against the Baltimore Terrapins and on August 5 against the St. Louis Terriers.[6] In the July 4 game, Madden entered a tied game in the top of the 10th inning as catcher; in the bottom of the inning, he came to bat with one out and a runner on second, and hit a game-winning single to right field.[7] In the August 5 game, Madden appeared as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, the bases loaded, and his team down by a run—he was called out of strikes,[b] ending the game.[9] In total, Madden's brief major-league career consisted of one hit in two at bats, with one run batted in.[4] Baseball records of the era, which are incomplete, indicate that Madden also played in the Ohio State League during 1912, appearing in 111 games for two different teams.[10]

Little is known of Madden outside of his short baseball career. As of June 1917, per his draft registration card, he was working as a pipefitter.[1] As of April 1942, per a later draft registration card, he was a cemetery worker.[2] Madden died in his hometown of Pittsburgh in 1952; he was survived by his wife, Alice Miller.[11]

Notes

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  1. ^ Listed birth date is per his draft registration cards, which list his full name as "Frank A. Madden".[1][2] Baseball references sites disagree as to if Madden was born in 1891 or 1892.[3][4]
  2. ^ A Pittsburgh newspaper reporter opined that the third strike was actually "a ball that was both high and wide."[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. June 1917. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via fold3.com.
  2. ^ a b "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. April 1942. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via fold3.com.
  3. ^ "Frank Madden". Retrosheet. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Frank Madden Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Reisler, Jim (February 6, 1990). "SABRites more than just baseball trivia buffs". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. C2. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "The 1914 PIT F Regular Season Batting Log for Frank Madden". Retrosheet. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Pittsburgh Rebels 8, Baltimore Terrapins 7 (2)". Retrosheet. July 4, 1914. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "Reb Rally Falls Short". The Pittsburgh Post. August 6, 1914. p. 14. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "St. Louis Terriers 3, Pittsburgh Rebels 2". Retrosheet. August 5, 1914. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Frank Madden Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Madden". The Pittsburgh Press. May 1, 1952. p. 47. Retrieved May 13, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
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