Frank Torre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank Torre |
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: December 30, 1931 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: September 13, 2014 (aged 82) Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 20, 1956, for the Milwaukee Braves | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 1963, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 13 | ||
| Runs batted in | 179 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Frank Joseph Torre (born December 30, 1931 – died September 13, 2014) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball. Frank Torre batted and threw left-handed.
He played for the Milwaukee Braves from 1956 to 1960. Later, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies from 1962 to 1963. Frank was the older brother of Baseball Hall of Fame member Joe Torre. Joe was also a famous baseball player and manager.
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Playing Career Highlights
Frank Torre started his baseball journey when the Boston Braves signed him in 1950. He spent four years playing in the Braves' minor league teams. In 1956, he made his big debut with the team. By then, the Braves had moved to Milwaukee.
That year, Frank played in 111 games, mostly as a backup player. He had a batting average of .258.
Best Seasons and World Series Wins
Frank's best years were 1957 and 1958. In 1957, he hit .272 with 5 home runs and 40 runs batted in. He also set a National League record in one game. He scored six runs in a game against the Chicago Cubs. The Braves won that game 23–10.
The Braves went on to win the 1957 World Series against the New York Yankees. Frank hit two home runs in that World Series. The Braves won the series in seven games.
In 1958, Frank had his best career stats. He hit .309, with six home runs and 55 runs batted in. The Braves won the National League championship again. However, they lost the 1958 World Series rematch to the Yankees.
Frank Torre's Skills
During his career, Frank Torre played 714 games. He had a batting average of .273, with 13 home runs and 179 RBIs. He was also very hard to strike out. He only struck out 64 times in 1482 times at bat. This means he struck out only once every 23.2 times he batted.
Frank was also a great fielder. He often played first baseman late in close games. He led all first basemen in the National League in fielding percentage in 1957 and 1958. He finished his career with a .993 fielding percentage. This means he made very few errors, only 28 in 564 games.
Personal Life and Health
In 1996, Frank Torre faced a big health challenge. He needed a heart transplant. His brother, Joe Torre, was managing the New York Yankees at the time. Joe brought Frank to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for the surgery.
Frank received his new heart after waiting for two and a half months. Many people worried about him watching his brother's team. But he watched from his hospital bed as Joe managed the Yankees to a World Series title. The Yankees came back from being down 0–2 to win the series.
Frank also helped others through the Baseball Assistance Team. This group helps former baseball players who are having financial or medical problems.
In 2006, Frank needed another transplant. This time, it was a kidney transplant. He needed it because of the medicine he took for his heart. A year later, one of his daughters gave him a kidney.
Frank Torre passed away at the age of 82. He died in a hospice in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on September 13, 2014.
