Frank Warfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frank Warfield |
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Warfield at the 1924 Colored World Series.
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: April 26, 1897 Indianapolis, Indiana |
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| Died: July 24, 1932 (aged 35) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| debut | |||
| 1914, for the Indianapolis ABCs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1932, for the Washington Pilots | |||
| Negro league statistics | |||
| Hits | 751 | ||
| Batting average | .277 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Managerial record | 237–145–3 | ||
| Teams | |||
As player
As manager
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Francis Xavier Warfield (born April 26, 1897 – died July 24, 1932) was a talented baseball player and manager in the Negro leagues. He was known for his amazing skills on the field and for leading his teams to victory.
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Frank Warfield's Baseball Career
Even though he was only 5 feet 7 inches tall, Frank Warfield was a fantastic baseball player. He was especially good at fielding (catching and stopping the ball) and baserunning (running fast between bases). He also had some great years hitting the ball. In 1922, for example, he hit for a .342 batting average while playing for the Detroit Stars.
Winning Championships
Frank Warfield played for the Hilldale teams that won the Eastern Colored League championships (called "pennants") from 1923 to 1925. He was also the manager for two of those championship teams, showing he was a great leader both on and off the field.
In 1929, Warfield became the player-manager for the Baltimore Black Sox. He led them to win the Negro American League championship that year.
The "Million Dollar Infield"
Frank Warfield and his teammates Oliver Marcelle, Dick Lundy, and Jud Wilson were known as the "Million Dollar Infield." This nickname showed how incredibly talented they were. Many people believed their skills were so valuable that they would have been worth a million dollars in the major leagues, if players of all races had been allowed to play together at that time.
Baseball writer Bill James thought very highly of Warfield's defensive skills. He called Warfield a "complete defensive wizard" and ranked him as one of the top second basemen in Negro league history.
Later Life and Legacy
Frank Warfield passed away in 1932 from a heart attack. Even after his death, his impact on baseball was remembered. In 1952, twenty years later, he received votes in a poll by the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper. This poll asked players to name the best Negro Leagues players ever, showing that Warfield's talent was not forgotten.
